EXCLUSIVE: The journalists at New York’s 1010 WINS radio station presented management at Audacy with a petition Thursday amid a new round of contract talks.
The petition, signed by more than 90% of the Writers Guild of America East bargaining unit, demands station management negotiate a fair deal ahead of the current contract expiration on July 22 — specifically one that addresses growing concerns about worker safety.
“We, the undersigned journalists of 1010 WINS, proudly stand with our colleagues on the bargaining committee as they renegotiate our union contract,” the petition reads. “We support all their demands, and we ask that Audacy bargain respectfully and in good faith as we work to improve our salaries, benefits, pathways to promotion, workplace safety, remote work options, preserve severance, and protect against the growing threat of artificial intelligence. We call on management to reach a fair deal before our contract expiration date: July 22, 2025.”
One of the major priorities that the station’s journalists are seeking to address in the new contract is worker safety, especially for those working overnight shifts since 1010 WINS provides 24/7 coverage. Deadline understands that several of the station’s journalists have been attacked coming and going to work recently.
This marks the WGA East‘s first contract negotiations with Audacy since the Company shut down New York’s WCBS Newsradio 880 in August 2024 after a nearly 60-year run and laid off 23 Guild members.
1010 WINS is currently the longest-running all-news station in the country and has now been operating for more than 60 years itself. It is the No. 2 radio station in New York City.
“1010 WINS runs 24/7 and requires people to commute to the office at all hours. The station’s journalists have been threatened and even attacked. Audacy needs to take responsibility for the safety of its employees and our members. This is one of the many issues that management still needs to address in a fair and equitable contract,” says WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen.
Source link
