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According to the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), union members at the ABC have again registered a vote of No Confidence in Managing Director, David Anderson and senior managers, over the broadcaster’s handling of complaints about editorial staff.
At a national union meeting on Wednesday, staff passed a resolution of no confidence in Mr Anderson and all ABC managers involved in the decision to unfairly dismiss freelance broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf.
The meeting was held in response to the Fair Work Commission hearings to determine Ms Lattouf’s unfair dismissal claim after she was sacked from her temporary job as host of ABC Sydney radio’s morning show in December.
Staff have also called for the ABC’s Head of Content, Chris Oliver-Taylor, to step down immediately for his role as the ultimate decisionmaker in the dismissal of Ms Lattouf.
“The mishandling of Antoinette Lattouf’s employment has done enormous damage to the integrity and reputation of the ABC,” said MEAA Media Director Cassie Derrick.”
“Evidence provided in the Fair Work Commission hearing about the involvement of David Anderson and Chris Oliver-Taylor in her dismissal has further undermined the confidence of staff in the managing director and his senior managers to be able to protect the independence of the ABC.
“The Lattouf case continues a pattern of ABC journalists, particularly those from culturally diverse backgrounds, lacking support from management when they face criticism from lobby groups, business organisations and politicians.
“For these reasons, Chris Oliver-Taylor should be stood down immediately, while Mr Anderson must demonstrate he is taking the concerns of staff seriously to begin to restore confidence in his leadership.”
The full motion passed by ABC MEAA members was:
We, MEAA members at the ABC, are outraged by the revelations of how ABC executives have disregarded the independence of the ABC, damaged the public’s trust in our capacity to report without fear or favour, and mistreated our colleague Antoinette Lattouf.
Staff reaffirm our lack of confidence in Managing Director David Anderson, and in all ABC managers involved in the decision to unfairly dismiss Antoinette Lattouf.
Chris Oliver-Taylor has undermined the integrity of the entire ABC through his mismanagement, and should step down from his role as Head of the Content Division immediately.
We call on ABC management to stop wasting public funds on defending the unfair dismissal case against Antoinette Lattouf, provide her and the public a full apology and reinstate her to ABC airwaves.
We demand that ABC management implement staff calls for a fair and clear social media policy, robust and transparent complaints process and an audit to address the gender and race pay gap.
