Freelance rates at The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, WAtoday, and Brisbane Times have gone backwards in real terms by 59% over the past 20 years! A business model which relies on freelance rates going backwards, cannot sustainably continue to deliver quality journalism.
Sign the petition now to demand that Nine management negotiate fair minimum rates and annual increases with their freelance contributors!
- March- July 2022: In-house staff at Nine called for minimum standards for freelancers as part of their Enterprise Agreement negotiations.
- August – September 2022: Freelancers at Nine took industrial action alongside staff, by posting for #FairShareNine on social media.
- Settlement of the staff Enterprise Agreement resulted in a commitment from Nine to write its first ever policy for freelance minimum standards of engagement, in consultation with MEAA members. Nine management was vague about what they would be prepared to include in the policy, and resisted committing to minimum rates of pay.
- October 2022: 57 freelancers who contribute to Nine publishing wrote individual emails to Managing Director James Chessell, to explain why minimum rates of pay for freelancers were crucial to include in this policy.
- In response, Nine finally committed to considering minimum rates of pay (although did not commit to what the minimum rate would be) and provided a draft policy. The policy included agreement to MEAA claims like kill fees, but fell short in some crucial areas. A major area of concern was a continued policy for payment on publication, which meant freelancers could continue to wait months or even years after submitting work before receiving payment.
- November 2022: Freelancers discussed and provided detailed feedback to the proposed policy, and the in-house MEAA delegates wrote to management with proposed changes.
- MEAA members wrote an open letter to Nine management calling for the policy to include payment on submission, and a fair minimum rate of $1 per word with annual increases. The letter was signed by 225 freelancers.
- December 2022: In response to pressure from the letter, Nine management moved and committed to pay within 30 days of acceptance of the work and a minimum rate across all sections of Nine Publishing. While falling short of a signed agreement, this is a huge win for freelancers at Nine and across the whole industry.
- July 2024: Staff and freelancers stood together in a 5 day strike, to secure a good deal for all workers at Nine. Members won a commitment from management to sit down with contributors for the first time.
- November 2024: Freelance representatives sit down with Nine management and commence discussion of freelance rates and conditions. Members present their position that Nine must form a signed agreement with improved rates and annual rate increases, to ensure a sustainable future for freelancers.
- February 2025: Members flood Nine’s managing director with emails about why Nine must form an agreement with improved rates and annual rate increases.
- March 2025: MEAA representatives have their third meeting with Nine management. Despite members hopes, management still continue to refuse to form an agreement. Members meet and decide to escalate to public action.
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