Bargaining Update

Purple Communications

Members of TNG-CWA Local 39521 at Purple Communications held a one-day strike to protest their company's unilateral move on health care. Copyright David Bacon.

American Sign Language interpreters launched a one-day strike against Purple Communications on Monday to protest the company's abrupt decision to change health care benefits without reaching a contract agreement with union negotiators.

Members of ASL Interpreters United, an affiliate of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521, carried picket signs outside unionized Purple worksites in Oakland, Denver, San Diego and Tempe, Ariz., declaring the interpreters were "stronger together." In some locations, strike participation was close to 100 percent.

"I love all the strong community support," Laurie Rivard, an ASL interpreter and union leader, said during the Oakland picketing, where horns honked throughout the day.

The interpreters organized 18 months ago.

Read more here.

WPIX

WPIX, a New York City television station, violated the contract with The Newspaper Guild of New York, CWA Local 31003, when it removed web producers from Guild jurisdiction, Arbitrator Rosemary A. Townley ruled.

The award requires WPIX to restore the web producers to Guild membership with no reduction in base salary and remit back union dues along with interest, at company expense, for wages paid to the web producers after their removal from the Guild.

Townley also ruled on April 6 that WPIX violated the collective bargaining agreement by not meeting with the Guild prior to changing the job title and duties of the employees responsible for web content.

"We are very pleased that the arbitrator agreed with The Guild's view that the employees creating content for the website should be covered by, and protected by, the union contract," said Guild President Bill O'Meara, a former news editor at WPIX.

WPIX is owned by the Tribune Co.

Turn Off Fox2

Members of NABET-CWA Local 54043 are in a tough fight with Detroit's Fox 2, WJBK. Contract negotiations began a year ago, and management continues to demand the right to assign just about any station employee to shoot video with lights, tripod and mic and transmit that video to the station.

Management also wants to limit job security, end breaks for workers despite their working for 7.5 hours straight, stop providing photographers gear for inclement weather, among other issues.

NABET-CWA members and community supporters have mounted a "turn off 2" campaign. Check out the great video.