On Sept. 4, SAG-AFTRA on-air talent at La Ley Radio 107.9 (WLEY-FM) were surrounded by various Chicago labor leaders, including SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local Executive Director Eric Chaudron, Arise Chicago Executive Director Rev. C.J. Hawking, and Chicago Federation of Labor President Robert G. Reiter Jr., as they demanded a fair union contract during a press conference outside the station’s Chicago office on Michigan Avenue.
“We’re here to ask an important question: Why are La Ley and Spanish Broadcasting System needlessly punishing their loyal, longtime employees by unilaterally cutting their income by tens of thousands of dollars?” asked Eric Chaudron. “The company actually furloughs workers at Christmastime. No work and no pay during the holidays is beyond cruel. It’s incredibly difficult and demeaning to employees and their families, and now some of these workers are struggling to make ends meet.”
The on-air talent voted to join SAG-AFTRA in September 2018. Since then, SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating with SBS with little progress on economic issues. La Ley 107.9 is a Mexican-format radio station serving the large Latino population of Chicago and the surrounding areas. SAG-AFTRA’s newest members are severely underpaid compared to their English-speaking counterparts and are fighting for a fair contract and respect. Arise Chicago has started a petition in support of the Chicago on-air talent at arisechicago.org/laley.
This is part of a large campaign that not only affects Chicago on-air talent, but also talent at two other SBS stations in Los Angeles.
Please keep watching the Activator for more details on how you can join the fight and help your fellow members get a fair union contract. Let’s show our newest members what solidarity is all about!
Photo: La Ley’s on-air talent fighting for a fair union contract.
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