Livid ABC staff have demanded their chairman Justin Milne stand aside following Fairfax Media’s revelation he told former managing director Michelle Guthrie to sack presenter Emma Alberici.

Staff at the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters in Sydney on Wednesday unanimously passed a motion calling for Mr Milne to step down while independent investigation into his conduct occurred.

"We can’t have this coming from the board," senior ABC journalist Stephen Long said.

"If the chairman thinks this is an appropriate thing to do, the chairman does not understand his role."