Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/716514
Broadcast News FIGHTING TO SAVE LOCAL RADIO S AG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris joined employees at San Francisco's KNBR radio station on July 13 to demand that owner Cumulus Media pay a living wage. At a press conference in the shadow of AT&T Park, Carteris highlighted the injustices at the all-sports station, with longtime employees, including producers and show hosts, being paid far less than reasonable compensation — in many cases minimum wage. "Covering teams like the 2014 World Series champion San Francisco Giants, or the 2016 NBA finalist Golden State Warriors, or the five-time Super Bowl champion 49ers might not sound like a minimum-wage job, but that's the reality," said Carteris. KNBR ranks fifth in estimated 2015 revenue among the 453 Cumulus-owned and operated stations, generating an estimated $25 million a year in broadcast radio advertising revenue, according to SNL Kagan, an independent market research group. "I started at minimum wage. I've never received a raise or vacation pay. I have never received a day of holiday pay. The only pay increase I have received was the mandatory bump to the San Francisco minimum wage," said Ryan Covay, a sports anchor, producer and host who has worked at KNBR for six years. KNBR's on and off-air employees voted to join SAG-AFTRA in November 2014. Since then, Cumulus has not engaged in meaningful discussions about wages at the bargaining table and the last attempt at negotiations was in February. Speakers included radio reporter and SAG-AFTRA National Board member Bob Butler; San Francisco-Northern California Local President Kathryn Howell; and state Assemblymember David Chiu. Show your support by signing the petition for fair wages at savelocalradio.org. San Francisco-Northern California Local President Kathryn Howell expresses solidarity with KNBR employees at a press conference on July 13.