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NABET Members Fall Victim to CNN's Union Busting
Add CNN to the long list of union busters: The cable news giant has maneuvered to end NABET-CWA's representation of more than 200 field camera crews and other technical workers in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Since the 1980s, CNN has employed camera operators and technicians through subcontractors who had bargaining agreements with NABET-CWA. Now CNN has cut the contractors and set up its own nonunion workforce.
"Through the years and through numerous subcontractors, these workers remained on the job loyally serving the interests of CNN with professionalism, pride and expert skill," CWA President Morton Bahr said in a letter to Congressional leaders and Democratic candidates for president, appealing to them for support.
"Despite having retained most of the workers from these subcontractors, CNN has refused to recognize NABET-CWA as (their) collective-bargaining agent and - in one fell swoop - has converted a unionized technical workforce in those cities into a nonunion workforce," Bahr continued.
NABET-CWA President John Clark said the union will try to resolve the situation with CNN, but will launch a new organizing drive if necessary. "For CNN to take this type of action against workers who have helped make them the world's top cable news network is reprehensible," Clark said. "These are loyal, hard-working men and women who want and deserve the continued protection of a union contract, and we intend to make sure they have it."
Since the 1980s, CNN has employed camera operators and technicians through subcontractors who had bargaining agreements with NABET-CWA. Now CNN has cut the contractors and set up its own nonunion workforce.
"Through the years and through numerous subcontractors, these workers remained on the job loyally serving the interests of CNN with professionalism, pride and expert skill," CWA President Morton Bahr said in a letter to Congressional leaders and Democratic candidates for president, appealing to them for support.
"Despite having retained most of the workers from these subcontractors, CNN has refused to recognize NABET-CWA as (their) collective-bargaining agent and - in one fell swoop - has converted a unionized technical workforce in those cities into a nonunion workforce," Bahr continued.
NABET-CWA President John Clark said the union will try to resolve the situation with CNN, but will launch a new organizing drive if necessary. "For CNN to take this type of action against workers who have helped make them the world's top cable news network is reprehensible," Clark said. "These are loyal, hard-working men and women who want and deserve the continued protection of a union contract, and we intend to make sure they have it."