ABC Radio’s morning current affairs program AM was off air this morning due to industrial action, which management has called “disappointing”. About 50 ABC radio current affairs journalists have walked off the job for 24 hours.

Staff are protesting about an on-going staffing issue which would see production staff numbers cut. radioinfo reported some months ago on the dispute (click below to see the earlier story).

ABC News and Current Affairs Director John Cameron has told radioinfo the strike is “regrettable.”

The industrial action took AM and Radio National AM off the air with “little warning given to ABC management.” The strike is over proposed changes to work practices in Radio Current Affairs in Sydney.

Cameron says: “The Radio Current Affairs budget is not being cut and the ABC is seeking to redeploy any staff whose positions are affected by the changes.

“Today’s strike is disappointing because there has been plenty of opportunity to discuss this over a long period.

“Every possible assurance has been given on protecting the quality of programs. In fact any efficiencies will be used to enhance editorial content.”

Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) federal secretary Chris Warren said ABC management wanted journalists to operate the studio panel at the same time as presenting on air which, he said, “is just impractical in these fast-changing current affairs programs”.

He said the ABC had been “inflexible” throughout a “long series of discussions” and staff were now very angry at the ABC management.

“They understand the financial pressure the ABC is under, but they don’t believe the best way to deal with that is to continue hacking away at the quality of these programs.”

ABC radio executive manager news and current affairs Lou Lander says ABC talk shows and news bulletins will not be affected by the strike:

“All other radio programs will be normal. Radio news will have normal bulletins. Only the radio current affairs programs will be affected and it’s anticipated at this stage normal programming will resume at 5.30am (AEDT) tomorrow.”