NABET-CWA President John Clark to Retire

NABET-CWA President John Clark will retire at the end of January, winding up 43 years in the union he joined while working at NBC Radio in New York City.

Clark was working as a vacation relief engineer at the radio network when he joined NABET Local 11 in 1967 (now NABET-CWA Local 51011.)

Clark served as a steward, executive board member, grievance chair and vice president before being elected local president in 1987.

He was elected an international vice president in 1986 and became international president in October 1993.

Clark says he's most proud of NABET's 1994 merger with CWA and the work he, former President James Nolan and CWA President Larry Cohen did to make it happen. "I'm proud to have played a leading role in bringing our small organization into a union with greater impact, visibility, influence and resources," Clark said. "The merger was a major step forward for our membership in every way, and expanded CWA's footprint into the media industry.  It was a win-win for everyone."

Cohen praised Clark's wealth of knowledge and the mix of diplomacy and tenacity he brought to contract negotiations. "John's brilliance in bargaining, mastery of the subject matter as well as his near perfect ability to work with our national teams at Disney/ ABC and General Electric/ NBC will be sorely missed," he said.

Photo Caption: NABET-CWA President John Clark, front right, marches with NABET-CWA members locked out at ABC.