CBS News writers ready to strike

[lkwdcj562 0]

According to the LA Times, News writers , graphic artists and others staffers have approved a strike. Which brings 500 workers in CBS News on TV , radio and Local CBS O&O Radio and TV stations across the country. No contract since Summer 2005. Here's the story:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-newswriter20nov20,1,3304576.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

[ElliotJones 52]

Reposted for those without a LA Times Online Subscription:

 

Union officials hope the vote prompts the network to resume negotiations. The two sides last met in January.

By Matea Gold, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

November 20, 2007

NEW YORK -- CBS news writers, graphic artists and other staffers who work for the network's television and radio news operations voted by a wide margin to authorize a strike against their employer, the Writers Guild of America announced Monday.

 

Of the 300 employees who cast ballots in last week's special election, 81% backed a labor stoppage to protest working for more than 2 1/2 years without a contract.

 

The strike authorization means the WGA East and WGA West could call for a walkout at any time, although a strike is not inevitable. Union officials hope that the vote -- coming in the midst of a strike involving television and film writers who work under a separate contract -- will prod CBS back to the negotiating table. The two sides last met in January.

 

"It's a very powerful vote," said Michael Winship, president of the WGA East. "It proves that the CBS News folks have reached a point where they have taken this situation in their own hands and recognized that they need to get a contract, whatever needs to be done."

 

The union's CBS negotiating committee will meet after Thanksgiving to determine the next course of action, Winship said.

 

In a statement, CBS showed no inclination to compromise.

 

"The offer we presented nearly a year ago was fair and reasonable, and remains on the table," the network said. "It not only includes one of the best medical plans in the country with minimal employee contributions, but fair salary increases to all WGA employees as well."

 

"We hope there is no strike," the statement continued. "Should there be, however, CBS News, CBS Television Stations and CBS Radio remain fully prepared and ready to continue producing the highest-quality news programming for our viewers."

 

The labor dispute involves more than 500 news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers who work for CBS in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. About 60% are at local television and radio stations; the rest are at the network.

 

The most recent contract between CBS and its WGA news employees expired April 1, 2005. Negotiations have been at a standstill since November 2006, when 99% of the employees voted to reject the network's last offer.

 

Guild officials call the contract put forth by CBS unacceptable because it would mandate lower wage increases for local radio employees than for television and network radio staffers. Another major point of contention: It would allow CBS to combine union and nonunion newsrooms, a move that could threaten the union's presence.

 

Noting that its members last received a pay increase in April 2004, the WGA is seeking a 3% raise for all the employees for the length of the contract, including retroactive pay since its last deal expired.

 

For its part, CBS said it was offering a 3% raise for television and network radio employees and a 2% hike for local radio employees. The wage increases would not be retroactive.

 

In a letter distributed last week to WGA East members, the network urged employees not to vote for the strike and to consider "the uncertainty of a strike in determining what is best for you and your families," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

 

If a labor stoppage were to occur, all-news radio stations such as Los Angeles' KNX-AM (1070), Chicago's WBBM-AM and New York's WCBS-AM probably would be the hardest hit because they would lose the staff that writes their news and headlines.

 

"CBS Evening News With Katie Couric," which has three news writers and several graphic artists who work under the WGA contract, would also be affected. Couric does not belong to the WGA, but she is a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

 

Various unions -- including the WGA, AFTRA and the National Assn. of Broadcast Employees and Technicians -- represent different parts of the TV news business, which also employs many nonunion staffers.

 

In the current Hollywood writers walkout, AFTRA has instructed its members not to do the work that is usually done by members of the WGA.

 

If CBS news employees strike, Couric could continue editing her own copy, as she does currently, but she would not be able to write more of the nightly broadcast. Much of the additional work would fall to the program's executive producer, Rick Kaplan, and his senior staff.

[jestbiteme 13]

According to the LA Times, News writers , graphic artists and others staffers have approved a strike. Which brings 500 workers in CBS News on TV , radio and Local CBS O&O Radio and TV stations across the country. No contract since Summer 2005. Here's the story:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-newswriter20nov20,1,3304576.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

I don't see where the article mentions any effects on O&Os.

[ElliotJones 52]

According to the LA Times, News writers , graphic artists and others staffers have approved a strike. Which brings 500 workers in CBS News on TV , radio and Local CBS O&O Radio and TV stations across the country. No contract since Summer 2005. Here's the story:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-newswriter20nov20,1,3304576.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

I don't see where the article mentions any effects on O&Os.

 

The labor dispute involves more than 500 news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers who work for CBS in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. About 60% are at local television and radio stations; the rest are at the network.

[jestbiteme 13]

According to the LA Times, News writers , graphic artists and others staffers have approved a strike. Which brings 500 workers in CBS News on TV , radio and Local CBS O&O Radio and TV stations across the country. No contract since Summer 2005. Here's the story:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-newswriter20nov20,1,3304576.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

I don't see where the article mentions any effects on O&Os.

 

The labor dispute involves more than 500 news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers who work for CBS in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. About 60% are at local television and radio stations; the rest are at the network.

 

Right, but that doesn't specify stations owned by CBS outside of those markets, which doesn't make sense to me. What about Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Minneapolis or any of the other areas where CBS owns stations that produce news? Why specifically single out only those four cities?

 

Perhaps I am missing something.

[A3N 1002]

According to the LA Times, News writers , graphic artists and others staffers have approved a strike. Which brings 500 workers in CBS News on TV , radio and Local CBS O&O Radio and TV stations across the country. No contract since Summer 2005. Here's the story:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-newswriter20nov20,1,3304576.story?coll=la-headlines-business&ctrack=1&cset=true

 

I don't see where the article mentions any effects on O&Os.

 

The labor dispute involves more than 500 news writers, editors, desk assistants, production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers who work for CBS in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. About 60% are at local television and radio stations; the rest are at the network.

 

Right, but that doesn't specify stations owned by CBS outside of those markets, which doesn't make sense to me. What about Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Minneapolis or any of the other areas where CBS owns stations that produce news? Why specifically single out only those four cities?

 

Perhaps I am missing something.

I read somewhere that mentioned that the writers for the other CBS O&Os are represented by a different union than the L.A., New York and Chicago writers. The article also mentioned that WCCO was getting ready to send some writers and a few other people to help out in Los Angeles.

[newsdude 61]

The writers and producers at most of the O&O's are NOT WGA (or in a union, for that matter.) WCCO and KDKA (among others) are both likely sending support to NYC in the event of a strike. WCBS *would* be affected. I assume KCBS/KCAL would be as well.

[Amra 171]

The writers and producers at most of the O&O's are NOT WGA (or in a union, for that matter.) WCCO and KDKA (among others) are both likely sending support to NYC in the event of a strike. WCBS *would* be affected. I assume KCBS/KCAL would be as well.

KCBS/KCAL would be greatly hurt due to comments from both Nancy Bauer Gonzales & Don Corsini saying that the writing in KCBS/KCAL is "Mediocre" and that "KABC has better writers". They say it because they might be writing mediocrities and can do a better job. I remember reading on Ron Finneman how KCBS used a lot "sneak peek" on the teasers. And Ron said "If Don Corsini had in mind this when saying that his writers were mediocre he won't get an argument from me".

[stevieboy247 42]

And if WBBM in Chicago is affected by this, that will just make things worse for them since most of their newscasts are already suffering in the ratings.

[Amra 171]

And if WBBM in Chicago is affected by this, that will just make things worse for them since most of their newscasts are already suffering in the ratings.

Maybe WCCO will help them out too or WFOR or WBZ

[TSSZNews 1051]

WBZ is unionized...both in TV and radio...but they're under a different contract.

 

This would be a REALLY bad time for this to happen. Many local CBS O&Os are really on the upswing of late...WCBS in particular at 11p, WBZ is on the up and up, WCCO is as well...KDKA is dominant, KYW's about to take the top spot from WPVI at 11p...

 

If a strike happens and writers start to get moved around to other markets to act as scabs...not only does the quality of news lessen at stations that were poached...but those writers are probably doomed to a dead-end job...they'll be shipped back and it'll be made quite difficult to go up the corporate ladder, if the unions back where they scabbed opt to not let them join as their respective shops.

 

 

-T

[Amra 171]

WBZ is unionized...both in TV and radio...but they're under a different contract.

 

This would be a REALLY bad time for this to happen. Many local CBS O&Os are really on the upswing of late...WCBS in particular at 11p, WBZ is on the up and up, WCCO is as well...KDKA is dominant, KYW's about to take the top spot from WPVI at 11p...

 

If a strike happens and writers start to get moved around to other markets to act as scabs...not only does the quality of news lessen at stations that were poached...but those writers are probably doomed to a dead-end job...they'll be shipped back and it'll be made quite difficult to go up the corporate ladder, if the unions back where they scabbed opt to not let them join as their respective shops.

 

 

-T

Now the KYW and WCBS is a hyperbole. Especially KYW, WPVI is untouchable right now and even more WCBS since they have an idiotic and un-experienced anchor team and weather guy.

[TSSZNews 1051]

The last numbers I saw for this book...KYW had a close, but comfortable lead ahead of WPVI at 11p...and WCBS is at or close to being 2nd place at 11p for the first time in a while.

 

Granted, that was more than a week ago...things can change.

 

(EDIT: And indeed things have changed...the Philly Daily News is reporting WPVI has their lead back at 11p over KYW, by less than a ratings point...it looks like WCBS will beat WNBC in the demos at 11p, and that would make them 2nd. The expectation is that CBS affils should have had it strong last night, but tonight and tomorrow...all bets are off.)

 

-T