A federal appeals court in New Orleans has affirmed a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) order requiring Nexstar Media Group to bargain with a union representing technical employees at its Denver television stations.
This week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued an order upholding the NLRB’s findings that Nexstar violated two provisions of the National Labor Relations Act by not negotiating with a union that covered some employees at its two television stations in Denver.
The case stems from a July 2024 complaint by the National Association of Broadcast Employees & Technicians–Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA), alleging Nexstar refused to recognize and negotiate with the union after its certification.
NABET-CWA was retained to represent Nexstar employees at KDVR (Channel 31), the Fox affiliate in Denver, and its sister station KWGN (Channel 2), a CW Network owned-and-operated station.
The NLRB ultimately determiend Nexstar declined to bargain with NABET-CWA without any legal justification. Nexstar appealed the order last December, arguing that the bargaining unit was not properly formed and wrongly excluded some employees who should have been eligible for union representation.
The dispute followed a secret-ballot election held April 11, 2024, in which KDVR and KWGN employees voted to be represented by NABET-CWA. The certified unit covers full-time and regular part-time employees in three areas: Technician–Production (NE), Technician–Director/TD, and Director I–Newscast.
According to the NLRB, Nexstar acknowledged it refused to bargain but maintained that it was not legally required to do so pending resolution of its objections. The Board’s final order directed Nexstar to begin negotiations with the union.
The Fifth Circuit rejected Nexstar’s argument, agreeing with the NLRB that the company had not raised any litigable issues regarding the union election or certification process.
Nexstar and NABET-CWA have not commented on the ruling. It was not clear if Nexstar intended to further litigate the matter.
—
Read more:
- WGN-TV producer detained by Border Patrol during operation in Chicago
- Nexstar’s NewsNation, The Hill won’t sign Pentagon press order
- NAB CEO: Trump administration favorable to broadcasters
- Lawmakers demand answers from Nexstar, Sinclair over Jimmy Kimmel suspension
- Nexstar exec: Fired news director’s memo influenced by church discussions
