LOS ANGELES (June 2, 2016) - Today, staff at Minnesota Public Radio in St. Paul, Minn., voted to join SAG-AFTRA, with 39 voting yes for SAG-AFTRA representation, 17 voting no and 18 challenges. The result means staff will join more than 160,000 media professionals in the union, including employees of many of the leading public media organizations in the country.
The new bargaining unit will cover the public media professionals who create content for MPR News, American Radio Works, and the newly formed Investigative Unit. This election allows them to move forward to negotiate a first contract.
"We are excited about embarking on this new partnership with MPR management," said Marty Moylan, reporter for MPR News. "We look forward to having a seat at the table and to starting our negotiations."
Region 18 of the National Labor Relations Board conducted the election. In-person voting occurred on May 17, but the count was not conducted until today because a few ballots from remote locations were cast by mail.
“I want to congratulate the working journalists and media professionals at Minnesota Public Radio on their decision to join SAG-AFTRA,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “As they continue to do their excellent work, they will now be able to negotiate with their employer the compensation terms and workplace protections shared by thousands of our news industry members across the country.”
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White said, “I’m thrilled with the outcome of today’s vote and welcome the staff of Minnesota Public Radio into the SAG-AFTRA family. MPR is one of the most important voices in public media and together we can ensure their essential work will enrich people’s lives for many years to come.”
MPR is the latest public media organization whose employees have voted to join SAG-AFTRA. In recent years, employees at KPCC in Pasadena, KBPS in San Diego, and WBEZ in Chicago have voted to join the union. SAG-AFTRA also represents public media professionals at National Public Radio (NPR), KQED in San Francisco, WNYC in New York, and other stations.