Breaking! NABET-CWA and ABC-TV Reach Tentative Four-Year Contract

The NABET-CWA bargaining team reached a tentative four-year agreement covering nearly 3,000 workers at ABC Network/Disney. 

The proposed settlement covers staff and daily hires at ABC Network operations, ABC Sports operations and the four network owned television stations in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico said the tentative agreement "recognizes our members' value and their contributions to making ABC a leader in the industry, from sports broadcasting and news operations to entertainment. The bargaining goals that we worked hard to achieve came directly from our members, and we were determined to reach a new agreement that met those goals. For the first time in the past several decades, we were able to reach an overall tentative contract prior to the expiration of the current agreement."

The proposed settlement provides for a 9 percent across-the-board wage increase over the contract term; improvements for daily hire employees including a paid sick leave provision and enhancements to health and retirement benefit plans; improvements for staff that include an increased pension accrual rate and other gains, and anticipated future job opportunities in "new media" for all employees.

NABET-CWA locals will hold membership meetings and provide more details on the proposed agreement. A mail ratification vote will be held. NABET-CWA members at ABC work as broadcast technicians, telecommunications specialists, news writers, producers, desk assistants, publicists, and plant maintenance personnel.