System/Policy
St. Louis Public Radio staffers form union after successful vote
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The St. Louis Public Radio Guild formed a union with the Communication Workers of America.
Current (https://current.org/tag/unions/page/2/)
The St. Louis Public Radio Guild formed a union with the Communication Workers of America.
Staffers announced last month their intent to unionize.
Cascade Public Media described the reorganization as a pivot to produce more multimedia journalism.
The staffers at the public radio station said in a statement that they aim to create “a better, healthier and more transparent workplace.”
“Once recognized, we look forward to negotiating with management to ensure all eligible members are in-unit,” the employees said.
The proposed unit would include 42 employees in both on-air and off-air roles.
Content staffers announced last month their intention to unionize.
The staffers voted 26-1 in favor of forming the union.
More than 70% of the station’s content staffers have signed onto a petition to management.
The proposed bargaining unit would include approximately 26 content employees.
The contract was ratified nearly two years after WAMU employees voted to form a union.
The members say that raises and a stipend given to nonunion employees are among the issues at stake.
“We wish we could have got a lot more,” said Local 1220 Business Manager John Rizzo. “This was the best deal we could attain with the company. And it’s a fair deal.”
A WTTW spokesperson said the station is ready to return to negotiations and has not received a request to do so.
NPR’s SAG-AFTRA union issued a mixed progress report this month on its demands for addressing diversity issues within the network.
The settlement includes a wage increase and “enhancements to NYPR’s parental leave policy.”
The contract includes protections for parents, improved pay and new anti-harassment rules.
Unit members overwhelmingly approved the three-year deal.
The contract comes after nearly two years of negotiations.
Newsroom employees cited concerns with wages, vacation days and staffers leaving the organization.