1-08-2024 11:21am

WFAE staff agrees to the first union contract

Anita Johnson-Brown Editor

Staff members of a new bargaining unit at WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina, have approved their first union contract, according to a press release by Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The bargaining committee, in a statement, said that after a year and a half of organizing and bargaining, they had secured new guarantees on pay, time off, and promotions. They added that they would also have a seat at the table as WFAE grows and evolves in the coming years.

In November 2022, the staffers announced their intent to unionize, citing staff turnover poor communication, and a lack of transparency from management. The three-and-a-half-year contract includes pay guarantees for full-time and part-time employees, annual pay raises, added time off, and new policies that will guide promotions, scheduling, and remote work. According to the press release, the station has also agreed to regular reviews of compensation and diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring and departures, and mandatory posting of salary minimums on union job ads.

Hosts, reporters, announcers, producers, and editors are part of the bargaining unit.

In a statement, WFAE CEO Ju-Don Marshall said the station is happy to have successfully finalized its first collective bargaining agreement. The terms of the agreement reflect the station's long-held values, including a commitment to ensuring that WFAE is a fair and equitable workplace where colleagues feel seen and heard. The agreement also ensures that these values become an enduring part of the organization, transcending individual leadership.

By Anita Johnson-Brown|The Los Angeles News