BROADCAST News THE NEWSLETTER FOR SAG-AFTRA BROADCASTERS
// VOL. 4
// ISSUE 1
President’s Task Force on
// SUMMER 2015
// N E W S I N B R I E F VICTORY FOR CHICAGO MEMBERS // An arbitrator has ruled at least 13 members of WKQX and WLUP in Chicago should be compensated for pre-recorded programs that air at later dates when staff is scheduled to be off (i.e., holidays and/or weekends). The ruling against station owner Cumulus Media Network found the union’s collective bargaining agreement required compensation as if staff were performing live. NYPR REACHES HISTORIC CONTRACT // Members at New York Public Radio reached a historic agreement with the station, achieving significant scale and above scale increases for the entire 100-plus person unit, while safeguarding work protections. The four-year contract is retroactive to July 2014 and runs through 2017. KNX, KTWV REACH AGREEMENTS // Bargaining unit members at radio stations KNX and KTWV (CBS Radio) achieved successor agreements, with gains that included guaranteed increases to both base salaries and to contribution rates to AFTRA Health & Retirement. The increases to base salaries are retroactive to Jan. 1 for KNX and to Nov. 22 for KTWV. NY HOSTS STUDENT MENTORING // The 11th annual SAG-AFTRA New York Broadcast Mentoring Program took place April 11 at the SAG-AFTRA New York office. A total of 70 students from area colleges interested in careers in TV and radio news and broadcasting took part in the day-long program. They learned from 12 SAG-AFTRA professional broadcast members. BSC TO MEET IN NYC // The second National Broadcast Steering Committee meeting of 2015 will take place on Aug. 22 in New York City. SUMMER TRAVEL? ENJOY DISCOUNTS WITH UNION PLUS // SAG-AFTRA members can enjoy various travel discounts through Union Plus. Discounts include selected car rentals, union hotels, airfare and world tour vacation packages. Visit unionplus.org/travel to book your summer trip!
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resident Ken Howard has launched the units with shop stewards.” said Brown. “But many President’s Task Force on Education, unit members are not as engaged in the union as Outreach and Engagement (PTEOE), a they could be and don’t understand how important major initiative that has begun to work it is to be actively involved. It’s only when they find with locals around the country in utilizing various themselves in a situation — usually negative — that forms of outreach, including a toolkit of videos, they come to the union for assistance. With the pamphlets and booklets, webinars and seminars. President’s Task Force, our goal is to engage our The idea for this innovative initiative came members and keep them engaged, informed and out of intensive strategic planning sessions last educated at all times — in good times or bad.” year with union leadership. One of the things the Presentations about the PTEOE have been made leadership identified was that to members across the country. The President’s Task Force And members at the Broadcast members want to be more enprovides a road map gaged with the union but don’t Steering Committee meeting in know how to go about it. March in New York received for our membership to The Task Force is comprised understand how the union information about the initiative. of several local and national Task Force members includworks … and become more ing Howard, Carteris, Brown, leaders, led by President Howengaged with SAG-AFTRA Damon and Story highlighted ard and including SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Broadcasters the goals of the initiative. Later, and participate fully.” Catherine Brown; Executive at a leadership training session, — KEN HOWARD Vice President Gabrielle Cartmembers used the Task Force as eris; and National Board members Ellen Crawford guidance to break out into role-playing exercises, and Rebecca Damon as voting members. Vice including brainstorming how members can handle President, Sound Recordings Dan Navarro; New difficulties at their shops and how to create solidarYork board member Jamal Story; and National ity and power among the members. Board member Abby Dylan serve as alternates. “We’re living in a time when more and more “The President’s Task Force provides a road people have no idea what a union is or what a map for our membership to understand how the union does and what workers organized in a union works, how it is governed, and most imporunion can do,” said BSC Chair Joe Krebs. “Unless tantly, how members can become more engaged we and all our members really understand it — with SAG-AFTRA and participate fully,” said really get it in our gut and our heart — then we Howard. “This is a member-driven, strategically won’t be able to protect our middle class memplanned effort to strengthen the bonds that exist bers. If we can get our members excited about among our membership, the industry and future what unions are about and what they can do, this members, by empowering our leaders with tools knowledge and energy will spread to others — to enhance their members’ experiences and and that’s how you create solidarity.” relationships with the union.” For more information on the President’s “Broadcast members are among the most Task Force on Education, Outreach and traditional of union members in SAG-AFTRA. They Engagement and to learn more about the union, work for a single employer in organized broadcast visit sagaftra.org/pteoe.
Connecting with Catherine Brown:
ON THE ROAD FOR SAG-AFTRA
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n recent months, we’ve all been urged to participate in what I believe is a unique opportunity to engage with our union. I’m honored and excited about being asked to serve on the SAG-AFTRA President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement (PTEOE). I sincerely thank President Ken Howard for encouraging and facilitating the input of broadcasters in this important work. Task Force members have been invited to meet with members at a number of our union locals. I traveled to Miami with EVP Gabrielle Carteris in April and attended the Chicago Local Membership Meeting with National Board member Ellen Crawford in early June. This is an especially rewarding phase of our work, getting feedback and hearing directly from members about the existing programs and events planned for members, as well as what kind of support the Task Force webinars and printed materials may provide to expand our reach. With each presentation we’re learning and compiling your observations, comments and suggestions. Your input is invaluable for the Task Force and our collective efforts to grow and strengthen SAG-AFTRA. Email us at PTEOE@sagaftra.org with your suggestions and questions. Catherine Brown is vice president, broadcasters.
A Moment with Joe Krebs:
GET INVOLVED
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ake part; participate; that’s the only way any of this is going to work.” Those are my thoughts at the start of every meeting of the Broadcast Steering Committee. That’s the only way these meetings will work. That’s the only way our union can work. As you know, President Ken Howard has launched the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement. I think it’s one of the most important steps our leadership has taken since the merger of our two unions and the creation of SAG-AFTRA. Too many of our members, and too many broadcasters, have no real idea of how our union works, what our union does or what our union can do. I would suggest that what we can do is limited only by the extent to which we are willing to participate and to take part in the life and the work of SAG-AFTRA. In a broadcast shop, that means several things: x Attending meetings about the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements — helping to set priorities, helping to plan strategy, attending negotiation sessions to show management you support your fellow members and your negotiators; x Reading and knowing the contract, so that when you spot a violation, you can report it to your shop steward or union representative; and x Being aware of concerns and questions of other members and putting them in touch with members or union staff, who can provide them with answers. For broadcasters, taking part and participating means taking an active role in the leadership of SAG-AFTRA, including: x Running for national or local office or supporting those who do; x Running for convention delegate; and x At the very least, making sure that your national and local officers and delegates are aware of your concerns. I urge you to take advantage of the initiatives offered by the President’s Task Force to educate yourselves, reach out to others and become engaged. Visit sagaftra.org/pteoe. Joe Krebs is chair, National Broadcast Steering Committee. 2
A Message From
Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro
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s the local and national leadership of SAG-AFTRA continue to engage in memberto-member communication through the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement, it is important for members working in news and broadcast to use this initiative as an opportunity to communicate what you think the priorities should be for your union to your member leaders and staff. What should be our focus, goals and strategy moving forward? What is happening in your workplace that is not specifically addressed in your union contract but should be? What is looming in your newsroom or studio that we must be prepared to address? Our industry is changing and so must our response to that change. SAG-AFTRA is committed to listening and to acting on your ideas. We want to hear from you. Contact SAG-AFTRA News & Broadcast at (800) 638-6796 or broadcast@sagaftra.org. For PTEOE questions and suggestions, email PTEOE@sagaftra.org.
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MEMBER NEWS Members Across the Country Win Murrow Awards
Left: WNBC News 4 New York’s David Ushery, SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris and New York Local Second Vice President Jim Kerr. Right: SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard with BSC member and Fox-11 Los Angeles reporter Hal Eisner and New York Local President Mike Hodge. Below: National Executive Director David White, left, with New York Local Associate Executive Director/Labor Counsel, News and Broadcast Rich Larkin.
COCKTAILS & CONVERSATION
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reat views and great company were had at the March 6 On Air cocktail reception hosted by the New York Local Board of Directors for broadcast members at the SAG-AFTRA New York office. The event took place before the first Broadcast Steering Committee meeting of 2015 and was attended by more than 100 members, including national officers, as well as national and local staff. With views of Central Park, Broadway and Lincoln Center serving as the backdrops, the reception was a celebration of the contributions SAG-AFTRA broadcast members have made to the union. It was a chance for broadcasters to connect with their fellow members, including President Ken Howard, Executive Vice President Gabrielle Carteris and Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino. The next BSC meeting takes place in New York City on Aug. 22.
Summer J-Conference Calendar Look for a SAG-AFTRA presence at these Summer Journalism and Media Conferences.
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AG-AFTRA will once again be on the road this summer at the top journalism organization conventions, from booths at expos to panel discussions, workshops and special events. SAG-AFTRA leadership and staff will be on hand to answer questions and meet with our many members from across the country. Check the organization’s website for schedules and more information on attending. JULY 9-12 // WASHINGTON, D.C. Native American Journalists Association NAJA.com
AUG. 5-9 // MINNEAPOLIS National Association of Black Journalists NABJ.org AUG. 12-15 // SAN FRANCISCO Asian American Journalists Association AAJA.org SEPT. 3-6 // SAN FRANCISCO National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association NLGJA.org SEPT. 18-20 // ORLANDO Excellence in Journalism — Society of Professional Journalists, Radio Television Digital News Association and National Association of Hispanic Journalists ExcellenceInJournalism.org
SAG-AFTRA broadcast units across the country took home coveted EDWARD R. MURROW REGIONAL AWARDS presented by the Radio Television Digital News Association. Regional winners automatically advance to the national competition, with winners announced in June. The awards, named after the legendary broadcaster and union member, have been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism since 1971. The 2015 national winners will be honored at the annual Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala on Oct. 12 in New York City. To see a list of regional winners, visit RTDNA.org.
CBS Radio’s Maer Retires Longtime CBS Radio News White House correspondent PETER MAER retired at the end of 2014. Maer joined CBS News in 1998. He has won a record five broadcast category Merriman Smith Awards for Presidential Coverage Under Deadline Pressure. He also received the 2005 Edward R. Murrow Award for radio feature reporting and was part of the CBS team honored with Murrow awards for the Bush v. Gore coverage, as well as the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and coverage of the Clinton impeachment hearings. His White House coverage began during the Carter administration in 1977.
60 Minutes’ Bob Simon Dies BOB SIMON, a veteran CBS News reporter and 60 Minutes correspondent, died Feb. 11 at age 73. Simon’s more than four decades as a reporter earned him respect and many accolades, including four Peabody awards, 25 Emmy awards and Overseas Press Club’s highest honor, the President’s Award. In 2003, Simon was part of the 60 Minutes team honored with the AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Award in Broadcasting (The AMEE), alongside his colleagues Ed Bradley, Morley Safer, Dan Rather, Andy Rooney, Steve Kroft, Lesley Stahl and Mike Wallace.
Clippers Celebrate Ralph Lawler Night The Los Angeles Clippers honored their longtime play-by-play announcer RALPH LAWLER with a Ralph Lawler Night in March. The special night included tributes throughout the game as well as a halftime honor where the veteran broadcaster was presented with a City of Los Angeles proclamation officially declaring March 9 as Ralph Lawler Day. Lawler is currently in his 36th season with the Clippers, and recently announced he would be returning next season. He is a three-time Los Angeles Emmy Award-winner and has called 2,838 career Clippers games as the third longest tenured broadcaster in the NBA. Unlike other announcers who use headsets while calling the game, Lawler relies exclusively on a handheld microphone during game telecasts. 33
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BROADCAST News is published quarterly for news and broadcast members of SAG-AFTRA. Corrections, suggestions and submissions can be sent to broadcast@sagaftra.org. © SAG-AFTRA 2015 (Vol. 4, No. 1)
n Card. The Weingarte
n could in any “If this discussio , being disciplined way lead to my al ect my person terminated or aff at ons, I request th working conditi r be ce d or union offi under a my shop stewar e, as is my right Until they arriv g. tin ee m to is th present at n, I choose not called Weingarte n io cis de t ur U.S. Supreme Co this matter.” tions regarding answer any ques
List of Contracts Approved by the Executive Committee Since Fall 2014 (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
KCBS-AM (San Francisco-Northern California) KFOR-TV (Dallas-Fort Worth) KNX-AM (Los Angeles) KOMO-TV (Seattle) KTLA-TV (Los Angeles)
THE WEINGARTEN CARD.
KTWV-FM (Los Angeles) WADO-AM (New York)
DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
WBBM-TV (Chicago)
Don’t let a meeting with management get out of hand. If you’re
WESTWOOD ONE (Los Angeles)
called in to explain why something went wrong, stop and think
WICU-TV (Ohio-Pittsburgh)
about your Weingarten Rights. By presenting this card to
WDAF-TV (Missouri Valley)
WIOQ-FM (Philadelphia) WJMK-FM (Chicago)
management, you have a right to stop a meeting until your
WKYC-TV (Ohio-Pittsburgh)
steward, assistant steward or a local rep arrives to accompany you.
WLS-TV (Chicago) WMMR-FM (Philadelphia)
4