NABET/MSNBC…
NABET is painting a dire picture for non-union MSNBC employees as it tries to organize them…
MSNBC
Are You Affected?
In the wake of the move from Secaucus to 30 Rock, some MSNBC employees are facing a loss of jobs. Some estimate the cuts to be about half the current MSNBC staff. Don’t get caught in the crossfire. Find out what you can do to protect your jobs. NABET-CWA Local 11 has been representing NBC employees since the 1950’s, which is about the last time there were any layoffs among our ranks.
Update: TVNewser has an emailer who said it’s not going to happen…
Update 2: An emailer writes in to ICN…
I read the following on ICN, pursuant to your link:
NABET-CWA Local 11 has been representing NBC employees since the 1950’s, which is about the last time there were any layoffs among our ranks.
This is a blatant lie. There have been numerous layoffs involving NABET-represented people since the 1950s. NABET allowed NBC to create a second-class “perma-temp” employee and these “Daily Hires” (NABET language) or “Quick Hires” (NBC language) are routinely laid off by NBC with no action by NABET whatsoever.
So, if NABET Local 11 means “our ranks” to mean “the people who have full-time jobs,” they may be right. I would challenge the writer of that statement to come clean about the “Daily Hire” v “staff” issue. I would also ask NABET Local 11 to list the number of “Daily Hires” it has on its Executive Board as well as to list the number of “Daily Hires” it has as officers. The people running that local have been staff employees and they have consistently resisted any attempt any “Daily Hire” has made to run for an executive board position or to retain any slot on their e-board.
How many employees are being let go?
Comment by SHANE — November 1, 2007 @ 1:22 am
MSNBC reducing news programing, layoffs desperately trying to fill the I-hole($). Here’s an idea, why not have Al Roker hand out the pink slips?
Comment by ChannelXRFR — November 1, 2007 @ 8:38 am
The forethought MSNBC and its employees used when attacking Imus…must have taken these possibilities into account. Somebody give the pink-slippeees an exit interview; how many of them thought it was a good idea to eliminate the Imus?
They say they are journalists…and the current trend is to report on things in the media. (like we care). It’s time for NBC to ask themselves some hard-hitting questions.
Comment by Rich — November 1, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Does this mean that we won’t hear Contessa on the weekends? What can we possibly do to fill that hole in our lives? I’ll try watching paint dry.
Imus has many, many loyal fans who do not appreciate the way HE was handed a pink slip. NBC wasn’t very ‘nice’ in the way they treated their popular, big-earner employee.
Karma is knock, knock, knocking at their door.
Comment by Phyllis — November 1, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Apparently, IITM made MSNBC some good cash. Does anyone know how much?
Why do they need both Griffin and Capuss? It’s not like they have a full schedule of programming, what with all the sex predators shows repeating over and over and over and over! I swear anytime I pass by MSNBC on the weekend, it’s a sex sting show.
Comment by moonbeam — November 1, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Alot of techs could not go to the meeting. I wouldn’t count it out.
Comment by john — November 1, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Here a 5 ‘pink-slip’ suggestions for MSNBC: Joe “Banjo Boy” Scarborough, Mika, ‘Quit Teasing Guys!’ Brezinski, Willie ‘My Dad Works for CBS’ Geist, Tucker ‘Wide-Stance’ Carslon, and Contessa ‘you fill in the nickname’ (it’s too easy) Brewer. A good way for MSNBC to save $$ would be just to shut off the transmitter every morning from 6-9 A.M.
I really don’t think the American viewing public would even know it was ‘black’ (or at least for a few weeks).
Comment by Steve — November 1, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Phyllis, obviously you haven’t actually watched MSNBC on the weekends for a while.. seeing that Contessa rarely is anywhere to be found.
Comment by Terance — November 1, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
Nothing but prison documentaries and Dateline reruns, why watch? Imus was lucky to be the first off of that sinking ship. Can’t wait to see and hear Don in his new spots.
Comment by JoeM — November 1, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Phyllis, I’m with you and can’t stand Contessa Brewer. I hope she gets a pink slip.
The rumor is Imus is coming back on RFDTV - does anyone know if this is true? I’m interested in getting rid of Time Warner cable and getting satellite but am waiting for an announcement.
Comment by moonbeam — November 1, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
NABET hasn’t had a voluntary layoff in it’s engineering contract since 1958; there was a layoff of desk assistants and New and Feature assistants in 1987; newswriter layoff in the early 1990’s involving 13 employees who were involuntarily laid-off. The company has offered voluntary layoffs where a enhanced severance package is offered to those agreeing to be laid off; most of the takers have been those close to retirement who wanted some spending cash or those who’ve burned out on the industry. Furthermore, NABET didn’t “permit” the company to institute the so-called perma-temps; rather the union endured a 18 week strike in an effort to block the company from hiring “daily hires”. Additionally Daily Hires are not “laid-off” as described in the response posted above; they are simply not rehired if the needs of the company do not require there presence. Unless the company puts it in writing that they will be offered “staff” jobs, all hired under the daily hire language, if they read the contract, know that there is no guarantee of and permenant jobs by virture of being a daily hire no matter how long they work in that capacity.
Local 11 has had at least one if not more Daily Hires on its Executive Board within the last 5- or 6 years; They are entitled to run for the Executive Board positions if they so choose; however most of them choose not to.
Comment by Boardengineer — November 6, 2007 @ 2:28 am
The DH situation is the same at ABC. DH’s don’t run for office because they fear company retaliation.
Comment by Websteward — November 7, 2007 @ 6:41 pm