IATSE went on strike against the Golf Channel on January 13, 2018. As you may know, the Golf Channel is owned by Comcast NBCU. The collective bargaining agreement expired last June 2017.
Many IBEW members have been inquiring about the possible impact of the strike on the work we do for CBS or Fox Sports. The IBEW does not have any collective bargaining agreements with the Golf Channel. However, we do work for CBS, which is contractually obligated to the PGA to provide early round coverage, wherever it airs.
It has been and will remain one of our core tenets not to perform struck work. Section 1.07(b) of our agreement with CBS specifically provides that CBS will not “use the services of any Technician for the purpose of assisting any company in breaking any strike or effectuating any lockout.” If CBS is doing work for the PGA, as it has done in past years, that work is not considered struck work and will remain a work assignment from CBS.
However, if the Golf Channel asks a member to come work for it directly, that would be performing struck work. Section 1.07(b) also provides: “No Technician shall be penalized by the Employer for refusing to cross a picket line which is lawfully established as a result of a strike by members of the AFL-CIO” but does not obligate CBS to pay any Technician who refuses to cross a picket line. It is an individual decision whether to cross a lawful picket line.
I hope this clarifies some of the questions that have been raised by members. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
