Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/879767
SAGAFTRA.org | Summer/Fall 2017 | SAG-AFTRA 15 SAG-AFTRA SETTLES DISPUTE AGAINST EMPLOYER SUCCESSFUL BROADCASTERS SHARE THEIR STORIES From left, Taneka Smothers of KNBR, Carolyn Tyler of KGO-TV and Megan Burks of KPBS discuss their careers in broadcast and the obstacles they face. The three broadcasters, along with Laura Diaz of KTTV, served on a panel titled The Changing Landscape for Women in Broadcast: A West Coast Perspective, which took place at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on March 23. Broadcaster Gabriela Teissier of KMEX TV moderated. The event was sponsored by the Broadcast Department in concert with the San Francisco- Northern California Local, the Los Angeles Local and the SAG-AFTRA National Women's Committee. S AG-AFTRA members at broadcast television stations WEEK and HOI News in East Peoria, Illinois, are celebrating after SAG-AFTRA settled an unfair labor practice charge against Quincy Media Inc., which operates both stations. The settlement will result in salary adjustments for two current employees and back pay awards for several current and former employees. The settlement also avoids a formal hearing on the unfair labor practice charge that was to be held at the National Labor Relations oard ofces in Peoria. "The ght for a living wage for all members at EE and continues, but this settlement provides welcome nancial help to several current and former member broadcasters who were underpaid by Quincy," said SAG-AFTRA Chief roadcast fcer Mary Cavallaro. SAG-AFTRA member broadcasters at WEEK and HOI News have been working under an expired contract since March 31, 2016. Compensation has been a sticking point during negotiations for a new agreement. When Quincy took over the stations, health care costs for employees were increased substantially. In addition, the company is seeking to eliminate important overtime provisions that provide extra compensation for members who have been consistently working long hours due to short stafng. "Looks can be deceiving," said SAG-AFTRA station steward Garry Moore. "People think that the college-educated reporters they see smiling on television each day must be well paid, but that's simply not true. We have reporters leaving the broadcast industry because wages are so low. We have had reporters making $10.94 an hour. That's not a living wage." Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and Quincy stalled for several months pending the nal resolution of these three unfair labor practice charges led by SAG-AFTRA in fall . Two other charges were settled in February.