KDOC-TV WORKERS VOTE ON JOINING UNION

Approximately 40 employees of Anaheim-based KDOC-TV, Channel 56, will vote today on whether to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO.

The vote to affiliate with IBEW Local 2139 in Los Angeles is the first union election at the station, which went on the air Oct. 1, 1982. Results are expected to be released late this afternoon.

William Claster, an attorney representing KDOC, said Thursday: “The station would prefer not to have the union. It doesn’t feel (a union) is necessary.

“Anytime there is a union campaign within any given workplace, there are issues relating to work that are very important to the people involved. I’m not sure precisely what the issues are in (KDOC’s) workplace. But whatever they are, they’re very important to the people involved.”

Claster said workers involved include all non-management employees, excluding sales people who have filed separately for their own union representation.

The station’s on-air talent, including “Hot Seat” show host Wally George, are also excluded from the unionization effort, Claster said.

He said he had no information to predict the outcome of the election.

The IBEW is a large union that represents primarily TV, radio, cable and construction workers.

Claster said that the station’s approximately eight salespeople had also recently filed a petition for a union election. That election has not been scheduled, however.

KDOC is owned by Golden Orange Broadcasting Co. Singer Pat Boone is one of the founders of Golden Orange Broadcasting and remains on the board of directors.