July 22, 2010
· Omaha TV Techs Battle Hearst for a Fair Contract
· Boarman Nomination as Public Printer Cleared for Senate Action
· New Report Looks at Union-Building and Young Activists
Omaha TV Techs Battle Hearst for a Fair Contract
NABET-CWA members in Omaha use bus bench ads in the fight for a fair contract at KETV Channel 7.
NABET-CWA technicians at Omaha's KETV Channel 7 are fighting for a fair contract that prevents the Hearst-owned station from unilaterally turning full-time jobs into part-time work.
Three years ago, when the last contract was negotiated, the bargaining unit had 17 full-time and five part-time technicians. Since then, six full-timers have lost their jobs and the number of part-timers has more than doubled.
Management is attacking job security provisions negotiated in the last contract and wants to limit NABET-CWA's jurisdiction over existing work.
The KETV workers, who just merged their Omaha local with Local 54041 in Chicago, are wearing red shirts to show solidarity. A website, www.7canthelp.tv, and bus bench ads are making sure that the public gets the message.
The unit bargained this week with a federal mediator and more sessions are schedule in late August.
Boarman Nomination as Public Printer Cleared for Senate Action
The nomination of William Boarman, president of CWA's Printing, Publishing & Media Workers Sector, to become the nation's next Public Printer was approved by the Senate Rules Committee and sent to the full Senate.
Upon confirmation by the Senate, Boarman would serve as the chief executive officer of the Government Printing Office, which publishes thousands of documents every year for the federal government.
Boarman was nominated by President Obama in April but his nomination has been slowed because of the Senate's broken procedures. Filibusters by Republican leaders and secret holds by anonymous senators attached to nominees at every level have virtually brought the process to a halt. Usually, all but the highest level of presidential nominees have been confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate, but unanimous consent is nearly impossible in this Congress and an objection by a single senator requires a cloture vote to cut off debate.
CWA President Larry Cohen said CWA's legislative staff worked hard to get the nomination cleared by the Senate Rules committee. "We celebrate not only the vote for Bill, but our growing legislative and political clout and work," he said.
New Report Looks at Union-Building and Young Activists
A new report by the Berger-Marks Foundation offers a "top ten list" to help unions attract and keep a new generation of workers, especially women members.
"Stepping Up, Stepping Back: Women 'Talk Union' Across Generations" provides some very specific suggestions to help increase activism and leadership among young workers, especially women. Download the report here.
The report is based on discussion among 30 women leaders who attended a "summit" in New Orleans; they came from more than 20 different unions and other organizations.
Recommendations included more training programs so that young workers can learn how to 'talk union' with their peers, eradicating sexual harassment and sexism, and more decision-making involvement and opportunity for young activists.
The Berger-Marks Foundation was established with a bequest from the estates of Edna Berger, the first female lead organizer for The Newspaper Guild-CWA, and her husband, the legendary Tin Pan Alley song-writer Gerald Marks. It seeks to bring the benefits of unionization to working women and to assist organizations committed to those principles.
Go to www.bergermarks.org for more information. |
