SBN Inks New Pact

Raises of 3% in each of the next three years, a one-half percent increase in the Employer’s contribution to the AFTRA H & R Fund, new dues check-off language, new provisions for labor-management meetings, and a signing bonus were the featured attractions in the new contract agreement recently ratified by the newspersons, audio journalists, and producers at the Sheridan Broadcasting Network (SBN). Also included were new fees for televised segments of radio news.

Special thanks to Station Rep. Gerry Scott for helping with the negotiations and communication with members.

The 20 AFTRA members at SBN, headquartered in the city, provide news and programming to stations targeting African American and urban audiences around the country.

SBN’s parent, the Sheridan Broadcasting Corp., also owns WAMO Radio.

Talks Drag on at Clear Channel

Recently, there was a dim light at the end of a long bargaining tunnel at WWSW –FM and WBGG-AM. Management finally (after 16 bargaining sessions) took off the table cutback demands for holiday pay. They also modified onerous FT/PT staffing language. Still, the thorny issues of cuts in Employer H & R contributions, protections against imported voice-tracking and overscale crediting must yet be resolved. In recognition of their extraordinary staying power, 3WS AFTRA members Sherie Seiter, Mike Frazer, Shawn Israel, and Pete Morley received AFTRA pins, our own badge of honor. Next up: Federal Mediator-assisted negotiations.

Talks are heating up at WDVE as well. Wouldn’t you know it, management wants unlimited voice tracking rights, the right to free use of members’ work on other stations, and cuts in H & R. Staff wonder why the station wants to mess with success. Bill Cameron and Sean McDowell help anchor the AFTRA side of the table.

AFTRA’s five-year journey to win a first contract at WJJJ hit a new roadblock when the station announced another format change (the 3^rd in four years). Current music staff will be dismissed to make way for the new hot talkers. Of course, AFTRA will be there to bargain for severance pay.

ESPN 1250 and AFTRA Cannonized

It took almost three years, but AFTRA and ESPN Radio 1250 (WEAE-AM) reached an agreement regarding sports talker Ellis Cannon. The deal, which averts arbitration, clarifies Cannon’s status as a regular employee of the station and provides AFTRA pension coverage for past years' service. Welcome aboard, Ellis.

Channel 2 Talks Spotlight Freelance Issues

The long, long Hometown Hello continues as KDKA-TV – AFTRA bargaining extends into its second year. The talks, on a very slow pace due to the CBS Law Department’s inimitable scheduling, focussed this Fall on the Station’s use of freelance talent for commercials and programming it produces. These services are covered under the AFTRA Freelance Contract. The station has looked back to pick up AFTRA H & R payments it may have missed in the last several years. Meanwhile, both sides have exchanged drafts of newer, simplified language for a new freelance contract.

On the Staff Contract, the station has yet to make any proposals for improvements to the Staff Artists’ scale. That and AFTRA’s persistence in proposing coverage over all WNPA on-air production are the main issues to be resolved. Talks will resume in January.

From Here to Infinity

Bargaining for CBS/Infinity/Viacom’s three FM stations, WBZZ, WDSY, and WZPT, are finally underway. The Station’s proposals to open up staff commercial voices to KDKA, to utilize voice tracking, and to reuse material have raised a few AFTRA eyebrows. Members feel they should share in the return of these new ways for their talent to attract listeners to the stations.

Talks are slated this month. Special thanks to Station Rep. Stoney Richards for assisting with the negotiations.