Local California TV station plunges into anarchy as staff walk out over working conditions

A local California TV station has plunged into chaos as staff ditched the newsroom to protest labor practices.

Reporters, directors and videographers walked out from KEYT-TV on Wednesday and joined the picket line to demand fair contract negotiations.

They were gathering outside the office from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m before they will relocate to the Santa Barbara Mission from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to coincide with La Fiesta Pequeña, a popular Santa Barbara Fiesta ceremony.

The Local 600 union had previously filed three unfair labor practice charges against the station management. Local 600

ICG Senior Business Representative, Raquel Ruiz said: “For months, they have come to the table ready to negotiate a fair first contract that recognizes the value of their work for the Central Coast community.

“Instead, they have faced delays, refusals to provide essential information, and conduct that undermined meaningful bargaining.”

The union said that after nearly two years of unsuccessful negotiations, the station management has been stonewalling them at every turn.

Local 600 filed three unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against the station management, alleging that it has been playing dirty by refusing to cough up essential contract information and actively undermining negotiations.

The mediation efforts through the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service between the union and the company reached an impasse on July 22.

“After exhausting every reasonable avenue to reach an agreement, our members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike,” Ruiz added.

In November 2024, KEYT staff had voted 17–13 to unionize and joined IATSE Local 600, the International Cinematographers Guild representing 13 other broadcast news stations across the country.

A central issue behind the move was low employee compensation, with even veteran and award-winning personnel earning only slightly above minimum wage.

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