WINS Journalists Press Audacy for Safety Protections

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, July 17, 2025 | 4:54pm CT

1010 WINS-AM in New York

Journalists at New York's 1010 WINS, the nation's longest-running all-news radio outlet, are demanding stronger safety measures and job protections from parent company Audacy as contract negotiations near a key deadline, reports Deadline. On Thursday, members of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) presented station management with a petition signed by more than 90% of the bargaining unit. The petition calls on Audacy to reach a fair agreement before the current contract expires on July 22.

"We support all their demands, and we ask that Audacy bargain respectfully and in good faith," the petition reads, citing a need to improve "salaries, benefits, pathways to promotion, workplace safety, remote work options, preserve severance, and protect against the growing threat of artificial intelligence."

A top concern for staff is physical safety, particularly for reporters and producers working overnight shifts at the 24/7 newsroom. Several journalists have reportedly been threatened or attacked while commuting to and from the station's offices on Hudson Street in lower Manhattan.

"1010 WINS runs 24/7 and requires people to commute to the office at all hours," WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullento Deadline. "The station's journalists have been threatened and even attacked. Audacy needs to take responsibility for the safety of its employees and our members."

The call for protections comes as tensions remain high over the fate of union jobs following Audacy's closure of WCBS Newsradio 880 in August 2024. That move ended a nearly 60-year run for the legendary all-news station and resulted in the layoff of 23 Guild members. WCBS-AM now airs ESPN Radio programming under an agreement with Good Karma Brands.

In addition to safety and AI safeguards, union members are also advocating for better compensation, expanded remote work opportunities, and protections for severance packages.

This is the first contract negotiation between WGAE and Audacy since the WCBS shutdown.