PBS

Welcome to the PBS Contract Area

Save NPR and PBS   We shouldn't be surprised.   With Republicans back in charge of the House of Representatives, funding for NPR and PBS is in grave danger. Again.   The Republicans just released their budget proposal, and it zeroes out funding for both NPR and PBS—the worst proposal in more than a decade.   They probably think that no one will notice these cuts in the midst of so many others. But the millions of listeners and viewers who rely on public broadcasting for "Sesame Street," "All Things Considered," and independent journalism will notice.   We need to tell Republicans that cutting off funding was unacceptable last time they were in charge, and it's unacceptable now.    Add your name to the petition to save NPR and PBS  The petition says: "Congress must protect NPR and PBS and guarantee them permanent funding, free from political meddling."   Your Union is reaching out because this is urgent. You may have seen an email from MoveOn, or FreePress, or Credo.....you clicked, you figure that you have done your part.  Please do more, this is an emergency and we need all hands on deck, please.   Please - DO 3 Things to save the funding of Public Broadcasting:   1) Email Your Member of Congress:  Please Visit Our Salsa Campaign at http://bit.ly/fwTFgw  2) Call your Member of Congress 1-877-426-8013   Your Zip Code will get you to the right office.   3) Hand write a letter. Here is how you can help. And then please forward this email to all of your friends, family, co-workers, and allies.....this one is urgent and we need your help. Thanks.   Timing, we expect the vote in the House this coming week.  The Congress is scheduled for vacation from February 21st to 25th.  The Continuing Resolution expires on March 4th.  So votes first in the House and then in the Senate are very likely in the next 3 weeks.    Questions?  Carrie Biggs-Adams (202) 415-1147 cell cbiggs-adams@cwa-union.org

Members Ratify New Contract

NABET-CWA @ PBS Bulletin

Sunday December 12, 2010

The members of NABET-CWA Local 31 voted today on the Tentative Agreement reached on December 1^st between PBS and the Local Union. Of the 27 members who voted in today's secret ballot election, 22 voted to Accept, 4 voted to Reject and one ballot was Void.

The Company has been notified of the ratification, and the contract will go into effect as of today.

Thanks go to all the members of the bargaining unit and the NABET-CWA members who attended the bargaining sessions, participated in the mobilization actions, and came out today in the rain to vote!

The members of the Bargaining Committee for NABET-CWA Local 31 are:

Charles Coates

Kenny Distance

Arnie Panek

and National Staff Representative Carrie Biggs-Adams

PBS SOC Techs on duty circa 1998

 "PBS has talented, union-represented technical employees with diverse backgrounds and interests who are committed to a common goal and work hard to achieve it. NABET-CWA represented technicians work in a variety of disciplines including communications, engineering, and information technology. They will continue to be an integral part of the PBS family, now and in the future as PBS continues to serve the American public."

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Common Cause founder John Gardner in 1967 assisted in the birth of public broadcasting.  He viewed public broadcasting as an entity to "enable us not only to see and hear more vividly, but to understand more deeply."  In order to fund public broadcasting, Gardner along with other members of the Carnegie Commission advocated the formation of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a conduit for public resources.  The CPB was structured as a nonprofit body separate from government in order to better insulate public broadcasting from government intrusion into program content.

Public broadcasting has not entirely fulfilled the vision of its founders.  But its scores of awards for quality programming and hard-hitting investigative journalism and the loyalty of its viewers attest to the fact that public broadcasting is an essential part of our democracy.  Indeed, when polled last year by a non-partisan research firm, Americans ranked the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) the "most trusted institution" among national institutions.

Common Cause is committed to preserving the vitality and independence of public broadcasting and is waging an ambitious campaign.  We are advocating for continued funding of the CPB, for the appointment of independent CPB members who do not bring a biased agenda to the board and for the continuation of hard-hitting unbiased investigative news and other programming on public television.  Please join with us by adding your name to the tens of thousands of members who have signed our petition to protect public broadcasting in America.

Current PBS Technicians Collective Bargaining Agreement (7/1/07) (.pdf format)

 PBS Current Grievance Status Report (.pdf)(3/10/2010)