WGBH imposes rejected contract
By Johnny Diaz
Globe Staff / March 16, 2011
About 100 WGBH employees demonstrated outside the public broadcaster’s Brighton headquarters yesterday as managers implemented a contract rejected by its largest union.
Employees chanted, “Shame on you Channel 2, we expect more from you,’’ as they gathered to protest the proposed contract.
“We hope WGBH management steps back from its right-wing attempt to crush collective bargaining at its Boston headquarters, and instead, returns to the table to work on a truly equitable contract we can all live with,’’ said Jordan Weinstein, president of The Association of Employees of the Educational Foundation, Communications Workers of America, Local 1300, which represents 280 production workers, editors, producers, writers, and marketing employees.
The union voted this past weekend to reject what managers called their final contract offer, which calls for concessions that would allow WGBH to assign individual employees to work across various platforms — including radio, television, and the Web — and outsource work without negotiating.
Union officials have been contesting proposals for outsourcing jobs and for allowing on-air talent to be terminated without cause.
WGBH officials said they were implementing the terms of their contract proposal yesterday.
WGBH vice president of communications Jeanne Hopkins said, “We are at an impasse, and we are implementing our best and final offer. This new contract provides wage increases, for the fourth consecutive year, only for AEEF/CWA members that no other union, nonunion, or management employees will be receiving.’’
Weinstein said that management has not responded to the union’s request for continued bargaining or to postpone imposition of the contract.
Hopkins said, “After seven months of good faith bargaining that included the help of a mediator, it is time to move forward in the interests of all our employees, and the public we serve.’’
Johnny Diaz can be reached at jodiaz@globe.com.
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