Radio National staff meet with Sue Howard

Following a response from ABC Managing Director Russell Balding last week (see earlier story), Radio National staff have made a further series of demands about “issues of mismanagement of the Radio National network and have formed a “monitoring committee” to prevent further action over the Christmas holiday period.

In response to the pressure, an hour long meeting took place today (Thursday 18/12) between Director of Radio Sue Howard and a small delegation of RN staff which radioinfo has been told was “amicable with Sue Howard taking on board some of staff concerns.” However she refused to allow a union rep to be present and there was no discussion of the redundancy issue.

Union members will get together again in the week commencing 19th January to review the progress of their demands.

An ABC staffer, who did not wish to be named, gave radioinfo this opinion on the latest situation:

“In essence [MD Russell Balding] is saying there is no shortfall because the cuts will avoid it but does not admit the cuts are necessary because of an over-run!

“This approach of ‘if the bottom line is achieved by FY end then who needs to worry’ I am told, is how accountants think. ABC Chairman Donald MacDonald is also an accountant.

“This could be their undoing. If they say there is no problem and there is who can they blame?

“RN management have been hiring people to do jobs previously done by someone else then having to pay two salaries.

“Part of the problem is network managers deciding they know best, which then over-rides commitments made by specialist units to other staff.

“Their next step? Get rid of the specialist units and have all program decisions made by managers. Sounds reasonable for a flow network or commercial radio where there are only shifts and presenters to consider. But daft and inefficient if you are still relying on magazine and ‘built’ programs to provide a substantial part of your network’s appeal.

“This is the ‘Birtist’ strategy now being dumped by the BBC. As ever we are a beat or two behind the play.”

Friends of the ABC also weighed into the issue this week, writing to Russell Balding expressing “concern” at the “serious staff discontent at Radio National.” The letter, from Terry Laidler, says:

“While industrial relations issues do not of themselves attract the interest of FABC, we are worried about all matters which may affect the quality of ABC programming and the capacity of RN staff to produce high standard specialist programming.

“Over many years Radio National has been renowned for delivering a diversity of programs of depth and quality. Its reputation for producing well-researched and creative specialist programs across a wide range of areas ñ including the arts, science, politics, religion and life matters – is second to none.


Although Radio Nationalís audience reach is not as great as some other ABC networks, its contribution to Australiaís cultural, social and political life is important. RN’s significance as a producer of specialist programs has increased as other ABC networks progressively broadcast more light-weight generalist programming – either as the result of inadequate funds or a deliberate aim to become more populist.


In recent years, there has been a nervousness amongst Radio National audiences about changes to the network. For example, in a survey conducted by FABC a year ago, there were complaints about the loss of Arts Today, a program which reflected the work of specialists in their area, and its replacement with a more generalist program at a less accessible time. Presently, concern is being expressed about Books and Writing being reduced and rescheduled to a less accessible time.


Quality, depth, diversity and innovation in programming across the ABC are imperative. The employment environment should foster and nurture creative, talented staff. RN must continue as a network that produces well-researched specialist programming. Classic FM should not move away from exposing the public to new and challenging music, an important aspect of its role.


FABC is anxious to know if ABC management intends to change the character of Radio National or Classic FM. We are keen to understand changes in recent years and any planned changes to the process and practices by which programming on both networks is determined.


We understand the ABC is planning redundancies as the result of its decision to axe The Listening Room. FABC is concerned about the loss of staff positions from the ABC. If, as has been reported on the ABC, material from The Listening Room will continue to be produced and broadcast on Classic FM, but in a different format, why are there to be redundancies at Radio National? Can you please explain why there are to be any redundancies at the ABC at this time? At Senate Estimates as recently as November, FABC understood you to indicate that, while the ABC may need to make further cuts in the future as costs escalate, there were no further immediate cuts planned.


FABC would welcome the opportunity to learn more about, and would appreciate being kept informed on the current situation.”

Motions passed at the most recent union meeting on 15 December were:


Motion One

This meeting notes the failure of Sue Howard, Director of Radio to agree to meet with Radio National staff and their representatives to discuss their grievances and concerns. The wide range of issues and grievances and the lack of strategic vision and purpose for the network point to the need for consultation and discussion at the most senior level within Radio management. We further note that since the appointment of Sue Howard to the position of D Radio, she has not met with RN staff.

The recent statement made by the Managing Director to staff:

“that you have raised wider concerns and expressed a degree of urgency to meet earlier. I have asked Sue to bring forward that meeting if this is at all possible.”

provided support for our view that there should be a meeting with D Radio over the wider range of issues as soon as possible.

We again call on the D Radio to meet with us as soon as possible to discuss the wider range of issues we have raise din our meetings and correspondence.

Motion Two

While we acknowledging the MD’s positive suggestion that the Director of Radio should meet RN staff earlier than previously arranged, we note that the MD’s memo of December 10 contains a number of inaccuracies, inconsistencies and misunderstandings apparently based on briefings from unidentified members of radio management.

This meeting, believing it is imperative that the MD be informed of the true picture of the scale of problems within RN, authorises the union to write a detailed response (to the MD) to expose the inconsistencies, contradictions and ethical flaws in the management of RN.

Motion Three

Given the danger that management will implement change without proper consultation while staff are on holiday, the Union elects a committee of members, together with our union secretary, to maintain a monitoring brief during the summer season

Motion Four

This meeting determines that it will reconvene to discuss all issues of mismanagement of the RN network and shall consider reports of the monitoring committee on the return of members in the week commencing 19th January.

Motion Five

This meeting calls on management to immediately enter into discussion with affected staff to resolve all outstanding issues of program assignment.

Motion Six

This meeting demands written confirmation of the undertakings provided by the Program Manager, Radio National at the meeting held on December 15, 2003.