Chicago WTTW IBEW workers strike

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers called for a strike at WTTW, the PBS member station in Chicago March 16, 2022.

IBEW Local 1220 represents broadcast technicians and other workers at the station, which has been attempting to reach a new deal with the union for nearly a year.

Key sticking points in the negotiations that started in May 2021 are how work jurisdiction and job protection are handled. Work jurisdiction generally outlines what type of duties and equipment union members are assigned to operate while job protection often covers how layoffs or position eliminations are handled.

The station’s popular nightly news program “Chicago Tonight” was forced to air a “best of” edition March 16 due to the strike.

WTTW is owned by the nonprofit Window to the World Communications and also operates radio station WFMT in the market.