(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Workers employed at WKBW-TV/Channel 7 in Buffalo who are represented by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET), a sector of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), voted this week to ratify a new four-year contract with the ABC-TV Network Affiliate, which is owned by E.W. Scripps Company.

The agreement includes industry competitive wage increases and preserves the integrity of the collective bargaining agreement, Union Officials said.  NABET-CWA secured a 10% wage increase over the next four years for the Bargaining Unit Members.

“This contract is a good deal for both the Employees and WKBW-TV.  Our Members at WKBW-TV have worked tirelessly throughout the (COVID-19) Pandemic and the company's representatives recognized their hard work,” NABET-CWA Local 51025 President Roy Schrodt said.  “The WKBW Bargaining Committee and the company came to the table with mutual integrity in mind and got a deal done for the well-being of the NABET-CWA-represented Employees at WKBW-TV.”

In addition, NABET-CWA and WKBW-TV worked together with the mutual goal to attract new talent to Buffalo by securing strong starting wages for News Producers hired under Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) and capping the initial terms of the PSCs at two years, the Union said.

“The Bargaining Committee struck a good balance with Scripps on Producer Personal Services contracts.  These contracts will allow WKBW-TV the flexibility to attract and retain good Employees to their newsroom in a tough job market while at the same time, giving our Unit Members a good financial foundation to set up their life here in the City of Buffalo and Western New York region," Schrodt said.

Based in Buffalo, Local 51025 represents Broadcast Workers at WIVB-TV/Channel 4, WKBW-TV, the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres, and WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia.  NABET-CWA Local 51025 represents Technical Employees in the Station’s Engineering Department, Commercial Production Department, Promotion Department, Production and On-Air Talent for AM Buffalo, in addition to Assignment Editors, Producers, Photographers and Editors, Reporters and anchors in the News Department.

NABET represents 10,000 Workers who are Members of 28 Local Unions in television, radio, film, and media production.