Technicians call for fair contract with public TV

TPT and Local 57411 of the CWA-National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET), which represents seven full-time and several part-time technicians at the station, are scheduled to meet with a federal mediator this week.

Timed to precede a gubernatorial debate on TPT’s news program “Almanac,” the rally resembled a high school pep fest, with fiery speeches, sing-alongs to labor anthems and even a conga line.

There were stunts, too. One speaker, Macalester College history professor Peter Rachleff, threatened to burn his TPT membership card.

“I’ve written my last check to TPT,” Rachleff said. “That’s it. I’d rather send a check to NABET. They’re more what I’m about.”

As darkness descended on Mears Park, labor-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton, on his way to the “Almanac” debate, took the stage and thanked NABET members for maintaining their professionalism during frustrating times.

“It wouldn’t be possible for us to present this debate to the people of Minnesota without your members and all of you who work so very hard,” Dayton said. “What you do is incredibly important. It’s the cornerstone of our democracy, a chance for people to be aware of the issues … that are going to affect their lives, their families and their communities.

“You deserve to be treated fairly and to be paid fairly and to have benefits that are fair in return for your dedication and the important work you perform.”

DFL gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton told workers they deserve to be treated fairly. Photo by Michael Moore

A civil history – until now
NABET has represented camera operators and technicians at TPT for 30 years. During that time, the union and station have negotiated nine labor agreements – negotiations that had been mostly civil, according to Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA Minnesota State Council.

That changed last year, when TPT hired an attorney to represent it in negotiations on a 10th contract with NABET. The station, Lovaasen said, seized upon the economic downturn as an excuse to seek deep concessions from union workers.

But NABET members already had made sacrifices to keep TPT afloat during the recession. In April 2009, members voted to cut their own wages and undo previously negotiated raises.

Three months later, TPT responded with layoffs to all but seven of the unit’s full-time workers. The station rehired most of the laid-off workers on a part-time basis.

“The people running the board and cameras (at the debate), at one time all those folks were full-time people getting a living wage, getting fair work rules and health care,” Lovaasen said. “Now they are all part-time, which means they do not have health care. That’s what this struggle is about.”

Jurisdiction, overtime at issue
Protecting full-time jobs is just one of the issues on which NABET members are taking a stand in negotiations. Others include:

• Jurisdiction. The station wants to eliminate NABET’s jurisdiction at TPT, allowing non-union technicians to work in the TPT studios when an independent party rents the studios to produce its own video project.

“TPT would like to turn their studios into Wal-Mart,” Lovaasen said. “They want to be the low-cost deliverer of television. That’s why they don’t want a contract with our folks.”

• Grievance rights. TPT is seeking contract language that would grant management the authority to dictate work rules and conditions to workers, who would be unable to file grievances in response.

• Overtime pay. TPT is seeking to reclassify three positions covered by the contract so that they no longer would be eligible for overtime compensation.

The concessions sought by TPT would be bad not only for workers, but also for the quality of TPT’s programming, Local 57411 President Butch Bowring said.

“The work we do is highly skilled, and the process of doing it efficiently and in one take is something that (we have) learned over the years,” he said. “We are proud to be able to provide this value to our service.

“We want to keep working with TPT and come to an agreement on a contract that is fair for all our union members. In the end, winning a fair and just contract ensures better working conditions for all.”

Community support
Several labor leaders at the rally, including St. Paul Regional Labor Federation President Bobby Kasper, AFSCME Council 5 Director Eliot Seide and Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson, said their organizations would stand behind Local 57411 until its members get a fair and just contract.

“You’re standing up for all Minnesotans because you’re fighting back,” Knutson said. “You’re going to make sure management knows they can’t just screw around with you.”

Rachleff reminded NABET members that TPT is dependant on the financial support of its members, many of whom would be sympathetic to the union’s cause.

“TPT claims to operate in the public interest and claims to be a place where people are reasonable,” Rachleff said. “Get out and let the good people who write checks to TPT, who tune in to TPT, let them know what is actually going on here. I think you’re going to find a whole lot of people disgusted and a whole lot of people eager to offer you support.”

Local 57411 is asking supporters to write a letter to TPT President and CEO Jim Pagliarini, asking him to settle a fair contract with NABET members that respects their work. TPT’s address is 172 E. Fourth St., St. Paul, MN 55101.

There is also a feedback form at tpt.org. Click on “Contact Us” to send Pagliarini an e-mail.

Michael Moore edits The Union Advocate, the official publication of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.stpaulunions.org