SAG-AFTRA

Summer 2020

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28 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2020 | sagaftra.org Broadcast Steering Committee Meeting Held Virtually A mid the social distancing of the COVID-19 era, the National Broadcast Steering Committee met via Zoom on June 20. Chaired by National Board member Joe Krebs and BSC Vice Chair Cheri Preston, the hot topics of discussion were the return to the studio for broadcast employees, the national protests over police brutality and the importance of covering these events, and how to go about diversifying newsrooms. The committee released a statement addressing the need for diversity. It read, in part, "We, the members of the SAG-AFTRA National Broadcast Steering Committee, strongly reaffirm our commitment to fairness, equity and diversity in hiring, assignment, compensation, training opportunities and advancement in broadcast news organizations." (See page 51 for more.) Journalists have also been under extreme pressure during the pandemic, as it has increased their workload while simultaneously making it more difficult to do their jobs. During the four-and-a- half-hour meeting, committee members shared their experiences and the complications faced by both those who have been working from home and those who need to continue venturing into the field. The BSC also provided time for a series of experts to offer advice on how to handle the stress of the job in this time of disruption. Broadcast Steering Committee Chair Joe Krebs speaks at the June 20 meeting, which was held by videoconference. WBUR Gets First Contract M embers at Boston radio station WBUR ratified their first contract in June, more than a year after employees organized and voted to be represented by SAG-AFTRA. The vote at the NPR station was overwhelmingly in favor of the new contract. After the successful vote, employees issued a statement. "Today we ratified a hard-won first contract. We feel it goes a long way toward solving those problems while promoting diversity and fairness. But it's a bittersweet day. In the midst of our voting period, we were blindsided by a layoff announcement," they wrote. "Through the pain, we are proud to be a union station 16 months after our vote. We remain open to working with management to protect our colleagues as well as our station's future — and to serve the public for many years to come." SAG-AFTRA represents public media professionals at NPR, KNKX, KPCC, KPBS, KQED, KUOW, Minnesota Public Radio, WBEZ, WBUR, WNYC and other stations. KCRW Content Staff Unanimously Ratifies First Agreement A fter two years of organizing and countless hours at the negotiating table, the content staff at KCRW unanimously ratified its first collective bargaining agreement in early July. The negotiations achieved myriad, systemic changes for staff at the station, one of the two major NPR affiliates in Los Angeles, including pay equity amongst staffers, notice and process for layoffs, and protections against overtime and on-call abuses. The contract also covers 21 of KCRW's DJs, one of the first CBAs to do so in the country. The bargaining committee released this statement on behalf of more than 90 unionized staffers: "This contract is the product of a lot of hard work. We obtained benefits and protections that, without unionizing, would have been improbable, if not impossible. We have one of the most robust holiday schedules in the nation, including the first contract to include Juneteenth, a health care contribution from our employer that saves members hundreds of dollars, and clear steps for reporters and producers to advance in their careers and earn a livable wage in Los Angeles. These are just a fraction of what we have achieved. The list is long! "Above all, this contract represents the power of unions, in both good times and bad. There is nothing that can replace the effectiveness of coming together for a common goal. We have negotiated a contract that rectifies generations of abuse and poor management at KCRW without breaking the bank. "We look forward to continuing our work as a cutting-edge public media organization, producing award-winning music and news broadcasts, innovative podcasts and engaging social and web content."

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