OPB and KMHD Content Creators Form Union With SAG-AFTRA

The content creators at Oregon Public Broadcasting and KMHD Jazz Radio have formed a union with SAG-AFTRA. Over 80% of the OPB and KMHD content creators signed the petition to unionize. They include on-air staff, hosts, reporters and digital, audio and video producers who are dedicated to telling the most interesting, important and engaging stories through radio, TV and online.

“I cannot overstate the importance of regional media, and whether it’s news or entertainment, these committed professionals deserve to have their voices heard, not only by the communities they serve, but by those who employ them,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “Let me extend my warmest welcome to our newest SAG-AFTRA members.”

Both OPB and KMHD have seen immense growth over the past few years. OPB has expanded its newsroom and coverage of critical topics that affect everyone in the Pacific Northwest. KMHD has solidified its place as one of the region's most respected jazz stations.

“We celebrate these advancements, and believe we can all do our best work when we have a seat at the table where decisions that drive and shape our coverage and direction are made,” said the newly formed unit.

In their petition, which was delivered to OPB management on March 14, the employees wrote, “We request a systemic change that we strongly believe will provide the structure to ensure we are not just consulted but are represented in vital decisions, including but not limited to wages, salaries, working conditions and major systems changes. We declare our intention to unionize with SAG-AFTRA, a union with a strong history representing content creators in public media organizations.”

OPB and KMHD join public media outlets nationwide in unionizing with SAG-AFTRA, including NPR and its member stations across the country, as well as WFAE, WETA, NewsHour, WESA, KPCC, KUOW, MPR, NHPR, WAMU, WBEZ, WBUR, WHYY and WNYC, among others. Additionally, their public media colleagues at WFYI in Indiana also went public this week with their intent to join SAG-AFTRA.

“We choose to work here because we are dedicated to our communities and passionately believe in our public service mission,” said employees in the unit. “We hope to collaborate with OPB leadership to increase morale among our colleagues, build on the equity and inclusion efforts in our workplace, and create an environment at OPB and KMHD where every employee has the support they need to thrive.”

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 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.