San Francisco, CA (June 11, 2013)– Newspersons represented by SAG-AFTRA at KRON4 voted unanimously last Friday to reject the latest contract offer proposed by KRON4/Young Broadcasting management. SAG-AFTRA members cited equitable compensation, threats to job security, and health/retirement benefit concerns as their primary reasons for rejecting the Company’s latest offer. SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating with the Company for over a year while Newpersons continue to work with a contract that expired on April 30, 2012.
In commenting on the outcome, Chief Negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, Frank Du Charme said: “The members have sent a clear message to management that while they have been patient for over a year they want and expect a reasonable contract that provides continuation of job security previously agreed to by management, reasonable wage increases like those granted other employees doing like work and realistic Health and Retirement increases.” “The members have spoken, the ball is now clearly in management’s court," Du Charme added. A Federal Mediator is scheduled to meet with the parties on July 18 in an attempt to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Young Broadcasting recently announced a merger agreement with Media General, Inc., a local broadcast and digital media company based in Richmond, Virginia. It is unclear what effect, if any, the proposed merger will have on the continuing labor dispute.
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents more than 165,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.
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