World Updates: 24-hour strike today in Australian news channel ABC, protesting against the use of AI.

Hundreds of journalists from Australia’s government media organization ABC will go on strike on Wednesday. They are protesting against wages, working conditions and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their place. This is the first time in the last 20 years that ABC employees are on strike. The employees’ union has rejected the salary increase proposal as they say it is less than inflation. This strike will also affect TV programmes. Big shows like 7.30 and Thursday morning programs will not be shown. Old shows and BBC content will be played in their place. ABC management says that they have offered as much salary increase as they could. But workers want more job security and a ban on the use of AI. The employees will start the strike from 11 am on Wednesday, which will continue for 24 hours. Large numbers of people will gather outside the ABC offices in Sydney and Melbourne. People participating in the strike will wear black clothes. ABC has more than 4,400 employees, including about 2,000 in the news department. Employees were offered a total salary increase of 10 percent in three years. This included an increase of 3.5 percent in the first year and 3.25-3.25 percent in the next two years. But the inflation rate in Australia was 3.8 percent in January, so employees are finding this offer low. Apart from this, there was also talk of giving a one-time bonus of $1,000, but this is not available to temporary employees.



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