Sneesby said the company had plans in place to cover the Paris Olympics.

“Our editorial teams will seamlessly deliver the best coverage for our audiences,so they have the news they want,when they want it and as it happens in Paris,” he said.

Union official Michelle Rae said on Thursday that Nine journalists were being asked to do more for less.

“Journalists have asked for a modest wage increase in line with the CPI after foregoing any pay rise during COVID and at a time when the company is making record profits,” she said.

Nine in June confirmed it would cut 200 roles,or about four per cent of its almost 5000 staff – a decision it attributed to the loss of a lucrative content deal with Meta and a slump in advertising.

About 90 of the roles to be made redundant are from the publishing division,with about 50 from the metropolitan publishing arm which includes the state-based papers,but notThe Australian Financial Review. The company has offered three weeks for staff to apply for voluntary redundancies. The redundancies are separate from the EBA negotiations,which are the subject of the strikes.

However,management has said that higher wage claims,particularly in the first year of the EBA,could lead to deeper cuts.

“It’s totally unacceptable the company is asking workers to make a choice between a modest pay rise and the possibility of more job cuts,” Rae said.

With AAP

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