The SAG-AFTRA union released details Friday of the contract approved by NPR staffers after negotiations concluded July 1. The two-year contract includes pay raises of 2.5 percent that take effect Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2017.
SAG-AFTRA represents 400 on- and off-air employees at NPR, who make up the largest broadcast unit represented by the union.
The contract also provides for continued overtime and related pay and union-guaranteed benefits. NPR is paying 70 percent of health insurance premiums, with employees paying the remainder.
In the final days of negotiations, NPR employees took to social media to show their union solidarity, using the hashtag #WeMakeNPR.
“The overwhelming vote by the membership at NPR is another victory for the merged SAG-AFTRA,” said SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard in the union’s press release. “The members of the NPR bargaining team, the largest broadcast unit represented by SAG-AFTRA, showed tremendous creativity in their global solidarity social media campaign. It was truly inspiring to see their efforts pay off and I commend them.”