Thread by @RickSmithShow

John Rizzo: We've been bargaining for about a year with WTTW (TV) in Chicago. We've been working with them for about 50 years. Just before the pandemic, WTTW got a new leader & middle management was moved up to upper management, & things fell apart then.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: We gave WTTW a year's extension to allow their new CEO to get her feet under her. They eventually backed us into a corner & we had no option other than to strike.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: The problem is the company wants to take video & TV from outside the station, taking video from the public & from other TV stations.
Rick: They want freebies.
John: Absolutely. They're mooching off the goodwill of others to put on a TV show.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: This is PBS we're talking about--it's meant for the public. It's meant to be high quality. Once you start taking video from other TV stations & from the public, the quality starts to suffer.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: Taking into account the need to save money, we offered to integrate some part-time employees with lower benefits & lower pay. We reduced the cost of meal penalties (fines for not allowing people to eat while they're out in the field). WTTW wouldn't move.
@IBEW

John Rizzo: We've had instances when a company would cheat on a contract & we'd have to go to an arbitrator. We've done it 4 times--and won each time. They had to pay their atty each time, which is costly. Now they want to take back the things we won in arbitration.
@IBEW

John Rizzo: The company is willing to pay $1 to save $0.05. They're trying to put out a product that isn't the high quality that we put out. Why?
Rick: Union-busting 101.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: We have one guy who's been at the station since 1971, & he's a really smart guy. He knows more about cloud services, for ex., than I do, yet he's the kind of guy they're trying to get rid of & replace him w/ someone younger & less expensive.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: When the station gets rid of the older, more experienced employees, they're losing all that institutional knowledge that younger workers don't have yet.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: You can contact WTTW in Chicago & tell them you won't watch their channel or donate money till they actually respect the people who make their shows & negotiate a fair contract.
@Window2workers @IBEW

John Rizzo: If you'd like to help our striking workers, please consider making a donation to our strike fund:
gofundme.com/f/financial-su…
@Window2workers @IBEW