Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1251534
33 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2020 | sagaftra.org SAG-AFTRA, ABC Reach Agreement on Digital Reporters T his past winter, ABC and SAG-AFTRA member leaders, along with union staff from four cities, rolled up their sleeves to modify the newly negotiated national agreement covering digital reporters at ABC stations in Chicago, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Under the improved agreement, SAG-AFTRA is expanding its jurisdiction to include programming on the ABC-owned Localish network, including a new D-2 channel featuring local community programming and significant improvements to pay for digital reporters. A final agreement was reached by both parties in late January, and ABC members ratified the agreement in early February. "Our SAG-AFTRA team as a collective did a great job," said San Francisco digital reporter Dustin Dorsey. The new deal established strong jurisdiction that will not only benefit the digital reporters, but the whole ABC team as well." SAG-AFTRA and ABC initially reached a landmark new national agreement representing digital reporters in 2018, with Los Angeles as the first region to hire the digital reporters and the other regions to follow suit in early 2019. Full Speed Ahead for Traffic Reporters' Contract T he SAG-AFTRA broadcasters who keep the nation moving have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Entercom. These are the SAG-AFTRA radio broadcasters who produce and anchor traffic reports — from the air and from the ground — and provide time-saving and often life-saving information to commuters in major broadcast markets from coast-to-coast, 24/7. They also broadcast news and sports reports in some cities. The new traffic agreement is a national contract covering one bargaining unit with members working in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Detroit, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Hartford and Pittsburgh. The three-year agreement guarantees increases to annual salaries and salary scales, along with increases to contributions to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan and AFTRA Retirement Plan. The new contract also enhances critical protections for the SAG-AFTRA broadcasters who report on traffic conditions from the air and maintains vital overtime and holiday pay provisions for all bargaining unit members. The negotiations were held in Philadelphia, and SAG-AFTRA members covered by the contract along with their SAG-AFTRA broadcast reps participated in the negotiations in person and via teleconference. "I am happy the new contract is now in place," said Karen Trombley, the afternoon drive-time traffic anchor and shop steward at WWJ Newsradio in Detroit. "Being part of the negotiations gave me the insight on how to keep doing the best on my end so we can be successful when we return to the bargaining table in 2023." Broadcast Leaders Convene M embers of the Broadcast Steering Committee met at the SAG-AFTRA New York office on Dec. 7 for an update on organizing efforts, negotiations and disputes with employers. The meeting was led by BSC Chair Joe Krebs and Vice Chair Cheri Preston, who welcomed broadcast professionals from locals nationwide, congratulated newly-elected Vice President, Broadcasters Bob Butler and thanked outgoing Vice President Catherine Brown. In addition to a panel on producing and negotiating contracts for podcasts, members of the BSC also celebrated the union election victory of WHYY in Philadelphia with two lead organizers from the bargaining unit. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the March BSC meeting was canceled and its next meeting will be held by video conference on June 20. Vice President, Broadcasters Bob Butler, BSC Vice Chair Cheri Preston, Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon, BSC Chair Joe Krebs, Secretary-Treasurer Camryn Manheim and Chicago Local Board member Catherine Brown.