MEAA

MEAA
Name	Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance
Founded	1992
Predecessor	Australian Journalists Association; Actors' Equity; Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees' Association
Headquarters	Sydney, New South Wales
Location	Australia
Members	(journalists, actors, musicians, stage managers, broadcasters, visual artists)
Key people	(national secretary; federal executive)
Website	(official)

MEAA The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance is an Australian trade union and industry association representing professionals across journalism, acting, music, screen production, broadcasting, visual arts and live performance. It combines historical unions and industry bodies to negotiate industrial agreements, advocate for intellectual property and freedom of expression, provide training and legal support, and campaign on cultural funding and workplace safety. The organisation engages with Australian institutions, regulatory authorities and cultural awards to influence policy affecting members.

History

The organisation emerged from mergers of legacy bodies including the Australian Journalists Association, Actors' Equity and the Australian Theatrical and Amusement Employees' Association during a period of industrial consolidation in Australia. Its antecedents intersect with events such as the 1928 New South Wales general election, the evolution of the Australian Labour Party, the media reforms following the 1983 Australian federal election, and the shifting landscape after the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. Key historical touchpoints include disputes involving Nine Network, Seven Network, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and print media houses like Fairfax Media and News Corp Australia. The organisation has been involved in landmark campaigns tied to workplace disputes at productions associated with companies such as Roadshow Films and broadcasters linked to the Special Broadcasting Service. Its history reflects engagements with cultural institutions including the National Gallery of Australia, the National Library of Australia, and festivals such as the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Structure and Governance

Governance is vested in a democratically elected federal executive with state branches and specialist sections representing journalists, actors, musicians and audiovisual workers. Officers interact with tribunals like the Fair Work Commission and regulatory bodies including the Australian Communications and Media Authority to register agreements and lodge disputes. The alliance's constitution and rules are influenced by precedents from industrial relations cases such as those adjudicated in the High Court of Australia and rulings referencing acts like the Fair Work Act 2009. Leadership dialogues commonly involve stakeholders from unions such as Australian Council of Trade Unions and cultural organisations including the Australia Council for the Arts.

Membership and Representation

Membership encompasses professionals from the newsrooms of publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, and broadcasters including ABC Radio, SBS Radio and commercial stations owned by groups like Southern Cross Austereo. It represents performers engaged with companies such as Opera Australia, theatre companies like Bell Shakespeare, and film crews working with studios linked to Screen Australia projects. The alliance provides legal representation in disputes involving employers like Nine Entertainment Co. and lobbying on matters affecting creators represented by organisations such as the Copyright Agency. Membership categories mirror those of comparable bodies including Equity in the United Kingdom and associations like Writers Guild of America.

Industrial Advocacy and Campaigns

The organisation conducts campaigns on fair pay, working conditions, safety on set, press freedom and media diversity. It has mounted actions and negotiations against consolidation by conglomerates including News Limited and advocated at inquiries such as those hosted by the Parliament of Australia into media diversity and regional broadcasting. Campaigns have intersected with events like strikes and rolling industrial bans involving staff at broadcasters such as Network Ten and publishers linked to Dow Jones-owned entities. Advocacy extends to copyright enforcement, engaging with consultations by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and international norms referenced by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Agreements and Awards

The alliance negotiates enterprise agreements and industry awards covering journalists, actors and behind-the-scenes workers, interfacing with statutory instruments like the Modern Award system administered by the Fair Work Commission. It plays a role in setting minimum rates and conditions for work on productions acknowledged at ceremonies such as the Helpmann Awards, Logie Awards and film festivals including the Sydney Film Festival. Collective bargaining outcomes affect contractors involved in projects funded by bodies like Screen NSW and grant programs overseen by the Australia Council.

Training, Education, and Professional Development

The organisation delivers professional development, legal clinics and training in areas including workplace safety, ethical reporting and contract negotiation. Programmatic partnerships have involved tertiary institutions such as the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and credentialing bodies connected to courses at universities like the University of Melbourne and the University of Sydney. It offers resources for members navigating funding programs administered by agencies such as Ausfilm and sector skills aligned with apprenticeships and accredited training regulated by state training authorities.

Criticisms and Controversies

The organisation has faced criticism over strike tactics, representation priorities and handling of internal disputes, with contested episodes attracting attention from media outlets such as The Australian Financial Review and The Guardian (Australia). Some members have challenged decisions about endorsement of industrial action and fee structures, drawing comparisons with international counterparts like Screen Actors Guild and union responses to gig-economy issues raised in cases involving companies such as Uber and platforms linked to the digital media ecosystem. Legal challenges and public disputes have sometimes involved filings or hearings with tribunals including the Federal Court of Australia and commentary in cultural pages of outlets like The Age.

Category:Trade unions in Australia