The contract between 1010 WINS and the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) is set to expire on Tuesday, and staffers from the station are making their demands to Audacy known.
In a statement, the union shared that concerns about workplace safety remain paramount in the negotiations.
“1010 WINS runs 24/7 and requires people to commute to the office at all hours,” said WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. “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.”
The statement from Takeuchi Cullen came after 90% of union employees at 1010 WINS signed a letter to Audacy stating that it asks that the company “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.”
The union added that it is the first negotiation between the WGAE and Audacy since the company ended WCBS 880 last August, which eliminated 23 jobs.
In a statement to Barrett Media, an Audacy spokesperson said, “As always, Audacy remains committed to mutually beneficial and respectful partnerships with all our union colleagues, and we are proud of that track record.”
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