The Sydney Morning Herald contributor and ABC Radio host Richard Glover says Fairfax Media management will have to sack him too if they don't reinstate fellow columnist Mike Carlton.
Fairfax announced on Tuesday it would cut five per cent of its full-time workers - 550 staff - across Australia and New Zealand, prompting a mass walk-out at its offices including in Melbourne and Sydney.
Almost one third of the positions to go are journalists.
Carlton, a prominent media identity and 2UE breakfast show host, was fired today after refusing to cross the picket line to write his weekly column for the Herald's Saturday edition.
Glover has written to Fairfax management on behalf of fellow Fairfax contributors, warning they will have to sack him and other contributors if they go ahead with Carlton's sacking.
"We remind the company that, having set an example with Mike Carlton, it may need to sack all the undersigned if it insists on this course of action," reads the pledge, published on the strike website, www.fairgofairfax.org.au.
"We believe the company hires columnists on the basis that they have principles. It is wrong to sack them for the same reason."
Glover interviewed The Sydney Morning Herald editor Alan Oakley on his afternoon drive-time show today and warned Mr Oakley he may not be filing for next week's Saturday edition.
"My column will be appearing in the paper tomorrow, which embarrasses me in a way," Glover said.
"It appears because it was filed on my deadline on Tuesday morning ... before all this industrial action began.
"But can I say to you Alan, if next Tuesday when my deadline is, if there's industrial action going on I won't be filing the column."
Mr Oakley said: "I guess we'll wait and see, Richard. I hope that's not the case.
"There's a great column in the paper tomorrow Richard, I'm sure the readers will be looking forward to it."
Glover replied: "Well, not the week after."
Mr Oakley refused to expand on Carlton's sacking, and would only repeat that the dispute was between Fairfax Media management and staff.
"Mike is not a member of The Sydney Morning Herald staff," he said.
He said despite the industrial action, tomorrow's The Sydney Morning Herald and Sunday's Sun-Herald newspapers would be published as normal with all sections and magazines included.
"It's not a half-decent product, it's a very decent product. It's as normal," he said.
Fairfax staff in Sydney and Melbourne yesterday walked off the job until Monday over the company's job cut plans.
