Pat Litowitz
New Castle News
Union members raised their signs in unison yesterday as the drivers passed their East Midlothian Boulevard picket site.
A few motorists waved while others honked in support. A typical Mahoning Valley labor dispute, except that the workers at the center of this battle normally report on conflicts. This time the spotlight has been shined on them.
"It's an uncomfortable thing," WKBN-TV news reporter Joe Bell said. "I would rather be covering the news."
Bell and 34 other members of Local 47 of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians said they were locked out of the WKBN-TV studios on Saturday. The local includes WKBN-TV anchors, reporters, directors and videographers.
Health-care and wages are the main issues facing the union and WKBN-TV management. The union's rejection of management's latest offer on Saturday led to the standoff.
Bell, who is the union's spokesman and shop steward, said Local 47 will agree to work under terms of the expired contract. Talks between the two sides may resume later this week, but Bell does not expect any movement from either party.
Station manager David Coy did not respond to requests for an interview. A woman who answered the phone at Piedmont Communications, which owns WKBN-TV, said no company representatives were available for comment.
A fax provided by WKBN management stated that union members will not be permitted to return to work until a contract settlement is reached.
"We're going to be out here until we get a fair contract," said Tom Holden, WKBN-TV's veteran news anchor.
To maintain its news programming, WKBN-TV is using management and nonunion staff to produce its newscasts. The station has suspended its morning news show.
"It's not good at all," Holden said. "How could they do it?"
Bell agreed.
"We're missing a lot of stories at WKBN," he said. "I'm not very impressed with what they do. It's fairly amateurish."
Saying community support for the union has been strong, Bell said Local 47 is urging WKBN-TV's viewers to turn elsewhere for their news and entertainment - for now.
Bell said that the union engaged in a calling blitz to area bars and taverns over the weekend. The union asked bar owners to turn to CBS affiliates WOIO in Cleveland and KDKA in Pittsburgh for their Super Bowl coverage.
He said that 98 percent of the bars complied.
Until the dispute is resolved, the union wants businesses to pull their advertising from the station. Community and political leaders are being asked to not cooperate with the WKBN-TV's news gathering efforts.
"The ball is in (WKBN's) court," Bell said.
Copyright (c) 2004, New Castle News
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