LA Anchor Files Complaint Against AFTRA

Talent working in stations that still have union representation are faced with having to pay union dues.

Over the years, a number of on air talent have refused or paid their union dues after some legal maneuvering by both sides.

One KTLA Anchor is firing back against Hollywood's biggest entertainment union.

Rebecca Hall a KTLA-TV sports reporter and weekend news anchor has lodged an unfair labor practice complaint against SAG-AFTRA.

The LA Times writes that in her filing with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, Hall contends that SAG-AFTRA demanded she become a full union member and pay excessive initiation fees and union dues if she wanted to keep working at KTLA, which is owned by Tribune.

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 165,000 actors, recording artists, talk show hosts as well as broadcasters at KTLA and other television and radio stations.

Hall said union officials did not supply information about how her dues would be spent and failed to notify her that she was entitled to opt out of paying dues unrelated to workplace bargaining, according to the complaint, which was filed with the help of attorneys from the National Right to Work Foundation. The nonprofit group provides legal aid to employees opposed to joining unions.

"Instead of informing Ms. Hall of her workplace rights, SAG bosses threatened to have her fired for refusing to join their union and pay full dues," Mark Mix, president of the National Right to Work Foundation, said in a statement. "That's unacceptable, which is why we're helping her fight back against these heavy-handed tactics."

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA disputed the claims. "SAG-AFTRA denies these allegations, which are completely without merit," the union said. "The NLRB is reviewing this and we look forward to the speedy disposition of the charge."