IBEW Local 1228

07/20/2026

Remembering Michelle Schlickman. Thank you, NESN.

NESN honors the life and legacy of beloved broadcast technician, Mi...

07/08/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2026

Union Workers File Multiple Lawsuits Against WHDH-TV

BOSTON, MA - IBEW-represented workers at WHDH Channel 7 have filed multiple lawsuits against WHDH under the Fair Labor Standards Act, alleging employees were not compensated for work-related travel.

In one lawsuit, three employees represented by IBEW Local 1228 allege they were directed to pick up company vehicles loaded with camera equipment and travel to hotels on their scheduled days off so they would be positioned throughout the region for snowstorm coverage. After submitting their timecards, the employees say they were informed they would not be paid for the travel day.

A separate lawsuit alleges another employee was not paid for hours of compensable travel time after employer-booked flights were delayed.

The lawsuits are the latest development in the ongoing labor dispute between IBEW Local 1228 and WHDH. The union says employees have gone three years without a wage increase.

As the dispute continues, workers are taking their message directly to the public. During Boston's Independence Day celebration on July 4, WHDH employees were joined by fellow union members for a leafletting campaign along the Esplanade to raise awareness about the contract dispute and other workplace concerns at the station.

Union officials said hundreds of members from the public stopped to speak with workers at the Hatch Shell, and more than 100 WHDH viewers pledged to contact station management and urge the company to negotiate a fair contract.

IBEW Local 1228 is encouraging union members from across the region to participate in upcoming informational pickets outside WHDH as workers continue their campaign for a fair contract and full compliance with federal and state wage laws.

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07/07/2026

For Michelle Schlickman, our friend and steward of IBEW Local 1228.

View Grace Michelle Schlickman's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/04/2026

Happy 4th!

The IBEW joins Americans from coast to coast in celebrating 250 years of the USA. Happy July 4th!

07/03/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2026

WHDH Union Workers Bring Public Campaign of Contract Fight to Boston’s Fourth of July Celebration

BOSTON, MA - IBEW-represented workers at WHDH Channel 7 will bring their contract dispute directly to the public on Independence Day, launching a leafletting campaign during Boston’s July 4 festivities.

The employees, represented by IBEW Local 1228, have not received a wage increase from WHDH owner Sunbeam Television since July 2, 2023. Over the past several weeks, workers have held informational pickets outside the station, calling on the company to negotiate a fair contract.

The campaign continues to gain momentum.

On Wednesday, members of IBEW Local 103 and NABET Local 18 joined IBEW Local 1228 outside WHDH’s Boston offices and pledged to continue participating in demonstrations until a fair agreement is reached. Massachusetts State Senator Mark C. Montigny, along with State Representatives Lisa Field, Dennis C. Gallagher, and Mark D. Silvia also stood with workers in a public show of solidarity.

Workers say their concerns extend beyond wages. Full-time IBEW employees at WHDH do not receive paid holidays for Thanksgiving, Labor Day, Memorial Day, and Presidents’ Day. In addition, several employees have worked approximately 40 hours a week while remaining classified as part-time, a designation the union says allows the company to avoid providing vacation time and other employee benefits.

IBEW Local 1228 is coordinating with the Massachusetts AFL-CIO on a call to action encouraging union members from across the region to join the July 4 leafletting event to inform the public about the ongoing labor dispute.

The leafletting campaign, staffed by the IBEW-represented WHDH workers and supporters, will begin at 8:00 a.m. with participants gathering on Boston Common before heading to the Hatch Shell.

Union officials say additional public actions and campaign announcements are expected in the coming days as workers continue their efforts to secure a fair contract from Sunbeam Television.

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07/01/2026

Hey Channel 7, Fair Contract Now!

06/24/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2026
Boston, MA

The IBEW-represented workers at WHDH Channel 7 in Boston have not received a wage increase since 2023, despite helping build one of the region's highest-rated television news operations. These are the employees who shoot live video, edit stories, and keep the station on the air every day.

In the fall of 2025, WHDH owner Sunbeam Television imposed a 40% increase in health insurance costs on these workers. Many employees were forced to change coverage, resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenses while generating savings for the company.

After years of dedicated, professional service covering breaking news, major events, and emergencies throughout New England, Sunbeam is now offering these workers just a 1% annual wage increase for each of the next three years.

The workers are understandably frustrated. They have been conducting informational picketing and meeting with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels to raise awareness about Sunbeam's treatment of its Boston workforce and its unfair labor practices.

With Boston's July 4th celebration, the Tall Ships Festival, and America 250 events rapidly approaching, workers are preparing to intensify their campaign and increase public awareness of WHDH's disrespect toward the employees who make its broadcasts possible.

A major focus of that effort will be WHDH's coverage of the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular at the Hatch Shell, an event broadcast by WHDH Channel 7. Every year, bargaining unit employees work long hours under demanding conditions to ensure this cherished Boston tradition reaches viewers across the region.

Additional announcements regarding upcoming public actions will be made in the coming days.

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05/31/2026

Yup.

05/16/2026

Merch!

03/28/2026

Ditto.

Want to join? www.ibewyes.org