The journalists and content creators at Pittsburgh’s nonprofit radio stations WESA and WYEP finalized their first collective bargaining agreement Thursday.
Over two dozen staffers unionized with the SAG-AFTRA labor union two years ago, and, according to a press release, have bargained in good faith with Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting, which operates the two stations.
WESA is Pittsburgh’s National Public Radio affiliate, reporting on local governmental, political, and cultural news. WYEP broadcasts indie and classic rock music across the Southwestern Pennsylvania region.
The workers said in a press release that their first-ever union contract covers three years. It includes immediate wage increases, which were not disclosed, and protections against AI technology being used to replace workers’ jobs.
“Pittsburgh is a union town, and we are proud to serve it as a unionized station,” the workers said in a press release
Both WESA and WYEP are commercial-free nonprofit radio stations, supported by listeners and additional funding.
Terry O’Reilly, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting, said in a statement he was pleased with the contract.
“We are looking forward to working with SAG-AFTRA and its members in our work to provide the highest-quality public media service to the more than 2 million residents of Western Pennsylvania,” O’Reilly said.
The contract covers about one-third the company’s 61 employees, including on-air staff and other content professionals on both radio stations.
Last year, Pittsburgh Community Broadcasting ended WESA’s former flagship daily morning news show “The Confluence” amid reports of increased costs of utilities and national NPR programming. Two WESA reporters took buyouts last year.
