NABET-CWA Reaches Tentative Contract at NBC Universal

For more information: Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, jmiller@cwa-union.org and cjohnson@cwa-union.org.

New York -- NABET-CWA reached a tentative three-year agreement with NBC Universal that increases wages, improves benefits, particularly for "daily hire" workers, and addresses job security issues, among other gains. The union's bargaining committee is unanimously recommending that the membership ratify the agreement.

The agreement covers about 2,500 engineers, technicians, newswriters and other workers -- members of four NABET-CWA locals -- at the network and at four of its owned-and-operated stations in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Burbank, Calif. Members will get full details of the proposed agreement at meetings over the next few weeks; a membership ratification vote will be completed by August 25.

The settlement provides for a 9.5 percent wage increase over the contract term and extends existing no-layoff protections. It includes a commitment by management that NABET-CWA represented engineers will be the company's primary workforce in traditional program areas and adds new language covering assignments in new businesses, including Internet programming and podcasting.

Improvements for daily hires include an increase in the personal leave allowance and pension payments, along with an increase in payments made in lieu of other benefits.

NABET-CWA President John S. Clark said that negotiations were difficult and noted that the agreement addressed some of the critical concerns for members, including wages and job security.