Broadcast Update

Spring and summer have been very busy at our broadcast stations. In April, our members at KPRS-FM/KPRT-AM (Carter Broadcast Group) in Kansas City appointed new leadership: shop steward Chris “Playmaker” Stimpson and assistant shop steward Stacy Rhymes. We opened contract negotiations on April 18 and, on April 25, completed our bargaining with a new tentative agreement after only two sessions. Thanks to the leadership of Chris and Stacy, we were able to quickly negotiate an agreement that was acceptable to our members, despite a very challenging economic environment for radio. Gains for the unit included a significant increase in the H&R contribution rate, improved language on use of social media, premium pay for part-time staff members working seven days in a row and the elimination of vague “community service” requirements from the contract. The unit members also fought off proposals from the company to eliminate overtime for full-time artists and severance pay for part-time artists. The agreement was approved by the members in May and will run through April 2019.

Also in April, we opened negotiations at KMBC-TV (Hearst) in Kansas City. Again, due to the strong leadership of the bargaining committee, including shop steward Craig Hoerler, Kris Ketz and Brett Elliott, we were able to reach a tentative agreement on June 22, over a month before the July 31 expiration date. Gains included a significant adjustment to wage scales, raises for artists at or above the top of their scales, a three-quarters-point increase to the H&R contribution rate plus an increase to the earnings cap, the addition of five paid holidays for part-time artists, and improved health and safety language. The members approved this agreement in early July, and it will run through August 2019.

On April 26, we returned to the bargaining table at KCTV (Meredith) in Kansas City after a six-month hiatus. The unit members had previously voted down final contract offers from the company in both May 2015 and November 2015. Thanks to the creative thinking and tenacity of our shop stewards, Andrew Zimmerman and Lori Butcher, we were able to seek and obtain improvements to the non-compete language in the contract, which led to the unit approving an agreement in early May. As you may recall, SAG-AFTRA recently organized the news producers at KCTV. With this new agreement, the news producers joined the unit and are excited to be covered by their first-ever union agreement. This agreement will run through May 2018. In recent weeks, both the assistant news director and the news director have departed. We will be paying close attention to how upcoming changes in management may impact our members.

On June 13, we opened negotiations at KMOX-AM (CBS) in St. Louis. As you may know, CBS recently announced plans to explore “strategic options” for its radio division, with a spinoff to an independent publicly owned company appearing to be the most likely result. In this uncertain environment, our members are more appreciative than ever of the benefits and protections contained in their contract and have mobilized to ensure that the agreement remains strong. The company proposed cutting minimum scales for staff artists across the board, reducing or eliminating minimum staffing requirements and expanding its use of “apprentices” on the air. The unit members are determined to protect their wages and benefits, the integrity of their bargaining unit, and the quality of the news and information product that has come to be synonymous with the KMOX name. Negotiations began in June and are ongoing, with our next bargaining session Sept. 19.

This fall, we will be holding leadership and shop steward training sessions in St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha. These sessions will be designed to help current shop leaders improve their knowledge and skills, and also to help others who may be interested in taking leadership positions in the future learn what is involved in being a shop steward. These sessions will be open to any member who wants to attend, even just to learn more about the rights and protections that come with being a unionized workplace. Please stay tuned for details. 

This item was originally featured in the September 2016 local newsletter.