CNN

December 22, 2011

UPDATE on CNN

“Justice is a consumer product and must therefore meet the test of confidence, reliability and dependability …” -- Dato’ Dr.Cyrus Dass, the President of the (India) Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association

Members have asked why it is taking so long for the NLRB to act in the CNN case and have requested an update. There have been no updates since November of this year because there is nothing to report. Due to processes at the board beyond our control, there is no certainty as to when a decision may be forthcoming. A routine case can take as little as six months to be resolved. As you know, this case is far from routine, involving 16,000 pages of testimony and 1300 exhibits, the largest record ever in a labor case. Despite this complexity, a decision should have been issued by now. The failure of the board to act is deeply frustrating for me as it is for you.

Our sense of urgency is motivated not only by our desire for justice, but also by the fact that our members are in a state of uncertainty. Our anxiety is heightened by the fact that, due to Congressional delays, we will lose a working quorum on the board at the end of this year. The board will simply be unable to act after that point unless the President and the Congress act immediately. We urge them to overcome the cynical obstruction by Senate Republicans who have crippled the agency empowered to protect worker’s rights.

In closing this report, I must say that I share your concerns and alarm. Your union has devoted huge amounts of time and resources to this case. Our members deserve a better fate than to become the victims of judicial paralysis. Let justice be done!

Letter to Team Video/CNN Members.

NABET-CWA Local 31 Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against CNN

CWA and NABET-CWA Call for Immediate NLRB Decision on CNN Case

This case has been languishing before the NLRB since 2003, and points out the total failure of U.S. labor law when it comes to workers rights, said CWA President Larry Cohen. CNN set out to get rid of union workers and their bargaining rights. Despite overwhelming evidence that CNN broke the law, today, nearly eight years later, workers still are denied justice. Its time for the NLRB to take action.

In November 2008, NLRB Administrative Law Judge Arthur Amchan issued a scathing decision against CNN, finding that the network created a phony reorganization scheme to get rid of workers because they had a union, the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA. The judge said that CNN engaged in widespread and egregious misconduct, demonstrating a flagrant and general disregard for workers rights.

He ordered the immediate reinstatement of the 110 workers who were not rehired through CNNs scam hiring system, called for the restoration of the economic losses of all 250 workers and ordered CNN to recognize and bargain with NABET-CWA. None of CNNs defenses was accepted by the judge.

Two years after that decision, after the NLRB judge confirmed CNNs union-busting practices, CNN technicians still are waiting for justice, said Jim Joyce, president of NABET-CWA.

CWAs motion calls on the NLRB to give this case priority over all other pending cases. This action is necessary, CWA said, because none of the remedies ordered by the ALJ in 2008 have been implemented and more than 204 workers are due substantial remediation. The saying justice delayed is justice denied has particular relevance to violations of the National Labor Relations Act, CWA said, because such delay makes it more difficult for workers to believe they will ever obtain justice under the law. CWA called for a decision to be issued without further delay.

Read the full filing here.

http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/cwa_calls_for_immediate_nlrb_decision_on_cnn_case

CWA Communications

Candice Johnson, 202-434-1168 cjohnson@cwa-union.org

or Chuck Porcari, 202-434-1168 cporcari@cwa-union.org

Further Update information on NLRB vs. CNN/Team Video:

Members want to know, what does the NLRB decision mean? Look here.

Landmark NLRB Decision Against CNN America

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CWA and NABET-CWA Call for Immediate NLRB Decision on CNN Case