Stuff Employees Strike for Fair Pay and Better Conditions

Members of the union E tū at the media company Stuff initiated a strike on the afternoon of October 12, 2023. The protest, which occurred from 15:00 to 17:00, involved staff walking off the job to picket outside newsrooms in major cities including Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. The workers are demanding fair pay and better working conditions, claiming that the company has consistently undervalued their contributions.

During the strike, Auckland-based journalist and E tū delegate Sapeer Mayron expressed the frustrations of the staff. “Stuff has shown its employees over and over again that it thinks we are replaceable and not worth investing in with decent wages and working conditions,” he said. Mayron highlighted the financial struggles faced by employees, stating, “After years of miserly increases, with our pay going backwards in real terms – some years with no increases at all – we simply can’t afford to keep working here unless Stuff pays us properly.”

The issues surrounding pay and employment conditions have been exacerbated by the company’s recent proposals, which include splitting the collective agreement into two separate entities. This move, according to the union, would diminish employees’ bargaining power. Another E tū delegate, Tom Hunt, emphasized the sentiment among staff regarding the company’s treatment. “Stuff journalists have taken hit after hit to get Sinead Boucher‘s company through hard times,” he said, referencing the sacrifices made by employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. “To now be offered an insulting pay rise, and to see the company trying to split us into different collective agreements, is disgraceful.”

The company has faced criticism for its handling of employee relations, particularly in light of its recent financial maneuvers. Staff members are concerned about the apparent disconnect between management’s claims of financial hardship and the company’s actions. Hunt pointed out, “This is from a company that boasts about being a wonderful corporate citizen, all while our owner takes a secret payday from selling a share of the business to Trade Me. The hypocrisy is staggering.”

In response to the strike and the accompanying claims, a Stuff spokesperson rejected the allegations made by the union. “While we do not comment on our ongoing negotiations with E tū due to good faith and confidentiality commitments, we have plans in place to ensure our audiences and commercial partners remain unaffected,” they stated. The spokesperson further asserted that the claims made by E tū contained “a number of deliberate untruths,” insisting that staff have received pay rises every year since the pandemic and denying any notion of a “secret payday.”

The current strike is not an isolated incident; staff at Stuff previously went on strike in 2022 over similar pay disputes. The ongoing dissatisfaction among employees reflects deeper issues within the company regarding how they are valued and compensated. The separation of Stuff into two distinct entities last year has further fueled concerns, as Stuff Digital focuses on digital media while Masthead Publishing manages traditional newspaper brands.

As the situation develops, employees remain committed to advocating for their rights, emphasizing the need for fair compensation and respect in the workplace.