National Labor Relations Board to Hear WGA East Complaint Against CBS

A federal complaint has been issued against CBS in connection with unfair labor practice charges filed by the WGA East.

The NLRB has now scheduled a July 25 hearing before an administrative law judge, who will more fully review arguments from both sides and decide whether to take further action against the broadcast network.

The WGAE alleges that CBS personnel prevented certain organizing activities on its premises and that a guild member was improperly threatened with being fired for "protected union activities." The dispute comes amid long-stalled contract negotiations on behalf of WGAE broadcast newswriters and others, whose last pact expired more than two years ago.

The guild, whose 500 members at CBS facilities in New York, Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles have been working there without a contract since April 1, 2005, seeks immediate relief. In addition to newswriters, the affected members include editors, desk and production assistants, graphic artists, promotion writers and researchers..

06-06