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CWA to Urge Multi-Union Strategy at Disney; NABET-CWA Drops Boycott as ABC Lockout Ends
With Disney/ABC's agreement to end an 11-week lockout of 2,400 NABET-CWA members, the union called off its boycott of ABC TV and radio news shows on Jan. 15 and agreed to submit a contract offer from the network to members for a mail-ballot ratification vote.
A key to ending the dispute was Disney/ABC's acceptance of a union demand that disciplinary cases related to the lockout be subject to arbitration even if a new contract is not ratified.
CWA President Morton Bahr stated: "These employees stood together and fought a valiant battle against a stubborn employer who was determined to break their spirit - and that never happened."
He stated that "they deserve a better contract" than the ABC offer being presented for ratification, but said he was recommending approval "on the basis that it's the best settlement that can be reached at this time without unduly prolonging the hardship that Disney/ABC has inflicted on them" through the lockout.
At the same time, he announced that he has asked AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to call a meeting among all unions representing workers at Walt Disney Co. subsidiaries, noting that: "It became very clear to us that ABC's labor policies are now totally dominated by the parent company. We're going to have to develop a unified, multi-union approach to dealing with the Disney empire and its contemptuous attitude toward its workers."
Bahr added: "We're grateful for the tremendous support we received from the White House, from Vice President Gore personally, as well as Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, from the Democratic leadership, and from hundreds of elected officials, sports figures and entertainment celebrities who refused to be interviewed on ABC."
NABET President John Clark echoed Bahr's thanks to supporters and stated: "Disney/ABC was willing to keep presenting its viewers inferior news, public affairs and sports coverage indefinitely in order to dictate contract terms. With this lockout, ABC has created a level of bitterness and mistrust throughout its workforce that will take years to resolve."
The network locked the workers out of their jobs on Nov. 3 following a 24-hour unfair labor practices strike, and also cut off health benefit coverage in an effort to impose contract concessions including a weakening of job security protections and expanded use of a permanent workforce of temporary "daily hires."
The absence of Democratic elected officials from such shows as "This Week," "World News Tonight," and "Nightline" focused widespread criticism of the network for unbalanced reporting on the elections, the impeachment proceedings and other breaking news.
Repeated technical glitches along with amateurish camera work and direction on "Monday Night Football" and other sports events were widely noted by sports writers and media commentators - "All Bloopers All the Time" was the way one New York columnist described ABC coverage.
A key to ending the dispute was Disney/ABC's acceptance of a union demand that disciplinary cases related to the lockout be subject to arbitration even if a new contract is not ratified.
CWA President Morton Bahr stated: "These employees stood together and fought a valiant battle against a stubborn employer who was determined to break their spirit - and that never happened."
He stated that "they deserve a better contract" than the ABC offer being presented for ratification, but said he was recommending approval "on the basis that it's the best settlement that can be reached at this time without unduly prolonging the hardship that Disney/ABC has inflicted on them" through the lockout.
At the same time, he announced that he has asked AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to call a meeting among all unions representing workers at Walt Disney Co. subsidiaries, noting that: "It became very clear to us that ABC's labor policies are now totally dominated by the parent company. We're going to have to develop a unified, multi-union approach to dealing with the Disney empire and its contemptuous attitude toward its workers."
Bahr added: "We're grateful for the tremendous support we received from the White House, from Vice President Gore personally, as well as Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, from the Democratic leadership, and from hundreds of elected officials, sports figures and entertainment celebrities who refused to be interviewed on ABC."
NABET President John Clark echoed Bahr's thanks to supporters and stated: "Disney/ABC was willing to keep presenting its viewers inferior news, public affairs and sports coverage indefinitely in order to dictate contract terms. With this lockout, ABC has created a level of bitterness and mistrust throughout its workforce that will take years to resolve."
The network locked the workers out of their jobs on Nov. 3 following a 24-hour unfair labor practices strike, and also cut off health benefit coverage in an effort to impose contract concessions including a weakening of job security protections and expanded use of a permanent workforce of temporary "daily hires."
The absence of Democratic elected officials from such shows as "This Week," "World News Tonight," and "Nightline" focused widespread criticism of the network for unbalanced reporting on the elections, the impeachment proceedings and other breaking news.
Repeated technical glitches along with amateurish camera work and direction on "Monday Night Football" and other sports events were widely noted by sports writers and media commentators - "All Bloopers All the Time" was the way one New York columnist described ABC coverage.