After negotiating for two years as part of its first union contract, iHeartMedia employees in the podcast division have filed an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board.
The charge claims the radio giant has violated Section8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act “by restricting protected Section 7 speech, by engaging in intimidating conduct and by interrogating employees about their support for the union” in its interactions with the iHeart Podcast Union, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The union claims the company reacted negatively to employees distributing flyers and pamphlets related to the union beginning in March.
The iHeartPodcast Union represents around 100 employees between hosts, producers, editors, and researchers in conjunction with the Writers Guild of America East.
Since negotiating with the company beginning in 2022 after iHeartMedia recognized the union, discussions have become contentious, shifting into the public sphere earlier this month when the union claimed the iHeart showed up two hours late to a bargaining session.
Later that week, the union publicly criticized the company in a social media post, writing “Funny how a company that can afford to rent a yacht for celebrities every year ‘can’t afford’ to raise our salary minimums!”
