Bargaining Update

DirecTV

CWA members in Huntington, W. Va., show their solidarity on the National Day of Unity.

Negotiations with DirecTV covering 2,100 technicians, warehouse, and administrative workers in Districts 3, 4, and 6 opened on Sept. 12 in Austin, Tex.

At the opening session, CWA bargaining chair Mike Neumann reminded management that the former DirecTV workers expect good wages and fair benefits and conditions.

"We are prepared to work as long as it takes to bring a decent and fair contract to our members," CWA bargainers said.

DirecTV call center workers held a National Day of Unity to show their solidarity. Bargaining for a first contract, covering about 2,500 call center workers in Englewood, Colo.; Eden Prairie, Minn.; Huntington, W. Va.; Huntsville, Ala.; and Tulsa Okla., is being scheduled.

CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings is CWA’s lead for the Southeast/Southwest/Midwest group. CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt will lead bargaining for customer service workers. CWA Southeast/Southwest/Midwest bargaining committee members, elected by DirecTV workers, include Glynne Stanley and Carnell Sanders for District 6, Herman Junkin and Jimmy Smith for District 3, and Tim Strong and Jon Dalgarn for District 4.

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ABC

Negotiations begin Tuesday, Sept. 20, in New York City between NABET-CWA and ABC Inc., a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. CWA President Chris Shelton will join the NABET-CWA team at the opening session, along with NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico and members of the bargaining team.

The contract covers nearly 3,000 NABET-CWA members who are staff and daily hires working as broadcast technicians, newswriters, producers, desk assistants, telecommunications specialists, publicists, and plant maintenance at the ABC Television Network and four ABC-owned television stations in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.