In the mid-1990's, WRC-TV successfully competed for a NASA grant to develop a weather-related web site. AFTRA member Mark Hoekzema, along with one on-air meteorologist, was assigned to develop the site, accessible through www.nbc4.com. The time Mark spent on developing the website gradually increased as the website evolved into one of the most highly developed TV weather websites in the country. When Mark sought a pay increase, NBC "promoted" him to a non-represented position which resulted in his losing his overtime pay. In his new job, he continued to perform exactly the same as before. In 1999 AFTRA grieved, claiming that he should have been promoted to Newswriter, which would have given him a pay increase and preserved his eligibility for overtime pay under the AFTRA contract.

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An 8-Year Wrong Is Finally Made Right

In 1994, AFTRA member Barry Louis Polisar signed on with WJLA-TV in Washington to host a children's show called "Field Trip." In this show, Barry took groups of school-age children to historic or important locations of interest, such as Plymouth Plantation, the Postal Museum, the Naval Academy, Antietam, and Yellowstone. Thinking that such a program might have appeal to a much broader market, WJLA persuaded Barry to work for AFTRA scale, promising that if they were successful in selling the show in any sort of expanded distribution, WJLA would negotiate with Barry for additional compensation. Seventeen shows were produced for the 1994-1995 season; a year later, a second season comprising nine additional shows was produced. Barry also composed and sang the theme song and other music for the program.

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Health and Safety Protections Related to Coverage of Terrorist Attacks

October 12, 2001

To: AFTRA-represented Broadcasters
From: Tom Carpenter, National Director of News and Broadcasting Mary Locke Cavallaro, National Representative/Staff Counsel

The events of September 11, along with the recent discoveries of anthrax in Florida and New York raise serious health and safety issues for reporters covering these stories and broadcasters working at media outlets. It goes without saying that proximity to any terrorist attack, whether biological, chemical or otherwise, places reporters covering that story at risk for their own personal health and safety, and the possibility of further attacks in the U.S. raises concerns about the safety of the workplace in general.

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