On February 28, NABET-CWA will begin to bargain with ABC, Inc. over a contract to replace the one that is expiring on March 31, 2007. These negotiations, as always, will have a profound and lasting effect on your career at ABC. With that in mind, your bargaining committee – Gene Maxwell (Local 16, New York City), Moe Thomas (Local 31, Washington, D.C.), Ray Taylor (Local 41, Chicago), Kevin Wilson (Local 51, San Francisco) and Richard Daszkowski (Local 57, Los Angeles) – has asked me to write to you directly about the task we have before us.
Your Union's primary goal during these negotiations will be to enhance your job security and value to the company through the attainment of more work opportunities for our membership in the evolving technologies that have taken hold in our industry and have led to a revolution in how work is performed in the modern broadcasting workplace. While we do much of the work involving these technologies now, our participation depends largely on the "good will" of the company. Our aim in these negotiations is to convince ABC that – based on our talents, dedication, value and professionalism, and our long history in helping build this company into what it is today – our future must be built on a foundation more enduring than someone's good will. We will also be working diligently to prevent unnecessary encroachments on our work rules and to preserve our pension plan.
Be assured that these are not likely to be goals shared by ABC management. Based on the recent past, we can be certain that ABC will attempt to further reduce our job security and foist more flexible – and less lucrative – terms and conditions of employment on its NABET-CWA-represented workforce.
That's why you have an important role to play in the bargaining process. You can't afford to stand on the sidelines and watch the negotiations play out as if you are disinterested observer. Your job and your family's future welfare may well be impacted by what occurs at the bargaining table.
Your Local Union will be asking you to show your tangible support for your bargaining committee by visibly associating yourself with your Union and its goals and participating, when asked to do so, in mobilization activities. During the negotiations, the company will be watching for signs of weakness and lack of interest among members of NABET-CWA's ABC bargaining unit. What you do – or fail to do – will either help or undermine the efforts of your negotiating committee.
Our task over the next month will not be easy. But with your visible support and dedication, we can create our own best chance for successful negotiations and a long and prosperous future at ABC for our membership.
In unity,
John S. Clark
NABET-CWA President
