NBC, Union Agree to Mediator; Local Station OKs Arbitration

Negotiators for NBC and the National Assn. of Broadcast Employees and Technicians have agreed to meet with a federal mediator in New York for the first time since contract talks stalled two months ago, it was reported Wednesday.

About 2,800 NABET employees have been working without a contract since their last three-year pact with the network expired on April 1. NBC made its final contract offer to NABET on April 2 after a month of negotiations in San Diego, but the union refused to ratify it.

In a related matter, the network’s Los Angeles station, KNBC Channel 4, agreed Wednesday to submit to arbitration a proposed three-day suspension without pay of 16 of its NABET employees. KNBC management said the suspension, which is to begin Monday, is a disciplinary action against the 16 employees for participating in an April 24 KNBC “sickout” protesting the lack of a union contract.

NABET Local 53 President Carrie Biggs-Adams had threatened Tuesday to seek permission from NABET International officials to call a strike if KNBC refused arbitration.