Little progress as NBC10 photographer strike hits week mark

NBC10's 65 unionized photographers and technicians have upped their tactics to disrupt the local news station's coverage since going on strike a week ago as both sides report little progress in contract negotiations.

“We’ve had some conference calls, but the company’s position and the demands [from the union] have not changed,” said Ken Agatone, technical director for NBC10 and a union shop steward with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98.

NBC10 Technician Ken Agatone, right, seen here picketing last week outside the Comcast Center with two other IBEW Local 98 union members, said there has been little progress in negotiation with management one week after employees walked off the job.

IBEW employees are picketing outside NBC10’s studio on City Avenue at Bala Cynwyd and the Comcast Center in Center City, home of the NBC10’s parent.

The workers are also at times disrupting NBC10 reporters and replacement employees when they are reporting live in the field. NBC10 said beginning last week, it increased security personnel traveling with their employees.

Both sides acknowledge that the key sticking point in negotiations has been implementation of Automated Production Control (APC), which automates some functions that the unionized employees traditionally performed.

“We’ve made an offer to our IBEW employees that includes a competitive pay package and the flexibility necessary for the station to operate in today’s fast-changing broadcast industry,” an NBC10 spokeswoman said. “We continue our discussions with the union and we are hopeful we will reach a resolution.”

Union officials say adopting APC could lead to cutting at least six and as many as 12 union positions and replacing them with non-IBEW workers. But NBC10 said it will not lead to job cuts and that this is the model now being adopted by many local television news outlets.

The strike was timed to commence less than 48 hours before the arrival of Pope Francis last weekend, 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.

NBC10 said the strike has not affected its coverage, although it did have to eliminate an hour-long special previewing the pope visit.

"We haven't missed a beat," the spokeswoman said.

NBC10 will relocate from Bala Cynwyd to the media giant’s second office tower, Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, upon its scheduled completion in late 2017.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal