Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
Locked Out TV Workers Win Contract in Youngstown
A tidal wave of support from advertisers and community leaders helped NABET-CWA members in Youngstown, Ohio, win a hugely improved contract 13 days after being locked out by the city's NBC affiliate.
On Jan. 31, Local 54047 overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that management called its "last, best" offer - one that would have raised health care costs by nearly 400 percent while barely raising wages.
Management at WKBN/WYFX-TV immediately locked out the 35-member unit of reporters, anchors, directors, photographers and weather specialists, ignoring the local's request to extend the contract deadline and keep bargaining.
But quickly the station was feeling community and bottom-line pressure to resolve the labor dispute, with car dealerships, jewelers and other major advertisers pulling their accounts, newsmakers refusing to give interviews and politicians turning out to demonstrate with workers. Meanwhile, fellow union members helped the NABET unit keep its picket line going around the clock.
"The local ran a tremendous campaign," NABET-CWA President John Clark said. "Thanks to the members' tenacity and help from other CWA members, the bargaining committee was able to get significant movement from the company on wages and medical premiums."
Local Steward Joe Bell, a 12-year reporter at the station and member of the bargaining committee, said the contract was approved 28-4 and includes a 6 percent raise over three years with a $500 signing bonus.
Workers will pay more for their health care premiums but not nearly what the station had demanded earlier, and the basic benefit plan won't be overhauled as the company wanted. "We managed to maintain all our benefits," Bell said, adding that a member committee will also meet twice a year with management to review the health plan and its costs and possibly make changes benefiting workers.
On Jan. 31, Local 54047 overwhelmingly rejected a proposed contract that management called its "last, best" offer - one that would have raised health care costs by nearly 400 percent while barely raising wages.
Management at WKBN/WYFX-TV immediately locked out the 35-member unit of reporters, anchors, directors, photographers and weather specialists, ignoring the local's request to extend the contract deadline and keep bargaining.
But quickly the station was feeling community and bottom-line pressure to resolve the labor dispute, with car dealerships, jewelers and other major advertisers pulling their accounts, newsmakers refusing to give interviews and politicians turning out to demonstrate with workers. Meanwhile, fellow union members helped the NABET unit keep its picket line going around the clock.
"The local ran a tremendous campaign," NABET-CWA President John Clark said. "Thanks to the members' tenacity and help from other CWA members, the bargaining committee was able to get significant movement from the company on wages and medical premiums."
Local Steward Joe Bell, a 12-year reporter at the station and member of the bargaining committee, said the contract was approved 28-4 and includes a 6 percent raise over three years with a $500 signing bonus.
Workers will pay more for their health care premiums but not nearly what the station had demanded earlier, and the basic benefit plan won't be overhauled as the company wanted. "We managed to maintain all our benefits," Bell said, adding that a member committee will also meet twice a year with management to review the health plan and its costs and possibly make changes benefiting workers.