NLRB Slams CNN for Tearing Up NABET-CWA Contracts

It took more than three years, but the National Labor Relations Board has finally backed charges by NABET-CWA against CNN for using a restructure ploy to tear up union contracts for 350 field camera crews and other technical workers in its news operations in New York and Washington, D.C.

The NLRB's general counsel ordered a hearing before an administrative law judge this September and will press for an order for CNN to restore the previous contractual provisions, recognize and bargain with the union, and reinstate with back pay the many union workers who had been terminated in the two news bureaus in late 2003 and early 2004.

That's when the big cable news network dropped a long-standing contractual relationship with Team Video Services, whose union-represented workers gathered news for the cable network, and shifted the operation in-house.  CNN hired many of the TVS workers, but to get rid of the union, "CNN expanded and packed the D.C. and N.Y. units in order to avoid a successorship obligation to recognize and bargain" with NABET-CWA, the board's ruling stated.

Declaring that the workers no longer had representation, CNN immediately slashed wages, benefits and other working conditions and protections. 

"Although this ruling has been a long time coming, we're gratified and confident that the board's decision will finally put us on a path to justice for these CNN workers," said NABET-CWA President John Clark.

Ed McEwan, president of the union's Local 11 in New York, said:  "From the beginning, we told the workers it would be a long fight given the current political climate, but to have faith.  We're not going to let CNN walk over us."

In Washington, D.C., NABET-CWA Local 31 president Carl Mayers said:  "This is a very important decision for our members, and it also is a statement that no matter how long it takes, we're determined to protect our jobs and bargaining rights."