Nine's Sneesby eludes striking journalists at airport ahead of crucial pay talks
Staff representatives will meet Nine management shortly after 11am on Wednesday in a bid to resume pay negotiations following a historic five-day strike.
About a dozen unionised publishing staff from Nine Entertainment gathered at Sydney international airport on Tuesday afternoon, hoping to confront chief executive Mike Sneesby on his return from the Paris Olympics.
However, Sneesby never appeared. The assembled journalists, mostly from The Sydney Morning Herald, eventually departed, as did assembled media, including a reporter and cameraman from Seven West Media.
The organised effort may have failed, but it still underscores the ongoing anger unionised journalists from the Herald, The Age and Australian Financial Review hold towards Sneesby and Nine management following failed talks over a new pay deal, and over the company's plans to cut jobs from its profitable publishing division.
The slogan of their campaign - "Don't torch journalism", which has been emblazoned across posters and T-shirts, also illustrates the point. It's a reference to Sneesby's recent participation in the Olympic torch relay in France.
