IATSE Local 489 in Pittsburgh, PA has secured the right to represent employees in collective bargaining with employer WQED, it was announced by IATSE President Thomas C. Short.
Public television station WQED, credited with the production of “Mister Rogers” and early National Geographic specials, began to cut back on production several years ago. To compensate for loss of production and cover the station’s fiscal shortfalls, management by reduced the hours, health and pension benefits of the station’s production workers.
An NLRB election was held resulting with unanimous support for the production workers, selecting Local 489 as their Collective Bargaining agents.
