Arts Centre Melbourne Workers Announce Second Strike for 18 September
On Friday, 18 September, Arts Centre Melbourne employees will stage a second 24-hour protected work stoppage, following their initial strike on 11 September that impacted three significant performances. The first action resulted in the cancellation of Shake & Stir Theatre's Grimm and the dance performance Burn the Floor: Luminous, along with the postponement of Macy Gray's concert. Represented by MEAA and CPSU, the workers have been in negotiations since March, seeking a wage increase exceeding 3 percent due to inadequate pay in the face of rising living expenses. Arts Centre Melbourne argues that its proposal is in line with the wage cap set by the Victorian Labor government. The upcoming strike is anticipated to disrupt programming and venue operations amid ongoing enterprise bargaining challenges.
Key facts
- A second 24-hour strike by Arts Centre Melbourne workers is scheduled for 18 September.
- The first strike on 11 September involved several hundred workers and disrupted three major shows.
- Two shows were cancelled: Shake & Stir Theatre's Grimm and Burn the Floor: Luminous; Macy Gray's concert was postponed.
- Workers are represented by the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).
- Enterprise agreement negotiations began in March this year; workers seek a wage increase above 3 percent.
- Arts Centre Melbourne is a state government statutory authority operated through the Victorian Arts Centre Trust.
- The employer's offer aligns with the Victorian Labor government's public-sector wage cap of no more than 3 percent annual increases.
- Almost 40% of the workforce (around 900 employees) are on the lowest pay band, with wages behind inflation.
- MEAA Acting Chief Executive Adam Portelli said workers had no choice but to escalate their campaign.
- The Victorian Government spent $16 million on a recent NFL match, contrasting with arts underinvestment.
Entities
Artists
- Macy Gray
- Adam Portelli
- Izabella Nanstou
- Jo Pickup
Institutions
- Arts Centre Melbourne
- Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
- Community and Public Sector Union
- Victorian Arts Centre Trust
- Victorian Labor government
- Shake & Stir Theatre
- Burn the Floor
- Hamer Hall
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Sydney Theatre Company
- Sydney Fringe Festival
- ArtsHub
- ScreenHub
- The Conversation
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- RTRFM
- The West Australian
- Fremantle Arts Centre
- STRUT dance
- Aboriginal Arts Centre Hub of WA
- Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Victoria
- Sydney
- Perth