RADIO WORKERS TUNE IN TO TEAMSTERS REPRESENTATION, CONTRACT
Agreement Secures 'Tremendously Rich' Benefits
Employees of Niagara Independent Media unanimously approved their first contract on March 7, less than a week after the company voluntarily recognized the workers' union with Cheektowaga, New York-based Local 264. The workers include 12 on-air personalities, producers and board operators at WHLD, a Buffalo, New York-based radio station.
"This is a great contract for the workers," said M. Scott Chismar, Local 264 Organizing Director. "The pay is fair and it has a tremendously rich benefit package, including fully paid health insurance provided by the Upstate New York Teamsters plan."
The three-year contract, retroactive to March 1, was ratified by a 10-to-0 tally. The pact came about soon after the radio station began broadcasting in mid-February.
Brian Brown-Cashdollar, founder of Niagara Independent Media, was a member of Local 264, when he worked at the Western New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH). Brown-Cashdollar remained neutral in the employees' organizing effort.
"Brian was covered with a good Local 264-negotiated contract at WNYCOSH," Chismar said. "He wanted to make sure employees at the radio station had good benefits as well. And to Brian’s credit, he did. It’s not easy but he ensured that every employee receives full health care coverage."
After the radio workers became Teamsters, the twist on the common organizing-and-contract campaign continued, as a robust pact was negotiated and ratified in less than a week.
"The representation-and-contract process was lightning-fast," Chismar said. "Being a veteran of many vicious anti-union employer campaigns, this was a pleasant experience. We’d welcome more of these types of campaigns."
Agreement Secures 'Tremendously Rich' Benefits
Employees of Niagara Independent Media unanimously approved their first contract on March 7, less than a week after the company voluntarily recognized the workers' union with Cheektowaga, New York-based Local 264. The workers include 12 on-air personalities, producers and board operators at WHLD, a Buffalo, New York-based radio station.
"This is a great contract for the workers," said M. Scott Chismar, Local 264 Organizing Director. "The pay is fair and it has a tremendously rich benefit package, including fully paid health insurance provided by the Upstate New York Teamsters plan."
The three-year contract, retroactive to March 1, was ratified by a 10-to-0 tally. The pact came about soon after the radio station began broadcasting in mid-February.
Brian Brown-Cashdollar, founder of Niagara Independent Media, was a member of Local 264, when he worked at the Western New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (WNYCOSH). Brown-Cashdollar remained neutral in the employees' organizing effort.
"Brian was covered with a good Local 264-negotiated contract at WNYCOSH," Chismar said. "He wanted to make sure employees at the radio station had good benefits as well. And to Brian’s credit, he did. It’s not easy but he ensured that every employee receives full health care coverage."
After the radio workers became Teamsters, the twist on the common organizing-and-contract campaign continued, as a robust pact was negotiated and ratified in less than a week.
"The representation-and-contract process was lightning-fast," Chismar said. "Being a veteran of many vicious anti-union employer campaigns, this was a pleasant experience. We’d welcome more of these types of campaigns."