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CWA's Appeals to Univision's Cisneros to End Hunger Strike
CWA President Appeals to Univision's Cisneros
For Action to End Hunger Strike
Cites `Shameful Wages' for Hispanics at Top-Rated Station
As a hunger strike neared its fourth week among employees at the Fresno, Calif., Univision station, Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr appealed to Univision President Henry Cisneros to intervene in contract negotiations to avoid a tragic end to the workers' protest.
"This has evolved into a battle over respect and the ability of your employees to make an acceptable living for a job well done," Bahr told Cisneros. "It has also evolved into a dangerous battle in which the health of these employees could be seriously affected."
Cisneros has ignored pleas for help from members of NABET-CWA Local 51, who have been struggling for a collective bargaining agreement since they unionized in May 1999. The station, KFTV, Channel 21, is the top Spanish-language station in Fresno and its ratings often top the English-speaking network affiliates. In spite of its success, workers at KFTV are paid the lowest wages in the Fresno TV market.
Cisneros failed to respond to a letter from the local in mid-February, then refused to speak to union members when he came to Fresno for a business conference on Feb. 24.
"We were very disappointed in his lack of response,"chief negotiator Carrie Biggs-Adams said. His inaction is hurtful to employees who recognize Cisneros as a leader in the Hispanic community, someone who once championed the rights of minorities and the poor, she said. Cisneros was the first Hispanic mayor of San Antonio, Texas, serving four terms, then was appointed by President Clinton as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Cisneros' management team has successfully negotiated contracts with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA at stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, NABET President John Clark said. "We can't begin to understand why they've decided to play hardball in Fresno," Clark said. "They're abusing workers who have built a top-quality, top-rated station out of a desire to serve the Hispanic community. They've dedicated themselves to Univision in spite of lower salaries, and this is the thanks they get."
The hunger strike started Feb. 18 with eight participants, seven KFTV employees and Biggs-Adams, who is from Los Angeles. Three people have been forced to stop because of medical problems. Among the people continuing are Biggs-Adams and KFTV anchor Fermin Chavez, whose weakened condition has required emergency medical treatment. The hunger strikers are allowing themselves only water and fruit and vegetable juices.
"We are committed to continue until there is progress in our contract talks," Biggs-Adams said. "Our members are being paid shamefully low salaries while Univision continues to grow and make money hand over fist."
Univision's bargaining team, comprising two lawyers and the KFTV's human resources director, initially offered its grossly underpaid workers no wage increases at all. Only minuscule raises have been offered since. Chavez, who has been at the station for 10 years, is paid only $32,500 annually, roughly a third of what Biggs-Adams said anchors are paid at Fresno's English-speaking stations. The station's master control technician, also a 10-year employee, earns just $21,481 a year. Many employees are paid even less and some have to hold down second jobs to make ends meet. Other unresolved matters critical to the union involve issues of lunch hours, non-union freelancers and management performing bargaining-unit work.
In his letter, Bahr pleaded with Cisneros to step in and promised to assist him in any way possible. "Your personal attention to the matter could avoid an unnecessary, tragic outcome to this story," Bahr wrote.
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For Action to End Hunger Strike
Cites `Shameful Wages' for Hispanics at Top-Rated Station
As a hunger strike neared its fourth week among employees at the Fresno, Calif., Univision station, Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr appealed to Univision President Henry Cisneros to intervene in contract negotiations to avoid a tragic end to the workers' protest.
"This has evolved into a battle over respect and the ability of your employees to make an acceptable living for a job well done," Bahr told Cisneros. "It has also evolved into a dangerous battle in which the health of these employees could be seriously affected."
Cisneros has ignored pleas for help from members of NABET-CWA Local 51, who have been struggling for a collective bargaining agreement since they unionized in May 1999. The station, KFTV, Channel 21, is the top Spanish-language station in Fresno and its ratings often top the English-speaking network affiliates. In spite of its success, workers at KFTV are paid the lowest wages in the Fresno TV market.
Cisneros failed to respond to a letter from the local in mid-February, then refused to speak to union members when he came to Fresno for a business conference on Feb. 24.
"We were very disappointed in his lack of response,"chief negotiator Carrie Biggs-Adams said. His inaction is hurtful to employees who recognize Cisneros as a leader in the Hispanic community, someone who once championed the rights of minorities and the poor, she said. Cisneros was the first Hispanic mayor of San Antonio, Texas, serving four terms, then was appointed by President Clinton as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Cisneros' management team has successfully negotiated contracts with the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA at stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, NABET President John Clark said. "We can't begin to understand why they've decided to play hardball in Fresno," Clark said. "They're abusing workers who have built a top-quality, top-rated station out of a desire to serve the Hispanic community. They've dedicated themselves to Univision in spite of lower salaries, and this is the thanks they get."
The hunger strike started Feb. 18 with eight participants, seven KFTV employees and Biggs-Adams, who is from Los Angeles. Three people have been forced to stop because of medical problems. Among the people continuing are Biggs-Adams and KFTV anchor Fermin Chavez, whose weakened condition has required emergency medical treatment. The hunger strikers are allowing themselves only water and fruit and vegetable juices.
"We are committed to continue until there is progress in our contract talks," Biggs-Adams said. "Our members are being paid shamefully low salaries while Univision continues to grow and make money hand over fist."
Univision's bargaining team, comprising two lawyers and the KFTV's human resources director, initially offered its grossly underpaid workers no wage increases at all. Only minuscule raises have been offered since. Chavez, who has been at the station for 10 years, is paid only $32,500 annually, roughly a third of what Biggs-Adams said anchors are paid at Fresno's English-speaking stations. The station's master control technician, also a 10-year employee, earns just $21,481 a year. Many employees are paid even less and some have to hold down second jobs to make ends meet. Other unresolved matters critical to the union involve issues of lunch hours, non-union freelancers and management performing bargaining-unit work.
In his letter, Bahr pleaded with Cisneros to step in and promised to assist him in any way possible. "Your personal attention to the matter could avoid an unnecessary, tragic outcome to this story," Bahr wrote.
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