The on-air talent at Spanish Broadcasting System’s Chicago radio station La Ley 107.9 (WLEY-FM) voted overwhelmingly to recognize SAG-AFTRA as their union.
The election was conducted on Friday, September 28, by the National Labor Relations Board.
The new bargaining unit will be made up of eight employees performing on-air services, including, hosts, announcers, mixers, DJs and other on-air services for the station.
This is the third SBS-owned station to vote to join SAG-AFTRA, following L.A.’s 97.9 La Raza (KLAX) and Mega 96.3 (KXOL) in 2016.
SBS operates Spanish-language radio stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Puerto Rico and Miami, and owns MEGA TV.
“With the protections of a union, employees gain respect in the workplace. The employer is speaking with us because they see us united; it’s best to be united. Being a union member gives you strength and makes all the difference,” La Ley sports commentator Elizabeth Jiménez said in a statement following the election result.
SAG-AFTRA represents Spanish-speaking broadcasters and journalists at Univision stations in Los Angeles (KMEX), New York (WXTV and Radio WADO) and San Francisco (KDTV), as well as Telemundo in New York (WNJU/TV), Washington, D.C. (WZDC-CD), Philadelphia (WUSI/TV) and Chicago (WSNS/TV).
In 2017, actors and other performers of Telemundo’s original productions sought unionization. After 15 months of negotiations, SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with Telemundo, signing its first-ever contract in July.