MSNBC in 30 Rock: NABET tries to organize MSNBC employees…
This is interesting. The National Organization of Broadcast Employees and Technicians is going to try and organize the MSNBC employees who came over from Secaucus. It’s even waiving the initiation fees. This is the agreement between NBCU and NABET that was signed in September, I guess to address the move of the non-union MSNBC employees to 30 Rock. Any lawyers out there want to tell me what this legal mumbo jumbo means?
Also noteworthy is that there’s a NLRB trial coming up regarding unfair labor practices at CNN. The details are somewhat murky according to this PDF but it appears it has something to do with what goes on in CNN’s D.C. bureau and what goes on in the New York bureau.
To operate technical equipment at 30 Rock you must be a member of NABET. The contract sideletter as stated in your post covers those personnel, which are hired on a per-diem basis. All field technical work for MSNBC has always been done by NABET personnel. NABET is trying to organize more of the non-technical and editorial production staff.
Comment by 5w30 — October 24, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
Personally, I think that a big reason why there is so much money behind the anti-FOX crowd, is because of things like this. FOX is non-union… and to the best of my knowledge, non-union for all positions.
And when the folks there vote not to bring in a union, the only thing the union leaders can do in return, it try to make life working for FOX as miserable as possible. Donating money, fund raising, and supporting anti-FOX smear groups… would all be an interesting way to do that.
But that’s just my hunch.
Comment by ImNotBlue — October 25, 2007 @ 1:24 am
FOX is union. IA in New York, Some IBEW. FSNY, Fox National, Fox channel 5 are all union represented. ImNotBlue should get at least one of his statements correct.
Comment by u r wrong — October 25, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Okay, we’re not talking about the engineers here. They’re somewhat separate.
Gimme some evidence that the talent/producers/content providers are union. As I said, as far as I know, they are not.
Comment by ImNotBlue — October 25, 2007 @ 1:32 pm
Fox News Channel and Fox Business Channel are certainly non-union all over. Technicians, editorial, people who “direct” shows, makeup, etc. The only union personnel in that building are probably the janitorial staff, plus the building owners’ electricians and operating engineers. U R Wrong is correct in saying if you work as a tech for a Fox Sports NFL or MLB telecast, WNYW or WWOR, or for the regional sports net Fox Sports NY, you are a member of a union. IATSE for the most part … coming out of the film union background of 20th Century Fox. Many people who work for those New York operations are members of the Directors Guild [Directors and AD’s] the Writers Guild [at the tv stations] … etc …
Comment by 5w30 — October 26, 2007 @ 9:10 pm