A group of WLRN staffers notified management of their intent to unionize, according to a post Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The group, made up of hosts, reporters, producers and staff in other content-related roles, posted a letter calling on management to voluntarily recognize their union with the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
The petition to unionize was signed by 75% of WLRN’s content creators, according to a press release.
“We are currently reviewing the letter from WLRN newsroom staff and considering the best path forward for our station and the community,” WLRN CEO John LaBonia said in a statement. “We have great respect for each and every member of our talented staff members and look forward to working with them collaboratively through this process to build on our team effort in continuing to make WLRN a great news operation and a great place to work.”
In their letter to management, staffers say the Miami station has seen significant growth in recent years and that they are seeking a “seat at the table” to negotiate salaries and working conditions.
“While we … are optimistic about this growth, we also have serious concerns about unexpected firings, staff turnover, entry-level salaries too low for one of the country’s most expensive regions as well as a lack of transparency from management and clarity on employee expectations,” the staffers said in the letter.
“We truly love WLRN and are proud to work here,” the staffers wrote. “We want to ensure its continued success as one of the most vital and accessible sources of accurate information for South Florida and beyond.” The letter was signed by 15 staffers.
“We welcome WLRN content creators to SAG-AFTRA. It’s amazing to see additional public media employees organizing for power and we look forward to the employer’s response to the voluntary recognition request,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland in a press release.
The School Board of Miami-Dade County holds the broadcast license for WLRN.