Workers Protest California Wage Cuts

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 30JULY08 - Union members protest the decision by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to cut the wages of hundreds of thousands of state workers to the Federal minimum wage of $6.75/hour, because the state legislature has not passed a budget. Workers accuse the governor of using their jobs and wages as a means of blackmailing the Democratic legislature into agreeing to Republican budget cuts. The workers, members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, left their national convention and marched through downtown San Francisco to protest the wage-cutting order.

Copyright David Bacon





See also from Calitics: Senate To Arnold: Say That To Our Face

HEALTH CARE DISPUTE CONTINUES AT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BROADCSTING'S KQED

San Francisco, CA
Since April KQED has institued a two tier health care system in which employees are being forced to pay more for their health care than their managers. Several people have had to switch to plans that did not include their doctors of many years and at least two were forced to eliminate their health care coverage entirely. NABET/CWA Local 51 covers 10 categories of empoyees from technicians and annoucers to those who work in the mail room, and building services.


In an appeal to supporters of KQED -- NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BROADCSTING'S (NCPB) flagship radio and TV stations -- NABET/CWA Local 51 continued to urge KQED members to put their pledges into an escrow account until the health care dispute between KQED & NABET is settled.

Concerned members of the community are urged to call KQED and let them know this two-tier healthcare is not acceptable at your public broadcasting station. Jeff Clarke, President and CEO of KQED can be reached at (415) 553-2201 or email at jclarke@ncpb.com.



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NABET
Kevin Wilson, President
EMAIL
Local 51
433 Natoma Street Suite 220
San Francisco, CA 94103
415 398-3160 Office
415 398-3162 Fax
http://www.nabet51.org
Email: NABET51.org

BROADCAST UNION NEWS

Broadcast Union News is a clearing center for information of interest to people working in television, film, and theater. A chance for IATSE, CWA-NABET, IBEW, DGA, AFTRA, SAG, AEA, WGA, Newspaper Guild, and non-represented entertainment industry workers to share information with an eye towards improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for all.

If you are in the Media Industry you should Bookmark this page. It is what it says it is, a compendium of things broadcast. Thanks to Joe's Union Review for the link and the kind mention of this fledgling enterprise.

CONGRESSMAN JIM WEB WITH CHARLIE ROSE

An interesting interview with a very complex figure. A former Secretary of the Navy under Regan, who has been an on going critic of the Iraq war. A Democratic conservative who seems to get the economy and the plight of poor people. A decorated Viet Nam era veteran who can criticize the military on it's own terms.This interview is posted on the Charlie Rose Web Site.

GERGE CARLIN SPEAKS TO TAVIS SMILEY

George Carlin brings his wit to bear on some complex topics. His linguistic gymnastics force us to check our assumptions at the door. Tavis is an excellent foil with his sometimes self deprecating style he make a wonderful foil... Come on sometimes you just gotta laugh.

BILL MOYERS OIL FOR WAR

A Moyers segment as only Jim Moyers can deliver it. Mr Moyers wrestles with the often quoted sentiment that the "Iraq war is all about oil." As usual his perspective is multidimensional and straight to the point.

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on the Employe Free Choice Act

CHARLIE ROSE ON NELSON MANDELA'S 90TH BIRTHDAY

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON NATALIE MERCHANT

Though many folks try to make things more complex than they really are, it really always comes down to a simple question.

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

OBAMA ENDORSES THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

Why does Obama support the EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT and why you should too.

BILL MOYERS SPEAKS TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR MEDIA REFORM

Bill Moyers speaks to the National Conference for Media Reform. Also speaking to the conference were Arianna Huffington, Dan Rather, Representative Keith Ellison and Lawrence Lessig. The videos of the conference are available HERE at the NABET/CWA channel on YOUTUBE.

OBAMA ADDRESSES CWA CONVENTION

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT

Find out about why unions are pushing the Employee Free Choice Act. For those of us in the entertainment industry where intimidation of workers trying to organize has been rampant. Ask those in the Sports industry who organized in the mid 90's - organizing is no joke.

Once when working a non-union job I tried to get back some comp time. The executive producer just looked up from his papers and said "Don't you realize there are a plane load of freelancers circling above us who want your job?" I had been working 12 hour days for the last two months. My son had been born the year before.

These folks may not be in the same industry that we are but they have similar issues. Take a look this is a good explanation of the Employee Free Choice Act.

EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT - SENATE HEARIINGS

Speaker after speaker testify about the need to ratify the Employee Free Choice Act. It's no joke, even for those of us working in the entertainment industry to threat is real. As our jobs continued to be exported, as employers continue to clamp down on those of us in union jobs It is no wonder why people are pusing for the Employee Free Choice Act. as their profits an productivity zoom at the cost of those who do the work, it is easier and easier to see our situation move toward the blue collar jobs of our fathers and mothers. They organized and defended their unions maing it possible for many of us to enter the middle class.

The middle class is being pushed to the curb with rising costs, falling retirement funds, foreclosures , myopic managers and quick buck artists at every turn. We have endured eight years of relentless attacks on the middle class that was created on the shoulders of organized labor. listen to the stories of workers in blue collar, white collar and no collar jobs. If you close your eyes you can see yourself, unionized and holding on unorganized and with out hope. Perhaps you bought into the "dog eat dog" mentality but what will happen when you become the underdog. Preserve your right to organize. Support the EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT!

HEALTH CARE ISSUES CONTINUE TO ROCK KQED

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MAP & DIRECTIONS TO THE ANNUAL NABET FAMILY PICNIC

SATURDAY AUGUST 23rd, 2008


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Click the link at the bottom of the map to view a larger - scrollable image.

DIRECTIONS TO TILDEN PARK - PADRE SITE

From San Francisco:
Take the Bay Bridge
Take the Downtown Oakland (CA-24)/Hayward-Stockton exit onto I-580 E go 1.7 mi
Take the Berkeley/Walnut Creek exit onto CA-24E toward Walnut Creek go 5.2 mi
Take the Fish Ranch Road exit onto Old Tunnel Rd go .3 mi
Bear Right on Fish Ranch Rd. go .8 mi
Turn Right on Grizzly Peak Blvd. go 1.4 mi
Turn Right on South Park Drive
Padre Site will be on your left

From the North Bay:
Take Sir Francis Drake Blvd toward Richmond Bridge
Take ramp onto I-580 E go 17.1 mi
Take the Berkeley/Walnut Creek exit onto CA-24E toward Walnut Creek go 5.2 mi
Take the Fish Ranch Road exit onto Old Tunnel Rd go .3 mi
Bear Right on Fish Ranch Rd. go .8 mi
Turn Right on Grizzly Peak Blvd. go 1.4 mi
Turn Right on South Park Drive
Padre Site will be on your left

From East Contra Costa:
Take CA-24 W toward Oakland
Take the Fish Ranch Road exit onto Fish Ranch Rd go 1.1. mi
Turn Right on Grizzly Peak Blvd. go 1.4 mi
Turn Right on South Park Drive
Padre Site will be on your left

WELCOME

I created this blog to start a dialog among people who work in the video industry, especially those of us who work in union jobs. I hope in the coming months that this blog will become a place to discuss the challenges that face us as an industry. I hope that it can also be a place to showcase the work that we do. I work as a TV engineer in San Francisco but my passion is photography.

Here is my photographic portfolio.

NABET/CWA LOCAL 51 MEETING ~ JULY 16th 2008 ~ 1:30 & 7:30 PM

Democracy and organizing begin at home here is a map to our annual meeting. This is an important meeting which will help to shape the future of the local! Prepare to hear about the new directions that The Communications Workers of America and the Broadcast sector NABET are taking to shape the future of employees who work in he broadcasting and cable industries.

The meeting will be held at the ILWU Local 34 union hall which is adjacent to AT&T Park. Click the link below for a larger view and driving directions.

NABET/CWA LOCAL 51


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