Broadcast Workers Say No To WJLA

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Workers at WJLA-NewsChannel 8, members of NABET-CWA Local 31, voted overwhelmingly to reject the Company’s “best and final” contract offer last week. “It's gratifying to the bargaining committee's efforts that the membership understood the importance of arbitration in discharge cases,” said NABET-CWA Sector President John S. Clark.  “This convincing rejection of WJLA's package shows that management misread the strength and unity of the bargaining unit on the arbitration issue.” The local reports that the negotiated right to arbitration for employees in discharge cases was the key issue, with virtually all other terms settled. "Arbitration is the cornerstone of any union, without it, you don't have a union," said WJLA employee and union negotiator Edwin Wilson. NABET members will be handbilling in the coming weeks at WJLA advertisers.