Small Local, Big Win: NABET-CWA Saves Jobs in Harrisburg

In a victory worthy of David vs. Goliath status, a small unit of PBS workers in Harrisburg, Pa., stood up to a management team whose contract demands could have spelled the end of their union.

"I think they saw 20 members, a small local, and figured we couldn't put up a fight and they were going to roll right over us," NABET-CWA Representative Bill Murray said of the contract talks at WITF radio and TV. "They got a big surprise."

The Local 58213 members recently approved a new contract that not only preserves job security, it requires management to fill four full-time positions that have been vacant. Union jobs at WITF include engineers, announcers, reporters, videographers, directors and audio technicians.

Originally, Murray said the station launched an assault on the union's jurisdiction and "came in seeking to eliminate one person a year – unless they ran into financial problems, then they could eliminate even more." 

But the local fought back.  Members and their supporters in the south central Pennsylvania area began putting pressure on the station, going to board meetings, writing letters to PBS financial supporters, leafleting at any WITF event and squeezing the non-profit affiliate's ability to fundraise. On nights when volunteers were answering phones to accept donations, scores of community members called and said they wouldn't donate until management changed its tune.

The station typically takes in $10,000 to $20,000 during a night of phone-banking, but on two nights when union supporters were active, it raised just $500 and $825, according to Local President Joe Grazen.

CWA leaders called the victory an inspiration and praised workers for standing up to a management team that was bigger than their entire local. The station has 26 managers for its 100 union and non-union workers, and 10 of the managers are high-paid vice presidents.

"Your story will be told and retold as an example of what our union can do together," CWA President Larry Cohen said. District 13 Vice President Jim Short said, "Every local in CWA should and could learn from what you all have accomplished."

The victory "goes to show that when a group is strong and united, anything is possible, despite the odds," NABET-CWA President John Clark said.