NABET ABC Negotiations Bulletin #27
Submitted by nabetadmin on Thu, 01/12/2012 - 11:39
NABET-CWA/ABC-Disney
NEGOTIATIONS
Washington, D.C.
BULLETIN # 27
January 12, 2012
NABET-CWA and ABC, Inc. negotiators convened for three days this week, as scheduled, in Washington, D.C. for the purpose of trying to reach settlement on a new contract to replace the Master Agreement which expired on March 31, 2011.
Going into this round of negotiations, ABC representatives invited the Union to present a proposal that would have the unanimous support of the NABET-CWA Negotiating Committee. On the first day of talks in this round, the Union did just that, and presented a package, which in our view, was a fair deal for both sides and would have the Committee’s backing. The Union’s package covered reasonable wage increases, addressed what we believed to be the Company’s concerns concerning the use of digital hand held cameras, addressed job security for staff and daily hires, and sensibly addressed what we believed to be the remaining open items in these negotiations. Unfortunately, ABC promptly rejected the Union’s proposal in its entirety that day.
During tense bargaining sessions in the remainder of the week, the Union presented ABC with other package proposals which were also rejected. Instead the Company chose to cherry pick any provision that moved in their direction and promptly rejected the remainder.
These differences include:
- ABC seeking to expand the use of digital cameras on news assignments to the extent that by the end of a new contract, nearly half of the 2013 newsgathering workforce in any office of the Company could be replaced by persons other than NABET-CWA represented employees.
- ABC’s unwillingness to provide staff employment to daily hire members despite Union proposals which would fairly accomplish this goal, which has been tentatively achieved at NBC.
- ABC’s unwillingness to provide reasonable wage increases and make other economic improvements which the Union Bargaining Committee believes the members deserve.
At this point, the parties have left the lines of communication open. More information on this latest round of talks and the status of these negotiations will be provided shortly.
The Union Bargaining Committee reminds members to ignore all rumors. All official negotiation and mobilization information will be delivered on the Sector website (www.nabetcwa.org), on Local websites, hotlines, and e-mail lists.
NABET-CWA Network Negotiating Committee
