NABET Reaches Out to Stars, Advertisers as ABC, NBC Hype Fall Shows

Fighting for fair contracts at ABC and NBC, NABET-CWA members rallied in New York City last week at the networks' fall TV presentations for advertisers.

Despite heavy rain, NABET-CWA members in New York City rallied with enthusiasm last week outside star-studded NBC and ABC presentations that gave advertisers their first look at the networks' fall TV shows.

NABET members at both networks are fighting for new contracts. Bargaining began earlier this year with ABC, where the union contract expired March 31. The NBC contract expired more than two years ago.

As advertisers and celebrities made their way inside the events, members from Local 51011 (NBC) and Local 51016 (ABC) handed out flyers and tried to talk to them about workers' issues at the networks.

"At NBC's gala at the New York Hilton, our members approached such stars as Chevy Chase, Debra Messing and Christina Aguilera," NABET-CWA President Jim Joyce said. "We also drew the attention of high-level NBC management as they emerged from their limousines."

For another three hours, NABET members and allies from the Writers Guild and other unions handed flyers to passersby, marched outside the midtown hotel's entrance and blew whistles to draw attention to the contract dispute.

The next day, May 17, NABET members gathered across the street from Lincoln Center, where ABC was making its presentation. "Almost every person walking into the event or strolling by on the sidewalk was presented with a flyer outlining Disney/ABC's attempts to reduce the terms and conditions for thousands of workers across the country," Joyce said.

The union got an extra boost of support from dozens of soap opera fans, angry at ABC for its planned cancellations of "All My Children" and "One Life to Live."

The most recent bargaining sessions with both ABC and NBC were held this month. "All of the open items were discussed in both sets of talks, but no overall deal has been reached yet at either network," Joyce said.

To stay up to date, visit the sector's website at www.nabetcwa.org.