LOS ANGELES (November 23, 2020) — On Friday, November 20, producers at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh officially unionized under a card check and voluntary recognition agreement between SAG-AFTRA and CBS Broadcasting, Inc. The new 27-member bargaining unit includes news, sports, web, and digital line (CBSN) producers. Producers first informed station management of their intention to organize on Oct. 22, 2020, with the presentation of a petition signed by nearly 75% of their colleagues.
KDKA-TV is Pittsburgh’s oldest television station and a pioneer in the medium. SAG-AFTRA has represented announcers – including hosts, anchors, meteorologists and reporters – at the station since the 1950s.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “This is a win for KDKA producers and a testament to the power of union membership. Our new members can now negotiate to achieve the same types of protections and benefits their brother and sister SAG-AFTRA members – their own colleagues – have been enjoying for more than half of a century.”
The KDKA-TV producers organizing committee said, “This is a moment to celebrate. After more than 70 years, the producers and announcers who make KDKA are joined together in the same union. This is a major achievement for all of us. At the same time, we know there is a lot of work to be done. We look forward to negotiating for a fair contract that will make KDKA a better place for journalists, so we can continue to serve Western Pennsylvanians with strong local news for years to come.”
About SAG-AFTRA
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. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at sagaftra.org.
