Consolidated reporters and editors at NBC News staged a march on Thursday to protest the recent layoffs and the network’s handling of ongoing contract negotiations.
Employees gathered in front of the network’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters, in a gated area on the sidewalk, holding signs and accompanied by an inflatable rat—a popular prop for public demonstrations. union—and a giant check railing against “stolen wages.”
union leader first promised to walk earlier this week, specifically citing NBC’s decision to fire seven unit members last month without notifying the union. Since then, the NBC Association has filed multiple unfair labor practices allegations with the National Labor Relations Board, though they have grown impatient in waiting for a resolution.
“Today, I joined more than 200 NBC News, MSNBC and TODAY Show journalists leaving their jobs to protest management’s decision to illegally fire seven unit members and strip union protections. to some others without negotiation,” wrote one unit member. responded to the office’s email when The Daily Beast was reached on Thursday morning. “NBC has to stop breaking the law, reinstate our colleagues, and get us all back to work.”
In a statement, NBC News wrote of the protests: “We are disappointed that NewsGuild repeatedly attempted to misrepresent the facts while we worked in good faith with them to reach an agreement.”
NBC’s protest follows similar protests from union workers in both The New York Times And Reuters last year.
Can’t get enough media news? Register confideDaily Beast’s media bulletin This.
