SAG-AFTRA Files Charges with NLRB Against New York Public Radio

Today, SAG-AFTRA filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against New York Public Radio, owner of WNYC, Gothamist and other media properties, in response to a coordinated and aggressive campaign to undermine union and protected and concerted activity.

SAG-AFTRA filed this charge in response to a management-driven strategy to silence a thriving newsroom and undermine accountability and transparency by issuing discipline and threats against employees for asking questions and engaging in legally protected activity. The union also maintains that WNYC management maintained and enforced work rules designed for the purpose of curtailing accountability and transparency and surveilled employees or created the perception of surveillance of employees in their communications with the union and one another. Given WNYC's egregious conduct, SAG-AFTRA is seeking a 10(j) injunction from the NLRB to protect the integrity of the station and to ensure that employees can exercise their rights without the specter of retaliation.

Most egregious to the union were the terminations of two respected journalists, including the SAG-AFTRA shop steward and an 18-year employee for indefensible and unlawful reasons that violate the collective bargaining agreement and the NLRA. 

“SAG-AFTRA and New York Public Radio had a collaborative relationship for more than 20 years,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “We have worked to ensure a culture where our members can work zealously while being protected under a fair agreement. I am shocked by the reprehensible decision of NYPR’s management to terminate our members and other dedicated staff. We stand with all of them and will continue to fight for those who have been silenced.” 

“We are stunned and disappointed with this aggressive campaign by a new management team that seems bent on not only dismantling our relationship, but also abdicating their own responsibilities of being transparent and accountable to employees and the member listeners of the NYPR community,” said SAG-AFTRA Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro. 

The union has asked for New York Public Radio's chief executive and president, Goli Sheikholeslami, to immediately reinstate all unjustly terminated employees irrespective of union member status. Additionally, SAG-AFTRA has called on the NYPR board of directors to immediately investigate management actions in recent months in a transparent process and report all findings to the public. 

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.