ABC and NBC Members Rally at the Networks

May 20, 2011

Local 41 Vice President Don Villar and Local 16 Executive Board Representative Kathy Hedden make plenty of noise for a fair contract in protesting at the ABC Network Fall Preview on May 17th.

Despite heavy rains that persisted over two-days, NABET-CWA members from Locals 11 and 16 in New York City did not have dampened enthusiasm when showed up earlier this week for rallies at both NBCs and ABCs Network Fall Preview presentations. Members at both networks have been working without contracts, and they were on hand to let the public, as well as network advertisers, know that the working families of NABET-CWA want a fair deal. These fall preview events are often called The Upfronts because the networks try to convince advertisers to spend their commercial money upfront before the fall season begins.

Starting on Monday, May 16, NBC held their celebrity filled gala at the New York Hilton Hotel. As stars such as Chevy Chase, Debra Messing, and Christina Aguilera were arriving, they were greeted by NABET-CWA Local 11 members who told the celebrities that NBC was not being upfront with the workers who make NBC successful everyday. For over three hours, these members handed out flyers to passersby, marched around the events entrance, and blew whistles to bring attention to the contract dispute.

The event also drew the attention of high level NBC management, many of whom were greeted by the NABET-CWA protestors as they emerged from limousines on their way in to the Hilton. Members of other unions, such as the Writers Guild of America attended to lend support, and there was a strong turnout by ABC members of Local 16.

Local 11 members returned the favor the next day, when Local 16 staged their own protest at the ABC Upfronts at Lincoln Center on May 17. Again, persevering through rainy weather, a strong crowd gathered at Dante Park, across the street from the main entrance to Lincoln Center. Almost every person walking into the event or strolling by on the sidewalk was presented with a flyer outlining Disney/ABCs attempts to reduce the terms and conditions for thousands of workers across the country.

The Local 16 event also had the support of dozens of soap opera fans, upset at the announced cancellation of All My Children and One Life to Live, who joined the NABET-CWA members in protesting at the Upfronts.

Meanwhile, negotiations were recently held in New York in efforts to reach agreements on new contracts at NBC and ABC. NBC negotiating sessions were conducted from May 11th through May 13th, while ABC talks were held this week on May 16th, 18th, and 19th. The NBC contract has been expired since March of 2009, and the ABC contract expired nearly two-months ago.

While all of the open items were discussed in both sets of talks, no overall deal has been reached yet at either network.

For more information and bulletins on both the ABC and the NBC negotiations, visit the Sectors website at www.nabetcwa.org.

Signal: May 20, 2011