SUMMARY: Assemblyman David Weprin and State Senator James Sanders, both Democrats from Queens, say the bill they’re teaming up on seeks to end corporate welfare for a super-rich company and would eliminate a $16 million a year city property tax break.

Read Full Article Here: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/msg-defends-imperiled-16m-tax-break-article-1.1316574#ixzz2QfUmzmQb

SUMMARY: Last June, Cablevision workers in the Bronx voted against joining the Communications Workers of America, with 43 workers voting in favor of unionization and 121 workers voting against it. Now, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) says that it plans to file a complaint against Cablevision, accusing the company of engaging in illegal conduct in the lead-up to the election. CWA said the NLRB complaint vindicated its belief that Cablevision has acted illegally in order to prevent workers from joining the union.

Read Full Article Here:

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/14842/nlrb_says_cablevision_interfered_with_union_election_in_the_bronx/

SUMMARY: The National Labor Relations Board said on Monday that it planned to file a complaint charging Cablevision with making illegal threats and offering improper inducements to its employees in the Bronx to discourage them from voting to unionize.  The board also said that Cablevision had improperly offered raises and improved benefits to its workers in the Bronx and elsewhere to deter them from joining a union.

Read Full Article Here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/nyregion/cablevision-illegally-discouraged-workers-from-unionizing-nlrb-says.html?_r=0

Read Full Article Here: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/barclays-cwa-head-to-head-msg-all-star-game-article-1.1305135#ixzz2PcXFKhQA

To view the two new websites mentioned in the article go to:

www.bringittobrooklyn.com

www.brooklynnotbusters.com 

By STEPHON JOHNSON, Amsterdam News Staff

SUMMARY: In January 2012, Cablevision workers from Brooklyn voted to join the Communications Workers of America by a 180-86 margin and are still waiting for their first signed contract. On Monday, workers and other presenters told Democratic members of the House Education and Workforce Committee that their employers are subverting their attempts to sign their first ever Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Of those in attendance were: Rep. Rob Andrews of New Jersey, (the senior Democrat on the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Nydia Velázquez.  This comes in the wake of the company illegally firing 22 workers and only rehiring them after there was an outcry of public support for them to get their jobs back.

Read Full Article Here: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/cablevision-brings-back-22-employees-groused-stalled-contract-talks-article-1.1298591#ixzz2Oep7p6uN

By Reuven Blau / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

SUMMARY: Cablevision has rehired 22 employees who were fired after demanding to meet with bosses to discuss stalled contract talks.  This case is being used as an example of the continued hardship workers face even after they have legally voted to join a union.

A congressional labor committee heard from the workers and union representatives in Brooklyn on Monday.

Cablevision Case Highlight Hurdles in Negotiating First Contracts, Committee Democrats Learn at Brooklyn Forum

BROOKLYN, NY – As the Cablevision fight in New York suggests, significant hurdles exist for workers in achieving a first collective bargaining contract when an employer is intent on subverting the wishes of workers, presenters told Democratic members of the House Education and the Workforce congressional committee in Brooklyn today.

“Good labor relations promotes job growth. Bargaining in good faith promotes good labor relations.When there isn’t good faith bargaining, we need a legal remedy such as binding arbitration that results in a first contract that is fair to the employer and the employees,” said Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the senior Democrat on the Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee.

On January 26, 2012, Cablevision workers in three facilities in New York and Brooklyn voted to join the Communications Workers of America by a margin of 180-86. The NLRB certified the bargaining unit in February 2012. The parties have not settled a first contract more than a year later.

“The right to collectively bargain brings workers to the table and gives them a voice. As the Cablevision case proves, Congress needs to protect employees by ensuring fair labor standards, worker training, workplace protections, and the ability to join a union if desired,” said Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee.

Most recently, in January 2013, 22 Cablevision workers sought a meeting with management to discuss lack of progress in the contract negotiations. While still waiting for the meeting, the workers were told by management they had been permanently replaced. Public outcry about the firings followed, and Cablevision has rehired the workers. Presenters at the committee Democratic members’ forum described tactics by the company that they said were designed to delay negotiations and intimidate workers.

“When Cablevision illegally fired my brothers and sisters, it was not about them. This hostile and illegal act was aimed squarely at those still at work. It was a crude but powerful message that was delivered loud and clear: Support the union, and your ability to feed your family and pay your rent is in danger,” said Gertrude Villegas, a technician at Cablevision. “My fellow techs in Brooklyn just want a decent wage and a secure job. We aren’t asking for anything that is unreasonable.”

Delays are often used to break a union. If a contract is not reached after one year of bargaining following certification of an election, a window opens for workers to file a decertification petition to eliminate the union. After the one-year mark was reached at Cablevision, a decertification petition was filed in this case. According to the presenters, many workers who supported the union were terrified by the firings. Some even told union supporters that they signed the decertification petition because they assumed that management would see the petition. They said that support for the union dropped because it has not been able to get a contract and because of the firings.

“Ten years ago, I put my life on the line 6,000 miles away from home in the name of protecting the basic rights of American democracy. I believed I was fighting so that the rights of every American would be protected. I never thought that I would see the day that I, as an American citizen, would have my basic rights trampled on and no one would do anything about it,” said Clarence Adams, a Cablevision technician who was one of the 22 workers fired. “I never thought that a big corporation could violate my rights and the government would let them get away with it. But that’s how it seems to me now.”

Cablevision’s tactics are not unusual for a company that opposes workers’ rights to form and join a union.

“This case fits a pattern or blueprint well-worn into the fabric of union avoidance, where a company resorts to unfair labor practices in order to resist the union, even after it has won a representation election and has been certified as collective bargaining representative by the [National Labor Relations] Board (NLRB),” said C. John Cicero, a professor at the CUNY School of Law. “The Cablevision matter serves as a case study in the inadequacy of statutory remedies when an employer chooses to defy the law and evade its bargaining obligations.”

Cablevision was invited to present at the forum but declined to do so.

“Federal law is designed to protect the ability of the American worker to unionize, organize and bargain collectively. Throughout the country, however, in places like Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio, the right to collectively bargain is under assault,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). “We cannot let that happen in Brooklyn. Congress, as the custodians of our democracy, has an obligation to make sure that our laws are not blatantly violated. That is an obligation that we take seriously, and we will continue to be steadfast in this regard until the Cablevision situation has been resolved.”

“It is my hope the company and the workers are able to move forward with a solution that is satisfactory for both sides,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY).

Both Reps. Jeffries and Velázquez represent the area where the dispute is occurring and attended today’s forum.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats

Union calls for City to stop giveaways and special permits for corporate outlaw Dolan

New York, NY – At a City Counciloversight hearing into the Cablevision-Optimum cable franchise, Communications Workers of America (CWA), elected officials, and 22 illegally fired Cablevision workers condemned the company for its outrageous, abusive behavior.  The union, which represents almost 300 Cablevision workers in Brooklyn, urged the City to find Cablevision – the most anti-union company in New York – in breach of the franchise and to require them to bargain in good faith with the union and rehire the illegally fired workers.  The union also called on the City to stop giving companies owned by James Dolan, the owner of Madison Square Garden and Cablevision, tax breaks and special permits.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio sent a letter to the National Basketball Association urging it not to hold its All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, so as not to rewardowner James Dolan for the egregious behavior of his Cablevision-Optimum.

“We need to stop rewarding bad behavior,” said Public Advocate de Blasio. “That’s why we should make sure the 2015 NBA All-Star game is held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, not James Dolan’s Madison Square Garden. Mr. Dolan has crossed a line, and we need to send him a clear message that he can’t continue mistreating his workers.”

“Cablevision operates under a franchise with the City that was granted it in good faith, and it appearsCablevision is violating this good faith by its actions towards its workers,” said Comptroller John Liu. “It is a privilege to do business with the City, not a right. The City ought to review the franchise agreement to determine whether Cablevision violated any provisions with its recent actions. This is more than a fight for terminated workers; it’s about holding corporations accountable for the good of all.”

“The fired Cablevision employees sought to communication with management about workplace grievances, as allowed by law and encouraged by the company’s own policy,” said former Comptroller and Democratic mayoral candidate William C. Thompson, Jr. “Their firings were wrong and I support an inquiry into the matter as part of the City Council’s hearings.”

“Following the despicable attempt to intimidate workers and franchise agreement violations, Cablevision-Optimum, its CEO James Dolan, and his other business entities – like MSG – deserve no benefits or special permits from our city,” said Chris Shelton, Vice President of CWA District 1. “The Council is rightfully examining what are clear franchise violations by Cablevision-Optimum. We should not be rewarding unethical, abusive, and illegal behavior. Our city must reconsider the existing benefits James Dolan receives from taxpayers, including our subsidizing of his property taxes for Madison Square Garden, and refuse any further benefits.”

Cablevision-Optimum’s franchise agreement with the City clearly states that “Franchisee shall recognize the right of its employees to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing in accordance with applicable law.”

Cablevision-Optimum-owner James Dolan is also seeking land use approval from the City to renew Madison Square Garden’s special permit that allows it more than 2,500 seats in perpetuity. He is also seeking approval for the installation of massive LEDlights on the outside of the arena. Madison Square Garden has paid no property taxes to the city since 1982 when it was granted a special exemption to keep the Knicks and Rangers in New York. As of 2008, the tax break had cost the city $300 million.