SAG-AFTRA NYPR Reach Agreement On Expansion of Bargaining Unit

SAG-AFTRA and New York Public Radio began bargaining for a new contract in May 2018. One year later, the union has a new agreement with expanded jurisdiction to cover digital, per diem and temporary employees, practically doubling the size of the previous bargaining unit. During the course of these negotiations, the union successfully organized and reached two voluntary recognition agreements with NYPR to cover two residual units of employees — frst, temporary, per diem and part-time employees, as of Aug. 2, 2018, and, second, Gothamist reporters and certain digital content creators and engineers, as of Dec. 26, 2018.

The new agreement extends the benefits and protections of the existing union agreement to previously non-union employees, resulting in significant pay increases and union protections such as severance pay and health coverage for more than 80 employees. In addition, the union achieved improvements to the overall agreement, including a significant increase to the host scale, improvements to health and pension benefits, personal time off, and new provisions related to editorial process concerns and career development.

Prior to the completion of the full agreement but upon the occasion of the voluntary recognition agreements expanding the unit, both SAG-AFTRA and New York Public Radio recognized the historic nature of the agreements.

“This agreement goes to the heart of SAG-AFTRA’s mission of advocating for media professionals working in today’s gig economy. The fact that this agreement was successfully achieved in a timely manner speaks to the collaborative work of our union and NYPR as partners. We’re excited to extend the New York Public Radio family and welcome the new members to the union,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

“We value our partnership with SAG-AFTRA and are pleased that we were able to quickly reach this agreement with the union,” said Laura Walker, then-president and CEO of New York Public Radio. “Today’s agreement shows our commitment to our temporary and per diem workforce, and the importance of their contributions to the overall
success of our organization.” The full agreement was unanimously ratifed by the bargaining unit on March 29.