Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546062
36 SAG-AFTR A | Summer 2026 | sagaftra.org Broadcast News O n June 10, following the adjournment of the AFL-CIO Convention in Minneapolis, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin led a contingent of national and local leaders on a visit to SAG-AFTRA-represented station WCCO-TV. Astin was joined by Executive Vice President Linda Powell, Twin Cities Local President Casey Lewis, National Board member Randal Berger, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Pamela Greenwalt, Chief Labor Policy Officer Rebecca Damon and Twin Cities Local Executive Director Bill Hendrickson. They were guided through the labyrinth of the station's operations by WCCO-TV steward and reporter Reg Chapman and producer Joan Gilbertson, and visited the studio, master control room, editing bays and the newsroom, before watching the station's live broadcast. S AG-AFTRA continues to expand its reach in public media, as content creators from more stations choose our union as their representative. Recently, three more stations marked milestones in the unionization process, from announcing their intention to organize to achieving their first contract. Content creators at Oregon Public Broadcasting and KMHD Jazz Radio in Oregon, represented by SAG-AFTRA, reached a tentative agreement in April with OPB, the nonprofit public media organization, after nearly two years of negotiation. With close to 90 unit members, they are the largest SAG-AFTRA-repre- sented public media organization on the West Coast. The three-year contract is a first for this group, which includes on-air staff, hosts, reporters and digital, audio and video producers dedicated to telling stories through radio, TV and online platforms. "The process of securing this first contract has had a powerful and lasting impact across all of OPB. We are truly excited and grateful to SAG-AFTRA for their partnership in making this possible, and we look forward to realizing the full benefits this milestone represents," said the organizing committee. And on the East Coast, staff members at Ocean State Media, Rhode Island's NPR and PBS station, announced their intention to form a union with SAG-AFTRA in May. A majority of the unionizing workers — including hosts, reporters, and digital, audio and video producers — signed the petition to unionize and, on June 17, 70% voted yes. "We are proud to create public media every day for, and with, the people of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts," the organizing committee said. "We believe that in order to sustainably and effectively serve that mission, the voices of staff need to be represented in our organization's decision-making." Ocean State Media was formed following a merger between The Public's Radio, Rhode Island's NPR affiliate and Rhode Island PBS. The combined organization provides news and cultural coverage on the unique stories of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. In Miami, SAG-AFTRA reached a first-ever contract for WLRN/South Florida Public Media. The tentative agreement was ratified unanimously by the bargaining unit. The bargaining unit achieved significant gains in wages, parental leave, compensatory time and limits on the use of artificial intelligence. The WLRN agreement is the first SAG-AFTRA broadcast contract in Florida in decades. Meanwhile, at WFYI, workers who announced their intention to unionize with SAG-AFTRA in March 2024 are in their second year of negotiating their first contract. WFYI Public Media is a dual NPR and PBS member station broadcasting radio and television programming from Indianapolis and West Lafayette, Indiana. Members of the bargaining unit bring news, music and entertainment to the audiences of Central Indiana. These stations join the growing roster of public media outlets choosing to unionize with SAG-AFTRA. They include NPR, WHYY (Philadelphia), NHPR (New Hampshire) and Northwest Public Broadcasting (Washington state). National Leaders Visit Twin Cities Broadcasters SAG-AFTRA Expands Public Media Footprint From Left, WCCO-TV reporter and shop steward Reg Chapman, SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin and Twin Cities Local President Casey Lewis. WLRN employees celebrate the ratification of their first contract.