IBEW 4 re-elects Pendergast, officers; launches new billboard campaign promoting union TV technicians

Mike Pendergast, veteran business manager/financial secretary of IBEW Local 4, the radio and TV engineers, has been re-elected to his ninth term of office by an overwhelming margin as the local launches yet another major billboard campaign promoting local union TV stations

Re-elected for three year terms were Local 4 incumbents: President John Finley; Vice President Laura Leese; Treasurer Gabe Hess; and Recording Secretary Theresa Dunn.

Also re-elected to the Executive Board are incumbents: Mark Swanson, Tom Gregory, Doug Westadt, Stan Kostecki, Robin Nunnelly and Tony West.

ONGOING CAMPAIGN

The use of billboards by Local 4 is one of the most progressive uses of this medium by a local union to promote viewership of the local’s signatory TV stations: KTVI-KPLR, KMOV, KSDK, KETC, KDNL, STL-TV and Fox Sports Midwest.

The current billboards, pointing out to viewers that it’s their neighbors who are the union members getting the stations on the air, are being rotated along the various interstate highways surrounding St. Louis. One recent billboard was posted on Interstate 40; another is now going up on the south side Interstate 270, west of Interstate 55.

Local 4 effectively used the billboard campaign last year in a dispute with one of the stations over contract issues, urging viewers to turn off that particular station. After the billboards ran for several weeks, an agreement was reached.

“I appreciate the confidence my brothers and sisters have shown in my re-election,” Pendergast said. “I am proud to represent the finest technicians in the industry. Our continuing billboard campaign is designed to let the public know who brings their radio and TV to them every day, around the clock.”

“Members of Local 4…felt Brother Pendergast has established an area standard that has worked for the members and the employers,” said Hess. “IBEW Local 4 members thank Brother Pendergast for staying on to protect broadcast workers in our area.”

Local 4 broadcast employees work at 36 different media outlets and companies throughout the metropolitan area.