Staff at Ocean State Media, Rhode Island’s NPR and PBS station, have announced their intention to form a union with SAG-AFTRA. A majority of the unionizing workers — including hosts, reporters, and digital, audio and video producers — signed the petition to unionize.
“The dedicated journalists and media professionals at Ocean State Media are vital storytellers for their communities, and their decision to unionize reflects both a deep belief in their mission and a commitment to shaping a stronger future for public media,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator of SAG-AFTRA. “At a time of growing challenges in journalism, organizing is one of the most powerful tools workers have to safeguard the essential role public media plays in our democracy. We’re proud to stand with them in that effort.”
In their petition, which was delivered to Ocean State Media’s management on May 4, 2026, the employees wrote, “At a time of unprecedented challenges for public media and journalism in general, we seek a more active role in decision-making about the organization and the future of our work.”