NPR/DMU

Samantha Wessel

Email: samantha.n.wessel@gmail.com

Bjorn Westergard

Email: bjornw@gmail.com

Approximately sixty-three (63)  rank and file employees working in National Public Radio’s Digital  Media Division (Content Operations, Design, Engineering, Online Support  and Product management) announced today that they have designated the  National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians –  Communications Workers of America (“NABET-CWA”) as their exclusive  bargaining representative with respect to wages, hours and other terms  and conditions of employment.

These employees chose NABET-CWA as  their exclusive bargaining representative, because they want to have a  seat at the table with respect to the issues that are important in their  workplace. These issues include equal pay for equal work, staffing  levels commensurate with the needs of NPR’s growing audience, and hiring  processes that ensure the consideration of a diverse pool of  applicants. NABET-CWA and Local 31 have a long history of promoting  technical excellence, along with ensuring diversity and equality, both  within National Public Radio (“NPR”) and throughout the broadcast  industry.

“This announcement represents a major step for these  workers toward finding their collective voice with respect to what  matters the most to them,” said Local 31’s President, Robert Williams.  President Williams added, “Local 31, along with each and every one of  its more than 1,400 members, stand in solidarity with NPR’s digital  media employees, and we fully support their decision to join NABET-CWA.  We also call upon NPR to do the right thing and recognize NABET-CWA as  these employees’ exclusive bargaining representative.”

NABET-CWA  is already the exclusive bargaining representative of broadcast  employees who work for National Public Radio. NABET-CWA Local 31 handles  the day-to-day representation of these broadcast employees and the  administration of their collective bargaining agreement with NPR.

For more information, you can visit the Digital Media United website, which is located at https://www.digitalmediaunited.org, or you can contact  

Robert Williams, President, NABET-CWA Local 31 at (301) 459-4999.