Writers Union Files Grievance Against iHeartMedia
According to a story in The Hollywood Reporter, the Writers Guild of America East has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the company’s management alleging that it has intimidated workers and encroached on their rights to discuss their working conditions and share union literature during break periods. iHeartMedia and the iHeart Podcast Union have been in negotiations for two years over the
workers’ first contract. The union says iHeartMedia has “violated Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act ‘by restricting protected Section 7 speech, by engaging in intimidating conduct and by interrogating employees about their support for the union.’” 
The union’s complaint adds, “When we have posted flyers about the union, management has removed these materials within the day, often within minutes… union members have received emails discouraging this activity, pointing out company policies about distributing literature in working areas, without acknowledging our federally protected right to discuss our working conditions or to distribute information about our union to our colleagues. Non-bargaining-unit employees and managers have used common work areas to openly disparage our union literature and efforts to inform unit members.” iHeartMedia has not responded publicly to the grievance. Read THR’s story here.