It’s been three long years since the last labor agreement expired, but now the news and technical staffers at Buffalo’s WKBW finally have a new deal.

On Friday, WKBW and the local chapter of NABET-CWA (National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians- Communication Workers of America) announced that they had agreed to a new, 4-year deal.

“The WKBW family looks forward to continue working together under this new contract, serving our viewers,” said WKBW president and general manager Bill Ransom, in making the announcement.

Under the new agreement, WKBW staffers will receive wage and benefit increases while the station, in return, gains flexibility in defining job roles.

WKBW laid off several employees in December and Buffalo media critic Alan Pergament believes that the new labor deal is yet another move towards the potential sale of the station.

“The labor peace may make it easier for Channel 7 to be sold,” Pergament writes.