Photographers and technicians at Boston’s WHDH-TV have not received a raise since 2023 and receive only six paid holidays per year — four fewer than their union peers at WBZ-TV and WCVB-TV — sparking growing labor unrest at the independent station.
The IBEW Local 1228, which represents WHDH production staff, has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the station with the National Labor Relations Board. Some union members have also alleged in federal lawsuits that the station failed to properly compensate employees for work-related travel.
The previous contract expired a year ago, and workers have held informational pickets in recent weeks.
WHDH owner Sunbeam Television said it is “actively negotiating with the union in good faith.”
Spokesperson Lily Pardo added, “We do not negotiate in the press or public forums.”
As Boston’s only independent commercial TV station without network programming, WHDH airs 11.5 hours of local news on weekdays — the second-highest total in the market. The station relies heavily on its local production staff, but the union says its membership has dropped 20 percent over the past four years due to attrition, increasing pressure on remaining employees.