The Current, Classical MPR announce unions
[Courtesy of MPR News]
The two music stations operated by Minneapolis Public Radio, The Current and Classical MPR, announced on Thursday that they had formed distinct unions.
More than 80% of content creators at either station signed union recognition petitions to join SAG-AFTRA, which represents a wide array of professionals in the television, radio and film industries. Their main goals include increased diversity among staff, transparency in employee discipline and termination, fair compensation and expanded benefits and protections.
"Our station consistently wields its influence to center white voices and narratives, effectively ignoring the racism and other forms of oppression that plague our community," employees of The Current wrote in a statement to their managers. "Meanwhile, our staff has become less racially diverse over time. Through it all, Minnesota Public Radio has systematically silenced The Current’s women employees, perpetuated pay inequity, and failed to protect The Current’s hosts from physical and mental harm."
Big news ???? ?? Content creators at @classicalmpr and @thecurrent are unionizing with @sagaftra. More than 80 percent of us signed our union recognition petitions, and today we delivered them to management. Here’s why we’re organizing. #WeMakeMPRMusic (1/9) pic.twitter.com/mJoxQJsbh6
— MPR Music Unions (@MPRMusicUnions) September 24, 2020
MPR and The Current have been the subject of controversy lately, as one of MPR’s reporters resigned earlier this month because she claimed her bosses would not release her story on sexual misconduct allegations against a longtime DJ at The Current.
The reporter, Marianne Combs, had worked at MPR for 23 years.
Shortly after Combs’s resignation, MPR stated that Eric Malmberg was no longer employed as a DJ at the station.
The MPR Music Unions are seeking voluntary recognition from MPR management to begin the collective bargaining process.