SAN FRANCISCO (Nov. 6, 2014) – SAG-AFTRA today released the following statement:
Today, staff at KNBR 680/1050 in San Francisco voted to join tens of thousands of media and entertainment professionals by recognizing SAG-AFTRA as their union. The new bargaining unit will cover more than 35 media professionals who host, report, produce, edit and coordinate content for sports stations KNBR 680 and KTCT 1050.
Ballots were mailed out on Oct. 22, returned by Nov. 4 and counted today, Nov. 6 at the National Labor Relations Board Region 19 office.
This election allows the bargaining unit to move forward and negotiate a first contract with the station’s owner, Cumulus Media.
“Just like the many teams that we cover, we bring commitment and passion to KNBR every day,” said sports broadcaster Ted Ramey. “We want to be treated as respected members of our team.”
Producer Brian Smith said, "We aim to reach a deal that will ensure that all of us dedicated to KNBR have a share of our successes.”
During their organizing campaign, the KNBR employees received widespread support from fellow SAG-AFTRA broadcasters, including reporters, anchors and hosts at KGO and KSFO, whose parent company is also Cumulus Media, as well as other union members both in and out of the local market. They join sports producers at WIP in Philadelphia who recently voted to join on-air staff, who were already represented by the union. SAG-AFTRA also represents sports radio professionals in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Detroit.
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