Union Reaches Tentative Deal with NBC Universal

NEW YORK, July 19: The National Association of Broadcast
Employees and Technicians—Communications Workers of America (NABET-CWA) union
has reached a tentative three-year agreement with NBC Universal that increases
wages, improves benefits and addresses job security issues for about 2,500
engineers, technicians, news-writers and other workers.

Last month, members of the union approved going on strike at
the network if a deal could not be struck on a new contract. A strike would
have impacted technicians and other employees at NBC Universal network
operations and owned-and-operated stations in New York, Washington, D.C.,
Chicago and Burbank.

The union's bargaining committee is unanimously recommending
that the membership ratify the agreement. A vote will be completed by August 25.

The settlement provides for a 9.5-percent wage increase over
the contract term and extends existing no-layoff protections. It includes a
commitment by management that NABET-CWA represented engineers will be the
company's primary workforce in traditional program areas and adds new language
covering assignments in new businesses, including Internet programming and
podcasting. Improvements for daily hires include an increase in the personal
leave allowance and pension payments, along with an increase in payments made
in lieu of other benefits.