SAG-AFTRA

Winter 2021

Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1325752

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 39 of 121

38 SAG-AFTRA | Winter 2021 | sagaftra.org TV Station Embraces SAG-AFTRA Diversity Commitment D uring the June 2020 Broadcast Steering Committee meeting, the committee unanimously approved a resolution reaffirming its commitment to social justice, specifically diversity in newsrooms. The BSC presented and approved this resolution after a recent groundswell of grassroots activism for racial and economic equality. The resolution acknowledges the need for newsrooms to reflect the communities they serve and urges employers to recruit diverse applicants and to devote resources for professional development and mentorship. In Pittsburgh, the KDKA-TV bargaining committee presented the BSC resolution to negotiators from station owner CBS and gave CBS a proposal asking that the company recognize and share SAG-AFTRA's commitment to the promotion of diversity and inclusion in its newsroom. The proposal also put forward the creation of a committee to discuss and monitor the company's adherence to this commitment. Topics that the committee intends to discuss include recruiting and retaining a workforce that represents the diversity of communities in Pittsburgh and best practices with respect to reporting on these communities. CBS agreed to this proposal and, in August, the KDKA-TV bargaining unit overwhelmingly approved its inclusion in their collective bargaining agreement. In addition to this achievement at the bargaining table, news, sports, web and CBSN digital line producers at KDKA-TV have recently organized to join SAG-AFTRA with their on-air colleagues through a card check process for recognition in November 2020. The next step is for the producers to start identifying bargaining proposals to present to management. C ontent creators at Newark Public Radio's WBGO officially unionized Oct. 23, following an agreement between SAG-AFTRA and Newark Public Radio for a card check agreement to count the signatures of content creators wishing to organize with SAG-AFTRA. The new 22-member bargaining unit of content creators includes producers, hosts, anchors and reporters. WBGO is a legendary jazz station in Newark, New Jersey, and an NPR member station with a national and international listening audience. Content creators first announced their organizing drive with SAG-AFTRA in September 2020, with more than 70% signing a petition presented to management. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, "This is an exciting time for WGBO and SAG-AFTRA. We fully support them in their mission to fight for a fair contract, and we look forward to building this new relationship with WBGO content creators and their listening community. Our strength is in our unity." The WBGO organizing committee said, "We share WBGO's mission to serve as a cultural beacon that educates and entertains a wide local, national and international audience with high-quality broadcast programming. Together, we can create conditions at WBGO that will ensure all our voices are heard and improve all of our work. We want to have the best culture in public radio. We approach this process in a spirit of collaboration and professionalism." Members said they look forward to negotiating a first contract in a spirit of collaboration with management. WBGO Content Creators Vote to Unionize

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of SAG-AFTRA - Winter 2021