We, the undersigned Texas Public Radio employees, are declaring our intent to unionize with SAG-AFTRA. We are deeply proud to work for a public radio station that provides accessible, award-winning news coverage and community events to our diverse South Texas community. We believe the content we create reflects the diversity and culture that makes South Texas unique, and we believe a union organized with SAG-AFTRA will safeguard our organization’s future success.
During this difficult period of transition following the loss of a beloved, transformational CEO, executive leadership has consistently said they are committed to improving our wages and fostering a culture of unity. While we acknowledge and appreciate that expressed commitment, we believe the best way to improve wages and unity is to form a union and engage in the collective bargaining process. We believe a union will allow us to truly have a seat at the table to work with you to create the conditions we have repeatedly asked for: transparency, better pay, a structured onboarding process, career advancement opportunities, and the protection to openly share our concerns and hopes for the future of TPR. A union will give us that voice through this transition and future transitions, even as leadership changes.
Our listeners and supporters rely on us to deliver real, reliable news, events, and arts & entertainment every day. They constantly show their appreciation and admiration for our work in the form of a donation to TPR, a kind message, or attendance at our events. Our community deserves a public radio station whose workers are well compensated, valued, and heard.
We approach this process in a spirit of collaboration and professionalism. Voluntary recognition based on majority support is standard procedure. It is provided for under federal law for private-sector employees and avoids the expense and distraction often associated with National Labor Relations Board hearings and elections. SAG-AFTRA has a strong history of representing public media organizations. We are excited to join the union alongside our colleagues at NPR and member stations across the country, including KPCC, WFAE, KUOW, MPR, WAMU, WBEZ, WBUR, WHYY, WNYC, WHQR, KCRW, and KQED.
We therefore request that you voluntarily recognize this petition as a demonstration that SAG-AFTRA represents a majority of employees at TPR in a unit appropriate for collective bargaining, and that you agree to meet and confer with us in good faith for purposes of collective bargaining.
We look forward to meeting at the bargaining table to lay the foundation for our organization’s future, and we celebrate the opportunity to become the first unionized public radio station in Texas.