NABET-CWA NBCU Negotiation Update

Bulletin #24

NABET-CWA/NBCU Negotiations

New York City

July 29, 2011

NABET-CWA and NBC Universal negotiators last met in New York City on Friday, June 3, 2011. While the lines of communication have, as always, remained open between the parties, bargaining activity from the Company has been stagnant for most of the past seven weeks.

On Monday, July 25, 2011, representatives from NBCU Labor Relations forwarded a 43-page package of proposed contractual changes to the Union, and asked that your Bargaining Committee formally present the package to the membership for ratification consideration.

The Company’s offer contained a condition that “…the NABET-CWA bargaining committee agrees to unanimously recommend this Memorandum of Agreement for ratification by the NABET-CWA membership.”

Sector President James C. Joyce told Executive Vice President of Labor Relations, Andrew Herzig, that while the Union’s Bargaining Committee would carefully review the package, and give full consideration to presenting the package to the membership for ratification, it is unlikely that the Committee would agree to recommend any package that did not meet the standards of the Union.

During the past few days, Union negotiators spent considerable time evaluating and discussing the Company’s offer.

In light of these intolerably lengthy and unnecessarily protracted negotiations, we are disappointed to report to you that the Company’s current offer falls far short of a contract that merits your acceptance.

You deserve much better.

The NABET-CWA Network Negotiating Committee, through Chief Spokesperson James Joyce, has informed Mr. Herzig that we would agree to present the package to the membership, but the Union’s unanimous recommendation to the membership will be to reject the offer.

Mr. Herzig replied to President Joyce that the Company will need additional time to consider the Union’s decision and to respond.

We will inform you as to the Company’s reply once we receive a response from Mr. Herzig.

Locals 11, 31, 41 and 53 are planning to conduct informational meetings for their respective memberships. Details regarding those meetings will be announced shortly. As always, please ignore all rumors.

NABET-CWA Network Negotiating Committee

NABET-CWA

501 3rd Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

202-434-1100