NBC10 began advertising the jobs of its striking workers
and union members continue to go to extreme lengths to draw attention to
contract negotiations – jeering Comcast exec David Cohen at a book launch party
and appearing behind the Today show anchors – as both management and labor
report little progress at the strike's two week point.
In a memo to NBC10 employees, station manager Ric Harris
said the union, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers Local 98, has been spreading “inaccuracies about our negotiations. This
time, we’ve heard from some of our employees that they are waiting for us to
respond to an offer they’ve made to us. That is simply not true.”
Neither management or labor had much progress to report
as the strike involving NBC10’s 65 unionized photographers and technicians has
reached the two week point.
Enlarge
Neither management or labor had much progress to report
as the strike involving NBC10’s… more
Harris said management’s “last, best and final offer” was
delivered to the union Friday night and that the station made it clear that
while that offer is final, it remains on the table. IBEW chief negotiator Jim
Foy said he responded to management’s offer with one of its own Saturday and
NBC10 informed him Wednesday morning that it was rejecting that offer.
“In addition to a highly competitive compensation
package, our offer includes a no layoff guarantee for the life of the contract
thereby providing assurance to the union that our desire for flexibility is not
about reducing jobs,” Harris said. “This is contrary to what has been
communicated by the IBEW.”
Foy said while the no layoff clause is accurate, there is
still a snag as it pertains to what both sides acknowledge as being the chief
sticking point in the negotiations— implementation of Automated Production
Control (APC), which automates some functions that the unionized employees
traditionally performed and hands some of those duties to non-IBEW employees.
Union officials have been concerned about jobs cuts and
losing responsibility in the newsroom while management said it needs more
flexibility to keep up with modern television journalism and what their
competitors are doing.
Foy said the two sides had been negotiating a new
contract since the original one expired in the summer of 2014. But, last month,
Foy said management essentially came forth with completely new terms that were
not as attractive as what was previously on the table.
Harris also said in his memo that while he remains
hopeful of reaching an agreement with the union, the station is moving forward
with hiring replacement workers.
“All of the jobs performed by striking workers have been
posted on job sites and we are beginning the interview process,” Harris said.
At least nine jobs were seen advertised online. An NBC10
spokeswoman said some of the listings are temporary and some are full-time. The
positions that are full-time will replace the existing positions. It is unclear
if those positions would become permanent at any point.
Harris added that NBC10 has experienced “minor
challenges” with IBEW picketers attempting to disrupt our ability to location
shoots, but that the station’s increased security details have helped. He said
those increased security provisions will continue when personnel are in the
field, as well as in the parking lot and at all entrances at the station on
City Avenue on Bala Cynwyd.
IBEW picketers have appeared outside the station and in
front of the headquarters of NBC10 parent Comcast Corp. at the Comcast Center
in Center City. Some IBEW employees could be seen Wednesday holding signs
outside the Today show’s studio in New York, as well as in a live report from
the Shore last week.
The union timed the start of its strike to begin less
than 48 hours before the arrival of Pope Francis last month, forcing NBC10 to
cover the big event without their regular photographers and technicians. The
station used freelancers and professionals from other NBC stations to get
through the papal visit and that situation continues.
Frank Keel, a spokesman for IBEW, said the union remains
hopeful of resolving the dispute.
“But it needs to be reciprocal,” Keel said. “`Last, best
and final’ are just words. There’s always room for movement if people are
rational”
Shortly after Keel made those comments, he issued a press
release saying that IBEW Local 98 would hold a press conference at City Hall
Thursday morning to discuss "serious charges" against NBC10
management. It did not offer specifics.
Last week, Local 98 said it sent a letter to the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security alleging that NBC10 committed what it termed a
"serious security breach" by having replacement workers skirt around
protocol to gain access to events connected with the pope visit.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
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