Union Reaches Historic Agreement to Represent Digital Reporters

A historic agreement has been reached between SAG-AFTRA and ABC television stations WLS-Chicago, KABC-Los Angeles, WABC-New York and KGO-San Francisco to represent digital reporters. Member leaders from each of the stations came together during the summer to participate in negotiations for this new three-year agreement. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by members and the SAG-AFTRA executive committee.

“SAG-AFTRA sees the ABC Digital Reporters Agreement as a landmark achievement in our ongoing efforts to establish meaningful standards and working conditions for journalists as our industry continues to expand into the digital space,” stated SAG-AFTRA Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro, who served as lead negotiator during the ABC digital reporter talks.  

The new contract sets minimum salary rates, holiday pay, labor-management committee meetings and overtime provisions. In addition to the new provisions for digital reporters, local contracts were reached at all four stations, including agreements with new member benefits at WLS-Chicago and KGO-San Francisco, and one-year extensions at KABC-Los Angeles and WABC-New York. All four contracts secured child-bonding leave for new parents.