Journalists at Nine Publishing are returning to work after a five-day strike, ready to resume negotiations with management for a fair enterprise agreement.

The strike was initiated by members of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, Brisbane Times and WA today. The strike was in response to an inadequate offer from management around pay increases and terms within a new enterprise bargaining agreement.

Specifically, these include the company's refusal to deliver a deal that includes a better than CPI increase, diversity pay audit and quotas, protection against the use of AI, and adherence to the MEAA freelance charter of rights. It also comes after Nine announced 90 job cuts in its publishing division, bearing the brunt of up to 200 across the organisation, as well as multi-million dollar payouts to senior executives.

In addition, the strike came off the back of Nine's coverage of the Paris Olympics, broadcasting rights reported to be worth $305 million over the next five events including both summer and winter tournaments.

Michelle Rae, Acting Director of MEAA Media, criticised Nine’s chief executive Mike Sneesby for not listening to the concerns of MEAA members.

"This strike has always been about the future of quality journalism at these esteemed mastheads,” said Rae. “It is overdue for Nine’s chief executive Mike Sneesby to listen to the concerns of MEAA members that independent and fearless journalism that holds power to account requires investment and support from management.”

Rae also accused management of damaging the company’s reputation through their belligerence during the strike.

“The belligerence of management leading up to and during this strike has damaged the company’s reputation.

“We congratulate all MEAA members for their determination and solidarity during this strike and now look forward to constructive negotiations with management to win a fair deal so journalists can get back to what they do best: informing the public, holding the powerful to account, and exposing wrongdoing.”