KRCG-TV Bargaining Report #4

 

CWA bargained on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Friday meetings ended when the Company announced it was taking a recess to consider its next proposal. On Saturday morning, November 29, 2014, the Company emailed its next proposal to the Union. The company labeled the proposal as its “final offer”. As far as CWA is concerned, it was not proper for the Company to call this proposal a final offer because the parties are still in the middle of bargaining. The Union and the Company had only met three times, thanks to the Company’s refusal to make itself available for negotiations until November 7, 2014, and then not to make itself available again until November 24, 2014. What the Company calls its “final offer” offers you a stingy wage increase of only 1.5%. We believe this is insulting to you for your hard work to make the Company a success. Compounding the insult is that the Company lawyer refused CWA’s request to explain the basis for this offensive wage offer. Other insulting demands from the Company include attempts to reduce your vacation, radically reduce your severance pay in the event of layoff, force you to accept any Company wage freezes of non-bargained-for employees, force you to accept any furloughs or wage reductions of non-bargained-for employees, allow the Company to fill vacancies with new hires from off the street rather than grant transfers to internal employee applicants, and drastically change employee classifications to make a Janitor equivalent to a Master Control Operator/Technical Director; and there are more. CWA attempted further bargaining with the Company on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30; but the Company refused to bargain. The Company insists that CWA submit its so-called “final offer” to you for a ratification vote. However, CWA does not intend to ask you to vote on such an insulting contract offer. The National Union has informed us that we have its full support. Today CWA’s national attorneys will be filing a charge against the Company of illegal refusal to bargain with the National Labor Relations Board. CWA has informed the Company that we demand to continue negotiations and that we will do whatever it takes to obtain a FAIR and JUST contract for you. We will keep you updated as new developments occur. UNITED WE BARGAIN.......                   DIVIDED WE BEG!!!!!!!!

CWA bargained on Friday, November 28, 2014. The Friday meetings ended when the Company announced it was taking a recess to consider its next proposal. On Saturday morning, November 29, 2014, the Company emailed its next proposal to the Union. The company labeled the proposal as its “final offer”. As far as CWA is concerned, it was not proper for the Company to call this proposal a final offer because the parties are still in the middle of bargaining. The Union and the Company had only met three times, thanks to the Company’s refusal to make itself available for negotiations until November 7, 2014, and then not to make itself available again until November 24, 2014. What the Company calls its “final offer” offers you a stingy wage increase of only 1.5%. We believe this is insulting to you for your hard work to make the Company a success. Compounding the insult is that the Company lawyer refused CWA’s request to explain the basis for this offensive wage offer.

 

Other insulting demands from the Company include attempts to reduce your vacation, radically reduce your severance pay in the event of layoff, force you to accept any Company wage freezes of non-bargained-for employees, force you to accept any furloughs or wage reductions of non-bargained-for employees, allow the Company to fill vacancies with new hires from off the street rather than grant transfers to internal employee applicants, and drastically change employee classifications to make a Janitor equivalent to a Master Control Operator/Technical Director; and there are more. CWA attempted further bargaining with the Company on Saturday, November 29, and Sunday, November 30; but the Company refused to bargain. The Company insists that CWA submit its so-called “final offer” to you for a ratification vote. However, CWA does not intend to ask you to vote on such an insulting contract offer.

 

The National Union has informed us that we have its full support. Today CWA’s national attorneys will be filing a charge against the Company of illegal refusal to bargain with the National Labor Relations Board. CWA has informed the Company that we demand to continue negotiations and that we will do whatever it takes to obtain a FAIR and JUST contract for you. We will keep you updated as new developments occur.

 

UNITED WE BARGAIN.......

                  DIVIDED WE BEG!!!!!!!!