Boston Radio: WBUR Staff Vote For SAG-AFTRA

Staff at News/Talk non-com WBUR 90.9 FM in Boston have voted overwhelmingly to recognize SAG-AFTRA as their union with 96 percent voting in favor.

The election was conducted Wednesday by the National Labor Relations Board.

The victory allows them to move forward to negotiate a first contract. The new bargaining unit will cover the public media professionals who create content for all areas of the station, including those working in the news department, on the digital team, on Here and Now, Radio Boston, On Point, Only a Game, on podcasts and in the production departments.

"On behalf of our SAG-AFTRA membership, I want to welcome the media professionals at WBUR. SAG-AFTRA will support you in your fight for transparency, equity in compensation, a more diverse and inclusive workplace as well as protections for freelancers and temporary workers that make WBUR a vital public radio station", said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

WBUR represents the latest in a series of organizing victories for public media professionals with SAG-AFTRA. In recent years, employees at KPCC in Pasadena, KPBS in San Diego, WBEZ in Chicago, KUOW in Seattle, Minnesota Public Radio, and digital and per diem employees at New York Public Radio have all unionized with SAG-AFTRA. SAG-AFTRA also represents public media professionals at National Public Radio (NPR) and several other public radio and television stations.

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals.