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Cleveland TV Techs Remain Solid for Union
Dogged persistence paid off for NABET-CWA Local 42, in finally winning representation for 110 technicians at channels 19 and 43 in Cleveland, Ohio, said Seth Rosen, administrative assistant to District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach.
Local President Bill Wachenschwanz made first contact at the independently owned CBS and United Paramount Network affiliates five years ago. Master control technician Joe Meredith was interested then in forming a union, but said Wachenschwanz, “management pretty much bought off the committee. Everybody got raises and sort of disappeared.”
Three years ago, he said, Meredith called a second time. More raises again meant less interest in forming a union.
But two years ago, when the Raycom corporation bought the operation, attitudes quickly changed. Rumors started circulating that Raycom would sell one of the stations.
“A lot of people felt betrayed,” Wachenschwanz said. “They felt the owners were like absentee landlords. They never got straight answers about anything.”
Led by inside committee members Mark Tetlak, Don Miller, John Hacker and Anthony Pietrocini, the techs began to meet regularly with Wachenshwanz, Rosen, Ken Moffet — then assistant to NABET-CWA President John Clark — and Matt Harris, NABET-CWA attorney.
“They wanted a voice, they were tired of getting the run-around,” Wachenshwanz said. When 72 percent of the unit had signed representation cards, the local petitioned for an election. Having won it 62-39, they are now in the process of forming a bargaining committee.
Local President Bill Wachenschwanz made first contact at the independently owned CBS and United Paramount Network affiliates five years ago. Master control technician Joe Meredith was interested then in forming a union, but said Wachenschwanz, “management pretty much bought off the committee. Everybody got raises and sort of disappeared.”
Three years ago, he said, Meredith called a second time. More raises again meant less interest in forming a union.
But two years ago, when the Raycom corporation bought the operation, attitudes quickly changed. Rumors started circulating that Raycom would sell one of the stations.
“A lot of people felt betrayed,” Wachenschwanz said. “They felt the owners were like absentee landlords. They never got straight answers about anything.”
Led by inside committee members Mark Tetlak, Don Miller, John Hacker and Anthony Pietrocini, the techs began to meet regularly with Wachenshwanz, Rosen, Ken Moffet — then assistant to NABET-CWA President John Clark — and Matt Harris, NABET-CWA attorney.
“They wanted a voice, they were tired of getting the run-around,” Wachenshwanz said. When 72 percent of the unit had signed representation cards, the local petitioned for an election. Having won it 62-39, they are now in the process of forming a bargaining committee.