STAY SAFE OUT THERE
These past few days our teams in the field and at home have covered the pain, protests and violence across America with the same dedication and skill that’s been the hallmark of our coverage throughout the last few harrowing months. Thank you for the extraordinary work and the outstanding coverage. As another new, uncertain week begins, we’d like to remind everyone that your safety and well-being are our most important priorities in these challenging circumstances.
Every one of our courageous teams covering the protests are being accompanied by professional security. They also know, and we’d like to reiterate here, that their foremost obligation is to stay safe and to always follow the relevant protocols and training, even if it means not getting the image, the shot, or the sound-bite we might all desperately want. If anyone has any questions about this, please reach out to your manager, or to one of us.
This is an extraordinarily difficult story to cover, even for those of us doing so from positions of relative safety. The historical injustice, the deep frustration, and the simultaneous challenge of navigating this ongoing global pandemic make this moment especially fraught. So, as we have said many times before – please take extra care of yourselves and each other. (To reach ComPsych, either call 888-515-4327 or visit their Guidance Resources Online and click ‘register,’ company ID: CCC313).
About Us
We are the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, a sector of the Communications Workers of America.
Our Union strives to provide its members with a sense of pride and dignity in the workplace, while maintaining quality work conditions and fair wages. Over the years, NABET-CWA has fought for and won benefits and wages for its represented members which include a union shop, 8-hour work days, vacations, holidays, sick leave, insurance, overtime pay, pension plans, seniority, grievance and arbitration, safety, and health. NABET-CWA is proud of its fine tradition of democracy. Our members are well served by officers and staff whose roots are in the broadcast industry.
NEWS
UNIT NEWS
NBC Daily Hire Update Posted 04/25/2020
Message from the President
May 14, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers of NABET-CWA Local 31,
As I write this letter, we in the U.S.-- and people throughout the world-- find ourselves in a time of great, unprecedented change and turbulence. For us, in broadcast and cable, this has meant many of our traditional venues in sports and entertainment have temporarily been halted, and many of our members furloughed. We want you to know that we are still here to answer your concerns.
Our office staff has been working remotely, since Maryland Governor Hogan issued a stay-at-home order in March. You can contact us in two ways, you can leave a voicemail on our Local office’s number (301)459-4999, which we check regularly. Alternatively, you can email us at info@nabet31.org.
Members can also get updates and find information on our revamped website, nabet31.org, we also have our Facebook page (NABET-CWA Local 31). There we will post information regarding your work status, alongside information on how to access government programs that you may be eligible for during this COVID-19 emergency.
I would like to reassure you that the officers and staff of Local 31 are here for you. NABET-CWA is talking weekly with your companies about such issues, such as getting our furloughed workers back to work and establishing some type of essential worker pay for those still working in studios or in the field.
Local 31 is actively involved in four contract negotiations:
· WJLA (Sinclair), which is in mediation
· Montgomery Community Media (MCM)
· House Creative Services (HRS), which is on a three-month extension
· Howard University Television (WHUT), which has just reopened
We commend and thank our members at National Public Radio (NPR), for the concessions they made as a unit to avoid layoffs of their union brothers and sisters.
This worldwide pandemic has shown us that the future is not set in stone. I have no doubt, however, that as our great news crews have done over this period of shut down, the broadcast and cable professionals of Local 31 will be in place when the country reopens to provide the outstanding sports and entertainment the American public has come to expect.
Local 31 will be here to represent the interests of our members.
In Solidarity,
Bob Williams
President, NABET-CWA Local 31
Bob Williams