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Retired NABET-CWA Staff Represen-tative Donald “Don” Jernigan passedaway on January 29, after suffering a

stroke at home in Virginia. Jernigan, 67,was still in the hospital at the time of hispassing.

Don was a memberof NABET-CWA’sstaff for 20 years, rep-resenting Local 54 inSan Diego. Prior tojoining the Union,Don was the Local410 (Cadillac, MI)President and servedon the NABET Inter-national ExecutiveCouncil, the forerun-ner of the current Sec-

tor Executive Council. He also producedand directed the video coverage of CWA’sConvention for many years.Although Don retired in 2007, NABET-

CWA Sector President Jim Joyce was ableto coax Don partially out of retirement over

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F B R O A D C A S T E M P L O Y E E S & T E C H N I C I A N ST H E B R O A D C A S T I N G A N D C A B L E T E L E V I S I O N W O R K E R S S E C T O R O F T H E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S W O R K E R S O F A M E R I C A

{www.nabetcwa.org}

Printed in the U.S.A.

NABETCWA News

VOLUME 62, #1 • Spring 2013

the past two years to assist with theNABET-CWA Local 54 negotiations andmobilization at San Diego’s KGTV. After anearly eight-year battle, a contract was set-tled recently with a new owner.“He was as engaged in this effort then as

he was before retirement,” said Joyce. “Hehelped me lead a contingent of a hundredor so CWA activists to rally at the stationafter we successfully defeated a company-orchestrated decertification campaign inMarch 2011. Don always put the membersand his Union first.”"Don was passionate about making sure

that Union members had a solid collectivebargaining agreement," Local 54 PresidentDennis Csillag said. "He was much morethan a Staff Rep.; He was a friend, mentorand excellent strategic planner. He had theextraordinary ability to look at all sides ofan issue and come up with the best solu-tion. Our Union family has suffered a greatloss, but Don forged a strong bond with ourExecutive Board and members and hisspirit lives on in the knowledge and passion

Athree-year agreement was reached be-tween Scripps-owned KGTV andNABET-CWA Local 54 on Christmas

Eve and ratified five days later, on Decem-ber 29, 2012. TheLocal reports that themembers attendingthe ratification meet-ing approved the newcontract. The agreement,

which expires in2015, provides job se-curity, wage increasesand includes a sign-ing bonus. “As we enter our

60th year represent-ing employees atKGTV, this agree-ment allows us tomove forward, forge apartnership withScripps and rebuild relationships at thisstation,” said Local 54 President DennisCsillag, who still has not been re-hired. “Iam extremely proud of our Executive

Board and members for maintaining soli-darity while continuing to produce the bestproduct possible.”“Although not perfect, I'm pleased to

have an agreement that wecan work with,” Local 54Vice President RobertBuchanan said. “McGraw-Hill challenged our member-ship and was met with astone to the forehead. Local54 lives on to reach new lev-els of success with Scripps.Our members should be ap-plauded for their solidarity.Our story will be used tomotivate other labor organi-zations to mobilize and fightfor what's right.”Executive Board member

John Suarez said the num-bers tell a story. “The num-bers show that there is much

work to be done to make this relationshipwork. I'm counting on Brian Lawlor andScripps to work with us on the remainingissues,” Suarez said.

Contract Reached at KGTV in San DiegoAgreement marks an end to 7-year struggle; Boycott lifted

he gave us."Don was born on May 5, 1945, in Dear-

born, Mich. According to his family, Donstarted working at the age of 12 as a paper-boy. Throughout his life, he worked inmany fields: a lineman for Detroit Edison,a boiler operator at Mercy Hospital, aCameraman and Director at TV 9&10 inCadillac, Mich., and, ultimately as a mem-

ber of NABET-CWA’s staff. Don alsoserved in the U.S. Navy for three years be-fore he marrying his late wife, CarolMichael. They were married for 28 years.Don spent the last years of his life living

on Lake Anna, in Virginia, where he spentmost of his time relaxing with good friendsand family. He was an active member of

Don withRVP2 FredSaburro atrally forLocal 54

Late Breaking News

ABC Contract Negotiations Update

As this edition of NABET News went to press, there was a late-breaking update onABC negotiations. On Friday, March 8, the Federal Mediation and ConciliationService (FMCS) announced that that Union and ABC, Inc. would resume media-

tion efforts under the auspices of that Agency’s national Director. That announcementstated:“In response to a joint request of the parties concerning their ongoing negotiations,

the next negotiation session will be conducted under the auspices of Director GeorgeCohen and his colleagues in Washington, DC, on Friday, March 22.”The NABET-CWA contract expired on March 31, 2011, and negotiations have

spanned two years. Jurisdictional issues and economic considerations still remain open.In November of 2012, ABC unilaterally implemented proposals from its “Last, Best,and Final Offer” presented to the Union’s bargaining Committee last July. Unfair laborpractices charges were immediately filed by the Union, and are still being consideredby the National Labor Relations Board. Updates on the March 22 mediation session will be made available at

www.nabetcwa.org as soon as possible following the meeting.

Donald L Jernigan

(Continued on page 6)

(Continued on page 6)

I N M E M O R Y O F

DONALD LEWIS JERNIGAN1945-2013

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Connecting All of the Dots

As we were preparing the list of stories that weregoing to be included in this edition of NABETNews, it struck me that this newsletter really

represented how all the dots can and should be con-nected in terms of the work the Union does, thecommitments our members make on the job and tothe union, the challenges we are all currently facingtogether, and the building of paths to overcomethose challenges.For example, you will read about Local 54 in San

Diego, California, which recently ratified a new contract at KGTV, after a nearlyseven year mobilization campaign and contract fight. Every member of Local 54 wasengaged in this struggle, and in-vested their commitment both in theworkplace and out in the public inthe pursuit of justice. This story involves a tale of two

employers, McGraw-Hill, the ownerof KGTV when negotiations beganin 2005, and E.W. Scripps, the ownerat the time a new contract wasreached. In my opinion, McGraw-Hill sought only to thwart the collec-tive bargaining process bybargaining to impasse, instigatingdecertification efforts, and targeting union supporters at the station. E.W. Scripps, onthe other hand, worked from the outset with the Union toward arriving at a contract.Throughout it all, the leadership and membership of Local 54 stood together, mount-ing a nearly seven-year mobilization campaign that was so effective that McGraw-Hill exited the TV station business.Connecting the next dot, you will also read about Don Jernigan, who passed away

recently, after devoting a lifetime to the members of NABET-CWA. Don was a retiredstaff representative and former local and national officer. He was so dedicated tofamilies of our union that he came out of retirement to assist in the final resolution ofthe Local 54 contract. Don gave back to the members what the union had given toDon---a commitment to justice and respect in the workplace.That connects us to the dot concerning the fight for justice away from the work-

place, where you will read a story about the efforts of NABET-CWA members tobring reform to the U.S. Senate rules. These antiquated rules have had the effect ofparalyzing the National Labor Relations Board and other important agencies as Presi-dential appointments have been filibustered or stalled in the Senate. NABET-CWAlocal officers and members generated hundreds of letters and e-mails in this effort.Despite the difficulties with administration of the NLRB, you will next connect the

dots with the story about Local 42 pursuing and prevailing in a landmark decisionthat benefits the entire labor movement. The case overturned prior precedent andtakes an underhanded tool away from employers who would cancel dues check-off toforce bargaining committees into accepting concessionary proposals. You will also read about the valuable skills NABET-CWA members possess, and

the important craftwork that they perform in our features about the Presidential Inau-guration and the 2013 State of the Union Address. And as you continue to readthrough NABET-NEWS, you will connect the dots to health and safety issues, othercontract settlements, union provided training opportunities, and retiree activism.When you connect all the dots, I think you will agree that the members, local offi-

cers and staff of NABET-CWA are the most dedicated and skilled activists in thelabor movement, and together we can overcome any challenge.

NABET-CWA Sector President James Joyce

NABET-CWA Local 53 Mobilizes atKTTV/KCOP (FOX) in L.A.

On January 17, after more than a year of limited bargaining sessions, Fox Television of-ficially cancelled the contracts for both the News and Engineering units representedby NABET-CWA. The units had been working under extended contract agreements,

but when the engineering unit unanimously rejected the company’s contract offer in De-cember, the company gave the Union 30 days notice of the cancellation.Local 53 KTTV/KCOP members responded to the anti-union move with a successful

rally and informational picket outside the stations’ offices on Bundy Drive. About 80% ofthe members participated in the picketing and wore red shirts that day, sending a clear mes-sage to the company that they are united and won’t be intimidated into accepting substan-dard contracts. Two weeks ago, strike sanctions were approved unanimously by the L.A.County Federation of Labor against the Company in the event of a strike or lock-out.“This has been a difficult struggle with FOX,” said Local 53 President Steven Ross. “At

every Fox station that is union-represented, they’ve made cuts. Even though the station isdoing well, they don’t care. It’s a matter of trying to go after the Union,” he said. On February 25, Union members handed out 1,000 postcards at the L.A. County Federa-

tion of Labor, which will be sent back to KTTV/KCOP General Manager Kevin Hale.NABET-CWA Sector President Joyce has put together an application for financial helpthrough the CWA Defense Fund.The Engineering unit has provided the company with a counter offer, which the company

has not responded to yet.For now, the units will work under the terms of the existing, expired contract, minus the

ability to arbitrate grievances.

Join the “Turn Off FOX 11” Campaign: “Like” the Facebook page and share the story with your Facebook friends!

Stay in Touch with New NABET-CWA App

NABET-CWA has made it easierto stay connected with yourUnion. Now, you can get the lat-

est NABET-CWA News, videos andphotos in one place. Three new appli-cations for iPhone, Android/GooglePlay and HTML5 allow Union mem-bers to interface with the Union withyour smartphone.The app gives you access to the

Union’s website, calendar, news feedsfor both industry and Union news,

and photo and video accounts. It alsoincludes a section for contact infor-mation. “It’s a nice tool to keep up with

news and events right from yourphone,” said NABET-CWA Staff Rep-resentative William Murray, who de-veloped the app. “It interfacescompletely with the website, and is agreat way to reach our younger mem-bers.”After seeing how his own children

use their phones for “everything,”Murray figured an app would be away for the Union to keep in touchwith the newest generation of mem-bers. Murray also was responsible forthe initial creation of NABET’s web-site several years ago.Find the new iPhone app by search-

ing for “NABET-CWA” in the AppleiTunes Store. The Android version isavailable in the Google Play Store.

When you connect all the dots, I think you will agree that themembers, local officers and staffof NABET-CWA are the mostdedicated and skilled activists inthe labor movement, and togetherwe can overcome any challenge.

Captin

NABET-CWA Local 53 rallies in front ofKTTV/KCOP (FOX) offices on January 17.

View of NABET’s appon GooglePlay

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Phantom Dividends

The AFL-CIO was appalled at GE’spractice of paying “phantom divi-dends,” and submitted a share-

owner proposal similar to the one I hadsubmitted previously. Phantom divi-dends refers to paying dividends, or div-idend equivalents, to senior GEexecutives for stock they do not, andmay never, own. GE claims these pay-ments are necessary for the company toremain competitive and attract the mosttalented and qualified executives. Because of Securities Exchange

Commission (SEC) rules, my proposalregarding “phantom dividends” will notbe included in the 2013 GE proxy state-ment. The SEC does not permit dupli-cate shareowner proposals, so afterspeaking to the attorney for the AFL-CIO, it was decided that I would with-draw my proposal, and speak in supportof the AFL-CIO’s proposal at the share-

...................After the Showby Bill Freeda

NABET-CWA National Coordinator and President of the Media Sector, CWA Retired Members Council

the time to tune in; I think you will findit interesting.

Post-65 Retirement BenefitsNABET-CWA has started the process ofchallenging GE’s new policy regardingtheir Post-65 retirement benefits. Begin-ning January 1, 2015, GE will nolonger offer retirement benefits to anyNABET-CWA members/retirees, or theirspouses if you are not 65, and Medicare-eligible on that date. Those of you whowere at least 55 on the day of the mergerbetween Comcast and NBCU, January28, 2011, received documents thatspelled out what pension and retirementbenefits you would be entitled to fromGE once you retired. I need copies ofthose documents so that we can success-fully challenge GE’s policy change.When you find them you can either e-mail them to me atbfreedanabetcwa@verizon.net or snailmail them to me at:

NABET-CWA Local 11145 West 30th Street12th FloorNew York, NY 10001

NABET-CWA has taken the first stepby asking GE to provide us with a list ofNABET-CWA members/retirees whowill be affected by this change. I willcontinue to update you on any progress.

Unlike a good wine, a mistake does notget better with age,” stated the major-ity opinion in the National Labor Re-

lations Board case between NABET-CWALocal 42 and Gannett-owned WKYC-TV.In its 3-1 decision on Dec. 12, the NLRBoverturned 50 years of labor law precedentwhen it ruled that employers must continueto check-off union dues even after the col-lective bargaining agreement that estab-lishes such an arrangement expires.The labor board’s landmark decision re-

versed Bethlehem Steel, a board precedentfrom 1962, that permitted employers tocease dues checkoff once the contract thatprovided for it ran out. The majority deter-mined that federal labor law supports afinding that dues checkoff arrangementsshould be included among the terms andconditions of employment that remain in ef-fect even after the contract containing themexpires, and that the Bethlehem Steel deci-sion failed to acknowledge the differencesbetween union-security agreements, whichrequire workers to pay certain union fees,and dues checkoff provisions, which pro-vide an administrative convenience. In its ruling, the majority stated, “The

bargaining process is better protected bypreserving the settled rules with respect toboth management rights and dues checkoff.It hardly advances collective bargaining torequire that some portions of negotiatedagreements – i.e., those favorable to theunion – survive contract expiration, while

others – those favorable to the employer –do not.”The decision removes a powerful bargain-

ing tool that employers could use overunions. However, the new rule won’t be ap-plied retroactively to pending cases, but willimpact employers’ bargaining position infuture talks. The original complaint byNABET-CWA against WKYC was dis-missed.“It’s good for labor and puts us in a bet-

ter bargaining position for future labor con-tracts,” said Local 42 President WilliamWachenschwanz. “However, it doesn’t helpus in our current situation.” “This decision benefits all of organized

labor going forward, because employerscannot use this economic weapon in con-tract negotiations unless lawful impasse hasbeen reached,” said Sector President JimJoyce. “I want to commend Chuck DeGrossfor his legal work on this case, and BillWachenschwanz's perseverance and opti-mism in his support of this charge. The re-sult was worth the Sector's and Local'sresources dedicated to this case.”"It certainly is a very, very significant

victory for labor," NABET-CWA lawyerCharles DeGross said. “We are pleased withthe board’s decision in that respect, but dis-appointed that it doesn’t apply to the folksat Local 42 who are still working without acontract, while WKYC still is not withhold-ing dues.”

NABET-CWA Case Leads to Landmark NLRB Dues Checkoff Decision “Bethlehem Steel” overturned/”NABET-CWA Local 42 v. WKYC-TV” is new standard

DeGross said the Company’s refusal towithhold dues is a tool to try and force theUnion to accept a substandard contract.“NABET-CWA is losing a significantamount of money every day, but the Unit isholding tight and focused on getting a faircontract.”The NLRB has been trying to change the

Bethlehem Steel law since the 1990s, ac-cording to DeGross. Charges broughtagainst hotels in Las Vegas and other caseshelped pave the way for this decision: “Alot of other unions did work toward this rul-

ing. Our case happened to have the neces-sary elements to kick it over the top.”DeGross said he is sure other contracts

are already impacted by this important deci-sion, which is the now the law.NABET-CWA filed the unfair labor

charges with the NLRB when WKYC ter-minated members’ dues deductions and im-plemented a contract in the midst of atwo-year contract struggle, in January 2010,which ignored the binding contract the sta-tion had with the Union through June 2011.

be asking shareowners to vote AGAINSTmembers of the GE Board of Directorswho serve on the Management Develop-ment and Compensation Committee(MDCC), and I ask those of you who areGE shareholders to do the same, since I be-lieve that these Directors are at least in partresponsible for this egregious and unde-served policy. So please make your voiceheard, and vote against: Ralph S. Larsen,Chairman, James I Cash, Andrea Jung,Robert W. Lane, Sam Nunn, and, Dou-glas A. Warner III.

GE Meeting WEBCAST to Airon April 24 at 10 a.m.GE will provide a webcast of their annualmeeting, allowing you to listen and perhapssee, the GE shareowners meeting on yourcomputer, in the comfort of your ownhome. The meeting will be held onWednesday, April 24, at 10 a.m. The web-cast address is:www.ge.com/investors/events. Please take

phan·tom n.

1. a. Something apparently seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physicalreality; a ghost or an apparition. b. Something elusive or delusive.

2. An image that appears only in the mind; an illusion.

3. Something dreaded or despised.

(www.thefreedictionary.com)

owners meeting in New Orleans on April24. Unfortunately, another shareowner pro-

posal addressing executive compensationhad already been submitted, and although ithad nothing to do with phantom dividends,the SEC, at GE’s urging, found our pro-posal to be similar, and had to be disquali-fied. That, however, will not prevent mefrom speaking on the issue at the share-owners meeting.In protest of the practice, I am going to

“

Amundsen and his new bride Callie

Congratulations to NABET-CWA Local 24 Secretary EricAmundsen on his Decemberwedding! Eric has been amember of the NABET local inWatertown, New York, sinceJune 1982. He is very active inthe local, serving as bothSecretary-Treasurer andSecretary since December 2006.

Eric Amundsen

Head-on camera tower

Joe Shalhoup/NBC inaugural pool audio

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National Conference for Media Reform:April 5-7, Denver

NABET-CWA President Jim Joyce and NABET-CWA Staff Representative CarrieBiggs-Adams will be among the presenters at the National Conference for Media Re-form in Denver on April 5-7. They will present a workshop on “Labor Unions: MIA

in the Media” and, in conjunction with the Newspaper Guild, a program on the media’scoverage of Hispanics. The bi-ennial conference is sponsored by Free Press, a nonpartisanorganization advocating for universal and affordable Internet access, diverse media owner-ship, vibrant public media and quality journalism. The conference will feature informationon today’s pressing media and technology issues and will provide attendees with a chanceto build new skills and meet activists from around the country. For more information, visit:http://conference.freepress.net/ncmr-2013

NABET Scholarships: Honor a Loved Onewith the Gift of Education

It’s often called “paying it forward,” the concept of selfless giving in hopesthat it someday will be repaid to others and make the world a little brighter, orin this case, smarter. Benjamin Franklin called it “a trick of mine for doing a

deal of good with a little money.”For those looking for a unique opportunity to keep a loved one’s memory

alive, consider making a donation to NABET-CWA’s scholarship program.Scholarship donations can be made in lieu of flowers, for instance, enablingfamily, friends and co-workers to create opportunities for future generations inthe name of their loved one.Each year, NABET-CWA awards $6,750 in scholarships to the sons and

daughters of active, retired or deceased NABET-CWA members. Currently,eight scholarships are awarded each year, named after past NABET presidents.Recently, contributors donated to the NABET-CWA Scholarship Fund in

memory of long-time Local 16 member Richard Aronson. To date, $975 has been donated in his name.If you would like to donate to an existing scholarship

in honor of someone, please send contributions to:

NABET-CWAc/o Jodi Fabrizio-Clontz501 Third Street, NW, 6th FloorWashington, D.C. 20001

Tel: 202-434-1254

�

Inauguration Day: January 21, 2013

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More than 200 NABET-CWA mem-bers worked the the Inauguration ofthe 44th President of the United

States, Barack Obama, on January 21, in-cluding those who work for the ABC andNBC D.C. Bureaus. In addition, those net-works brought down members from NewYork City. There were also members work-ing for NABET-represented television sta-tions like WJLA, WRC, WABC, WNBCand others.Beginning the Saturday before (Jan. 19),

networks aired shows from various D.C. lo-

cations, including the National Mall,Lafayette Park and in the case of MSNBC'sMorning Joe, the Dubliner pub a few blocksfrom the Capitol. On Inauguration Day,each network aired special coverage, begin-ning with the morning shows, through theafternoon. The evening newscasts on thebroadcast networks, and primetime cover-age on cable news also aired live fromWashington, D.C. NBC expanded itsnightly newscast to one hour to cover thedays events. ABC had 35 on-air personneland a broadcast booth in the Newseum on

Pennsylvania Avenue.On the broadcast side, NBC News re-

ceived the most viewership, reaching onemillion more viewers than either of its net-work competitors. For the full duration ofNBC’s coverage – from 10 a.m. to 4:30p.m. – NBC averaged 5.081 million view-ers. Meanwhile, ABC News averaged 3.922million viewers and CBS News averaged3.671 million.As is often the case with a second-term

inauguration, viewership was down sharplyfrom what each network garnered for the2009 event, when NBC attracted more thantwice as many viewers with 10.4 millionand ABC almost three times as many with10.1 million. CBS dropped from 7 million.However, NBC News’ figures were 20%better than the last second-term inaugura-tion for George W. Bush in 2005. Social media made a bigger impact this

time around, however. Many people kept upwith the day’s events via social media,watching and commenting on the Internetvia Twitter, Facebook, etc. Viewers couldfollow along and comment on both ABC

and NBC using Twitter and Facebook. ABCNews.com provided all-day live streamingvideo coverage, as well as live coverage onthe ABC News iPad App and mobile de-vices. NBCNews.com and the NBC Politicsapp carried live streams of NBC News’ spe-cial coverage as well. The network also uti-lized new social media platforms and toolssuch as Chute, Zeebox and Storify to en-hance the experience for its viewers and fol-lowers. As of 10:00 a.m. ET onInauguration Day, Twitter reported that inthe previous 90 minutes there had alreadybeen more tweets than during the actual 90-minute inauguration ceremony in 2009.During the ceremony, there were 1.1 Mil-lion inauguration-related tweets, with27,795 tweets per minute at the peak.Social media has turned television pro-

grams into online events, and given thebroadcast industry a new marketplace. Ajoint Nielsen and Yahoo study in the UnitedStates last year found over 86 percent ofmobile internet users chose to communicatewith each other in real time during broad-casts.

Performing a mike check onthe presidential podium.

Network camera position

MelissaYoung andHank Dis-selkamp/ABC

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Remember the shot of PresidentObama, turning around just before here-entered the Capitol building after

taking the oath of office and saying, “I wantto take a look one more time”? Daily Hireand NABET-CWA Local 31 member MikeCroke does. It was his shot, captured formillions around the world to see and experi-ence one of the few unstaged moments ofthe inauguration.“That was the one that everyone was talk-

ing about,” said Croke, who was the NBCpool camera operator for the inauguration.“It was neat that I could capture it. Whenyou’re seeing it through the lens, it’s specialto see someone’s true emotion, histhoughts: I want to make sure I absorb this.”Croke has worked as a photographer

since 1987, when he worked in Washington,D.C. for Conus Communications and forstations in Minneapolis. He has been a free-lancer since 1993, moving back to D.C. in2000. His first pool assignment was for theinauguration of George W. Bush, which wasshot in High Definition for the first time.Croke was chosen for the job because of hispast experience working in HD while cover-ing college sports.Croke also was pool for Obama’s first in-

auguration, “a sea of people on the mall,”which he remembers as more “awe-inspir-ing” than the last. “The inaugurations aren’t the hardest

thing, but you realize the world is watching.You realize every little hiccup will be seen,”Croke said. Other networks have pool cam-

eras as well, but Croke’s was the only cam-era on the president and the other speakers.His camera was the one that fed to theworld. “I was the tight shot on everyone at the

podium. I had the shot of Beyonce pullingout her earpiece,” Croke noted. “Afterward,I hardly heard anything about the presi-dent’s speech, but everyone was talkingabout Beyonce.”Croke said he always wonders about what

his reaction will be if something unex-pected happens: “You know that your shotis the one that everyone is going to see forhistory. You have to be prepared and aware.You can’t daydream. You have to make allof your movements like you’re on live.”The most recent State of the Union ad-

dress also foundCroke behind thepool camera. “Ifelt privileged tobe there with allof that power inthat room,” Crokesaid of that mo-ment. “To be oneof eight cameraguys in a roomwith the mostpowerful peoplein the world thereis awe-inspiring.”Croke got very

close to the most

powerful person in the room thatnight when President Obamawalked down the aisle. Crokewas trying to capture the scenefrom Obama’s perspective, wait-ing for him to go past so he could wheelaround to show him walking down the aisle,toward the exit. At this point, Obama puthis hand out to shake the photographer’shand. Croke froze. He didn’t know if he, asan impartial journalist, should be the one toshake the president’s hand. He didn’t haveto worry for long. Only about two secondswent by before another hand sprung outfrom behind Croke and met the president.One of the other compelling assignments

Croke remembers is Ronald Reagan’s fu-neral at the Washington National Cathedral:“Everyone in the world was there, all of theformer presidents and so many heads ofstate, Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gor-bachev, and you’re in that place, too. But,you’re only there because of this job.”For the most part, Croke covers a lot of

sports as a freelancer: “News dries up, butsports is always there.” He has covered 10Super Bowls, many seasons of MondayNight Football games, as well as baseballbroadcasts. He also covers horse races andworked the Olympics in Beijing, which heremembers fondly. “When Michael Phelpswon eight gold medals and his Mom, Deb-bie, was in tears. Sometimes you do a jobwhere you are looking through theviewfinder and things don’t seem real. But

The president reaches out to shake Croke’s hand.The view from Croke’s lens at theState of the Union address.

Croke sets up camera duringState of the Union rehearsals.

The perfect perch: Mike Croke (front/right camera) mans the NBCpool camera for the presidential inauguration on January 21.

Seeing History Through a Camera LensDaily Hire Appreciates the View

it’s amazing to see the way these events im-pact people’s lives.”He also remembers an especially

poignant moment between quarterback leg-end Bob Griese and his son, Brian. Theelder Griese was calling the national cham-pionship game that his son, the Michiganquarterback, had just won after a secondhalf comeback. Croke’s son had just re-cently been born, so the moment stuck withhim: “Sometimes you realize that you’re ina special spot and it triggers an emotion thatmakes it something different. You feel privi-leged to be around it.”Croke travels a lot for NBC, who he has

worked for as a freelancer since 2005. Hissports travel schedule for the network putshim on the road every weekend from Au-gust through January. One of his more re-cent trips was to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii,where his family, including his now 14-year-old son, joined him. Thankfully, the work schedule continues

to put him in interesting places, and unlikethe president, he will most likely be there tosee another inauguration.

Mike Croke and Kevin O’Haraworking NBC pool

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New Activist Training (NAT)

September 20-23The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute

Linthicum Heights, Maryland

NABET-CWA will again host its fourth New Activist Training in conjunctionwith The Newspaper Guild’s New Local Officer Seminar (NLOS) on Septem-ber 20-23, 2013, at the Maritime Institute adjacent to BWI Airport. The joint

training will enable NABET-CWA activists to meet others from another part of theCWA media sector.The training session incorporates three days of intensive skills-building for

NABET-CWA activists, with hands-on practical workshops and bargaining exercises.Participants will be trained in mobilization techniques and strategies and learn whatit takes to be a steward or local officer.“We can’t give you 30 years of experience in 30 days, but we can show you the ba-

sics, give you great written resources to take home, and introduce you to people whowill support you in your efforts once you head back to your Local,” said NABET-CWA Staff Representative Carrie Biggs-Adams, who organizes the trainings.Union Staff and officers will conduct the training for new Union officers who

want to learn more, up-and-coming stewards, Executive Board members or activists.The cost per participant is approximately $630, which includes meals, lodging, andeducational materials. Travel costs are not included in this fee. Locals that receivesubsidies for attending Sector conferences and RAB meetings are eligible for eco-nomic assistance for one student per Local.All questions Should be directed to Carrie Biggs-Adams at cbiggs-adams@cwa-

union.org, or call 202-415-1147. Information about the Maritime Institute can befound at www.ccmit.org.All Locals must notify the Sector of the names of those attending by August 15th,

2013. Space is limited and first come first served.

the citizens’ association and a member ofthe Lions Club. In his obituary, his familystated: “His love of family and music wasunmatched, he enjoyed debating politicsand was always ready to lend a helpinghand. He also loved to travel, read and forseveral years was a Dive Master teachingcountless others to scuba dive.”Don is survived by his long-time girl-

friend Karen Talamini of Mt. Airy Md., herchildren, Randi and Brian and her grandsonCJ; two children: Wendy Wagner, of Ster-ling, Va., and Donald and Lori Jernigan, ofUrbana, Md. He also is survived by six sib-lings, 15 nieces and nephews, and “thelights of his life”: three grandchildren and“The Bears.”A funeral was held in his honor on Febru-

ary 2 in Everett, Pa., where he was laid torest alongside his late wife.In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting

that donations be made in his name to theLake Anna Rescue Inc. (LARI) or the LakeAnna Civic Association.

Donald Lewis Jernigan(Continued from page 1)

KGTV Contract(Continued from page 1)

Csillag extended appreciation to ScrippsVP of Television Brian Lawlor for listeningto the concerns of the Union’s members andfor his honesty. He thanked NABET-CWAPresident Jim Joyce and Staff Representa-tive Bill Murray for their “diligence andguidance.” “We also owe a great debt to retired Staff

Representative Don Jernigan, who took thisjourney with us,” added Csillag. “We hadworked with Don for 25 years, from 1986until Scripps took over in 2011. Even then,we talked on a regular basis.”“We also must recognize the solidarity of

those who supported our fight for a faircontract,” Csillag said. "That includes ourLocal 54 members, NABET, CWA, the SanDiego Labor Council and its memberUnions, the California Labor Federation,and countless elected officials, candidates,community leaders, supportive advertisersand viewers."Once the contract was ratified and the

bonuses and pay raises were put in effect,the San Diego and Imperial Counties LaborCouncil and California Labor Federationofficially lifted the economic boycottagainst the station.Labor Council CEO Lorena Gonzalez

congratulated Local 54 members on thedeal and encouraged San Diego's nearly200,000 union families and supporters toreturn to KGTV. “Even after an amazingelection season, we still managed moregreat news to end 2012, with the announce-ment that members of NABET-CWA havefinally approved a new contract with

KGTV Channel 10 after seven years! Theycan finally count on fair wages and job se-curity, and we can enjoy San Diego’s onlyunion newscast once again,” Gonzalez said.Local 54 celebrated the conclusion of this

long and arduous fight on January 23, and,again on March 12, with members of theNABET-CWA Sector Executive Council,which was in town for meetings.The prior contract under former owner

McGraw-Hill expired on January 31, 2006.When the contract expired, McGraw-Hilllaunched a five-year, union-busting cam-

Members of NABET-CWA Local 54 celebratecontract win.Front (l-r): Local 54 Vice President RobertBuchanan, San Diego and Imperial CountiesLabor Council CEO Lorena Gonzalez, Local 54President Dennis Csillag, Shop Steward CorinneGreen, Shop Steward/Negotiating Committeemember Frank Castillo, Jr.Back (l-r): Local 54 Education Chairman John D.Suarez, member Stuart Weiner, Treasurer EddieRay, Secretary Joshua Case, Labor CouncilPolitical Director Evan McLaughlin.

Mark Holloway

NABET-CWA Locals Participate in Senate Reform Campaign

paign on employees. That campaign cameto a head in 2011 when employees voted toretain their Union of nearly 60 years in theface of a company decertification drive.Ninety days later, McGraw-Hill decided toexit broadcast, ultimately selling its stationsto E.W. Scripps Co.A few days prior to the contract being

reached, KGTV’s Director of OperationsMike Biltucci retired after 33 years, men-tioning the “challenges” over the past fewyears as a collective bargaining agreementwas being pursued.

CWA launched a “Fix the Senate Now”campaign (www.fixthesenatenow.org)in January to reform the U.S. Senate

procedural rules. Members and officersfrom NABET-CWA Lo-cals answered the call,writing letters to theirSenators and attendedCWA’s Day of Action onJanuary 17 by calling theSenators in their state.Senate Resolutions 4

and 5, introduced by Sena-tors Merkley (D-Oregon),Udall (D-Colorado) andHarkin (D-Iowa), seek tolimit the use of the fili-buster – especially the“silent filibuster” – in the Senate to improvethe legislative process. Your Union is con-cerned about the inability for routine legisla-tion and nominations to get passed in a U.S.Senate that is constantly in a state of gridlock.Use of the “silent filibuster” has grown in

recent years, as politicians beholden to cor-porations have blocked popular progressivebills, even those with majority support,from becoming law. In order to end a filibuster, 60 votes are

needed by the majority party, a thresholdthat is unprecedented in American history.This practice has derailed energy and cli-mate legislation, halted the DREAM Act,

and blocked any debate on the EmployeeFree Choice Act, which passed the Housewith an overwhelming majority and had thesupport of 59 Senators.

“We need these reforms tounblock our democracy,” saidSector President Jim Joyce.On January 24, Senate Mi-

nority Leader Mitch Mc-Connell (R-Ky.) and MajorityLeader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)agreed to modest steps to limitthe filibuster that were ap-proved overwhelmingly by theSenate. Most of the changes tothe current state of affairs areminor. Members of both par-ties now will be able to have

more of a role in proposing changes to bills;however, the new agreement preserves theminority’s ability to force a supermajority of60 votes to advance bills, so the majoritystill does not have ruling power. It will betwo more years before this issue will be vis-ited again in the Senate.

“We need thesereforms to unblock ourdemocracy”

—Sector President Jim Joyce

Members from KGTV had dinner with the Sector Executive Council, including NABET-CWA Sector PresidentJames Joyce and Regional Vice President 5 Leroy Jackson, to celebrate the contract.

Page 7 • NABET NEWS • Spring 2013

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Plimack,withLawrence J.D’Addona(UFT, re-tired) andhis Man ofthe YearAward

Henry Plimack, a member ofNABET-CWA Local 16, wasnamed the 2012 Man of the

Year by The Mount Sinai-Irving J.Selikoff Center for Occupationaland Environmental Medicine(COEM) in New York City in De-cember. Plimack received the honorfor his legacy of occupational safetyand health in the broadcast industry. Representatives of over 70 labor,

community, health, and business-re-lated organizations in New York selectfive long-time champions of workersand their families each year. Eachaward recipient was cited for their ded-ication spanning numerous years andinitiatives that have benefited thehealth and well being of workers andtheir families statewide.For over 40 years of elected leader-

ship, Plimack has been directly involved insafety and health at ABC in New York.Early in his career, he attended the NationalLabor College (the former George MeanyCenter), and Cornell University’s Institutefor Labor Relations’ Manhattan campus,taking courses in Health and Safety (includ-ing OSHA), Labor Law, and Union Repre-sentation. At WABC Radio (WABC-AM and

WPLJ-FM), Plimack worked with the VicePresidents of Administration, Building, andSecurity, to remedy numerous safety issuesat their corporate headquarters building.

His efforts successfully created an aware-ness of the importance of “safety first.” At ABC-TV, he worked with Mount

Sinai’s Irving J. Selikoff to bring stress andhearing testing to his constituency. Plimackalso raised attention to environmental issuesin production studios, and helped to de-velop a safe environment for employees andaudiences on “live” sets. At WABC-TV, Plimack met regularly

with the Company on electronic newsgath-ering (ENG) procedures, and studio andcontrol room problems. He also worked

Since NABET-CWA launched its newClass on Demand training program inJune 2012, the number of members

taking advantage of the high-quality onlinetraining materials has skyrocketed. “We have seen a 60% increase in signups

since we started the direct marketing cam-paign,” said Paul Holtz, founder and CEO,Class on Demand. “We are adding 5-10members/signups a day.”Holtz said the increase can be attributed

to the proactive approach taken by Class onDemand, through its email outreach.“It’s right in front of you in an email. It

takes just 30 seconds to sign up, and youusually have access to hundreds of trainingtitles the same day,” said Holtz. The licenses that NABET-CWA provides

are filling fast. Once those are completelysold, members will have to share time withothers. So, the sooner members sign up, thebetter.“We tried to make it as easily accessible

as possible, acknowledging how busy peo-ple are these days,” Holtz said. “Once peo-ple get in there and see how great thetraining is, they will motivate themselves tocontinue. Holtz likened it to a health club: “Once you

get to the health club, you’re there. We try tomake the effort as minimal as possible.”Established in 1997, Class on Demand

works with hundreds of companies and or-ganizations, including the Air Force, and

has won hundreds ofawards for its state-of-the-art training. Beyond simple

power point presen-tations, Class on De-mand’s trainingproduct is designedfor Technical andArt Directors, Pro-ducers, and Pho-tographers. Thecompany has cre-ated highly pol-ished trainingvideos with thesame high-impactgraphics used intelevision andmovie produc-tions, whichleads to highercontent retention.Training is available through a NABET-

CWA-branded, customized online portal,and getting started is easy. To access the en-tire Class on Demand course catalog,NABET-CWA members just need to createan account and log into the training portal.Hundreds of IT and media titles are avail-able on topics such as lighting, video edit-ing, camera techniques, broadcast graphics,and more. As new titles are published, theybecome instantly available to NABET-CWA

Completion,” proving to your employer thatyou have completed the course and are pro-ficient in the product. Visit Class on De-mand as often as you like. New titles addedevery month.The free “Class on Demand” access is a

training benefit available exclusively toNABET-CWA members. You can sign-upby visiting www.nabetcwa.org and clickingon the “Class on Demand” window on ourhome page.

Training Scholarships fromCWA/NETT AcademyOver the next year, the CWA/NETT Acad-emy is awarding up to 50 academic scholar-ships to CWA members looking to developnew skills and advance their careers. Theseacademic scholarships can help cover thecost of things like tuition to books andexam fees.With the CWA/NETT Academy and our

new educational partner, Bismarck StateCollege, members can learn about web de-sign, sharpen network fundamentals, or geta full overview into Mac programming.

Take your career to the next level: Apply for a scholarship today:

http://www.cwa-union.org/pages/cwa_nett_scholarship_information

C LA SS O N D EMA N D T R A I N I N G TA K E S O F F

members through the portal. Class on Demand’s online learning plat-

form lets you access your free training any-where you have an Internet connection.Save the location in the training and pick itup where you left off. Review sections,search for specific instruction and followalong with downloadable content.Once you’ve completed a course, you

will be entitled to print a “Certificate of

with CWA’s Director of OccupationalSafety and Health, and District 1’s Occupa-tional Safety and Health Director, to insureproper procedures were followed duringfield coverage of the BP Gulf Oil Spill andthe Japanese earthquake, tsunami, andFukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plantmeltdown. Now, three years into his retirement, Pli-

mack continues to serve on ABC’s Em-

ployee Occupational Health and SafetyCommittee (EOHS), the World Trade Cen-ter Advisory Committee, and the MountSinai-Irving J. Selikoff Center for Occupa-tional and Environmental Medicine(COEM) Advisory Board. He has been keyin developing the COEM Advisory Boardwebsite, and is the photographer for COEMquarterly meetings, documenting them forpublic awareness.

Local 11PresidentTom Cappo,at right)swears inShopStewards.

L. 11 Shop Steward Installation

NABET-CWA Local 16 Member Henry Plimack Honored as Champion of WorkerHealth and Safety

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Page 8 • NABET NEWS • Spring 2013

KDTV – San Francisco, CAA new four-year contract was ratified on February 13. In the first year, pay increases of $45 perweek at each pay rate and step, equaling 3.29% to 6.81%, depending on the wage, will beretroactive to January 7. Raises in the following three years are: 2%, 2.5% and 2.25%.. Other con-tract changes involve vacation scheduling and incorporation of the new Chief Photojournalist po-sition into the contract language. The meal penalty will move to $20 (from an hour of straighttime), but the amount will increase in each subsequent year by the contract raise percentage.Other language changes also included the provision for holidays falling on an employee's day off,possible impacts of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a new Impartial Umpirefor arbitrations under the agreement. A new provision to provide severance payments and noticeto employees who decide not to move when the station moves to a new location in the next cou-ple of years was also negotiated, providing structure to the unknown of the probable move. Theprevious contract was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, but the parties extended theterms until February 28 in order to schedule more bargaining dates. The new contract will expirein 2016. The Bargaining Committee included Javier Barreto, a Creative Services Producer in theunit, and NABET-CWA Staff Representative Carrie Biggs-Adams. Pina Correa provided mobilizationsupport to the negotiators.

WCCO-TV – Minneapolis, MNOn January 16, negotiations began for a successor labor agreement. The Union’s negotiatingteam consisting of Dave Chaney, Joe Berglove, Tom Aviles, NABET-CWA Staff Representative LouisFallot presented the Company with a list of initial proposals. The proposals addressed severalareas of concern brought forth by the membership. The Company presented the Union with pro-posals that sought to erode the members’ quality of life and continue to erode the Union’s juris-diction. The issue of “shared” jurisdiction with AFTRA sparked a lively debate where Companyspokesman Ron Terrone insisted that no deal would be reached without this Side Letter (#3). TheUnion responded to this threat by stating that the Company never lived up to its promise to getshared jurisdiction from AFTRA. Due to prior Union legal action on tis issue, NABET-CWA AttorneyJudi Chartier was also present for this round of negotiations. At the table she firmly statedNABET’S position on jurisdiction: that it was a permissive subject of negotiations and the Unionwould not agree to the Company’s proposal. While, agreement was reached on several other pro-posals, the two sides remain far apart on economics and jurisdiction. The parties broke off thefirst round of negotiations without establishing further dates for talks. The contract extension ex-pired at the end of January.

KABE-TV – Bakersfield, CAThe two newly organized units of Engineering/Master Control/Production and Clerical employees(25 total) at Spanish-language KABE-TV began talks in Bakersfield. Five bargaining sessions wereheld to discuss job descriptions, jurisdiction and economics. According to NABET-CWA Staff Rep-resentative Carrie Biggs-Adams, the contract is about 80% settled, but pending items include ju-risdiction and economics. There is also an unresolved issue concerning whether there will beseparate contracts for the two units. More talks are scheduled for the first week of April.

WOIO/WUAB (Raycom Media) – Cleveland, OHThe NABET-CWA unit ratified a new three-year agreement with WOIO/WUAB in Cleveland. The unitincludes about 100 engineers, producers, editors, directors, technicians, photographers, assign-ment desk and production employees. The contract calls for wage increases of 1.5% in the sec-ond year and 1.75% in the third year, one additional holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), and theaddition of domestic partner funeral leave benefit (a first for a Raycom-owned station). The con-tract makes clear previously ambiguous language on jurisdiction, and increases by three thenumber of Ohio counties applicable to the Agreement. The new agreement allows WOIO/WUABto hire up to six Multimedia Journalists (MMJs) who will be part of the bargaining unit. (Reportersand anchors are not represented at the station). “This a tremendous win for the unit as the em-ployer has sought the use of MMJs in the last two agreements, but they had always been ex-cluded from the unit,” said NABET-CWA Staff Representative Eric Seggi. The BargainingCommittee consisted of Rob Hillyer, Bill Kohegan, John Potter, Ken Koscick, Local 42 President BillWachenschwanz and Seggi.

House Recording Studio – Washington, D.C.Bargaining began on March 1 for the House Recording Studio. NABET-CWA Staff RepresentativeCarrie Biggs-Adams expects the talks to be difficult. Dates for bargaining a contract for the newphotographers unit at the House of Representatives Office of Photography will be decided oncethis contract is settled.

WHUT-TV (Howard University) – Washington, D.C.Both of the Union’s unfair labor practice cases are in the appeals process at the National LaborRelations Board. The NLRB denied the Union’s charges over the firing of the two groups of work-ers last summer. Station management has now declared impasse and the Union is pursuing fur-ther legal action against Howard University.

WHUT-TV discovered what solidarity means when the Washington Teachers last week refused toparticipate in an après-screening event of a documentary on DC schools because of NABET-CWALocal 31’s ongoing dispute with the station. “As a proud union leader, I stand behind NABET-CWALocal 31 in their struggle for a fair contract and good working conditions,” WTU Local 6 PresidentNathan Saunders told WHUT. Five of the station’s six workers were fired after their contract ex-pired on June 30, 2012 and the cases are still pending before the National Labor Relations Board.Local 31 President Rich McDermott extended his local’s “heartfelt thanks” to the teacher’s union,adding that “These struggles are not easy, but with the show of solidarity by you and the Wash-ington Teachers’ Union, our members realize the importance of standing together for the good ofthe labor movement. Hard working people like the teachers set a great example for their studentsand all Americans.”

WTNH-TV – New Haven, CTOn January 17, a four-year agreement was rati-fied with LIN Media-owned WTNH for the Pho-tographers & Technicians Unit. This is thethird of the three contracts bargained at thestation in the past year. The Union negotiatingcommittee sat across the table from corporatelabor relations executives, with no local sta-tion management bothering to show up. De-spite this setting, after five bargainingsessions NABET-CWA was able to reach a ten-tative agreement. The terms of the agreementinclude raises of 2%, 2.25%, 2.25%, and2.25% in each year, as well as a $150 signingbonus to each employee. The units weregiven advance refunds for insurance over-charges identified last year. A new Labor-Management Training Committee wascreated, with a specific requirement that alltraining must be paid. The previous contractwas set to expire on February 10.

Official Publication of the Communi-cations Workers of America (AFL-CIO, CLC)International Union Headquarters501 3rd Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20001-2797Phone: (202) 434-1100

CWA News (ISSN 0007-9227) is published quarterly Jan/Feb/March,

April/May/June, July/Aug/Sept, and Oct/Nov/Dec by Commu-nications Workers of America, 501 3rd Street, N.W., Washing-ton, D.C. 20001-2797. Periodical Postage Paid at Washington,D.C. and additional mailing offices

Postmaster: Send address changes to NABET NEWS at 501 Third St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001-2797. Phone: 202-434-1254 E-mail: nabet-cwa@cwa-union.orgDistributed to all active and retired NABET-CWA members.This issue contains no paid advertising.

Please send news items to:NABET Newsc/o Jill GallagherFreelance Public Relations and Editorial Services9819 Haverhill Drive, Kensington, MD 20895Phone/Fax: 301-933-1415E-mail: gators4@verizon.net

Editor: Jill GallagherLayout: Chadick + Kimball

Sector OfficersSector President James JoyceSector Vice President Charles Braico

Regional Vice PresidentsRegion 1 - Richard L. GelberRegion 2 - Fred W. SaburroRegion 3 - Maurice “Moe” ThomasRegion 4 - Donald R. Farnham, Jr.Region 5 - Leroy JacksonRegion 6 - William Wachenschwanz

I N D E P E N D E N T R E P O R T

Members of theNABET-CWABargainingCommittee (l-r):Local 14President TraceyDoherty; LocalSec.-Treas. TomSgro, NABET-CWAStaff Rep. CarrieBiggs-Adams,Shop StewardGeorgeDeYounge, andLocal VicePresident GreggMonte.

Please submit story ideas and photos to

NABET-CWA@cwa-union.org