MEMBERS WIN INDUSTRY LEADING FREELANCE DEAL AT NINE PUBLISHING!
In June 2025, management at Nine Publishing signed a deal with MEAA committing to an 11% increase for freelancers, annual reviews of rates, and a seat at the table to negotiate again next year. This win comes off the back of ongoing collective pressure by freelance members over the past 12 months; backed up by strong solidarity from in-house staff, and the support of over 2000 readers and subscribers across the community.
This signed deal marks a significant step in the fight for fair standards for freelancers across the media industry and is a strong example of what members can achieve when we get organised and stand together!
Read the signed deal below:
- 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.
- April 2025: Freelancers take to social media to call on support from readers and subscribers! Over two thousand community members sign the petition calling on Nine to increase rates, commit to annual increases, and form a signed agreement with freelancers.
- June 2025: In response to ongoing collective pressure from freelancers, staff, and the community; Nine Publishing sign a deal with MEAA increasing rates by 11%, committing to annual rate reviews and agreeing to sit down with MEAA freelance representatives again in 2026.
and then