Crews Urging Viewers to Boycott NBC : Labor: Behind-the-scenes employees are protesting the network’s plans to reduce pay and eliminate hundreds of jobs.

The behind-the-scenes crews that work on such television programs as “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The NBC Nightly News” and “Days of Our Lives” have urged viewers to boycott their employer, NBC, during the important ratings month of May.

It is the latest tactic in an increasingly bitter labor dispute involving the union representing 800 behind-the-scenes employees at the Burbank studios, the National Assn. of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications Workers of America.

Union members have been working without a contract since March 31 and are demanding, among other things, a 6% annual pay increase for the next four years.

But the most important issues in the dispute are what union officials said are the network’s plans to reduce pay for some workers and eliminate hundreds of jobs.

“The economic part of the package is not as significant as the preservation of jobs and benefits for staff employees, and obtaining benefits for a growing number of casual employees,” Paula Olson, vice president of the union local in Burbank, said Thursday.

The union is one of the largest in the Valley, and last struck NBC in 1987 for 17 weeks, the longest strike in network history.

NBC officials declined to detail bargaining, but said the boycott has no noticeable effects.

“We submitted a comprehensive offer that is not to be confused with a final offer,” said Mary Neagoy, a network spokeswoman in New York. “The boycott has had no impact we’ve been able to see.”

Contract negotiations began in January and have been in recess since early April. There are no plans to resume negotiations.

The union contends that there are many unresolved issues on working conditions for 2,500 writers, stage hands, electricians, camera and audio operators, and others at NBC stations in Burbank, New York, Washington and Chicago.

In particular, union members are angered by a proposal to replace newswriting and equipment maintenance jobs with cheaper alternatives, to reduce the pay of librarians and utility engineers by as much as 60%, and do away with the traditional one-hour paid meal period in favor of a shorter amount of time.

The union has mailed 2 million postcards nationwide urging the public to tune out NBC programs from April 28 to May 25, and ads carrying the same message recently appeared in USA Today and the New York Times.

“We know NBC is No. 3 in the ratings,” Carrie Biggs-Adams, a videotape engineer and a member of the union’s negotiating team, said during a march Thursday at NBC. “We are perfectly willing to take credit for it.

“It was a hard decision to make emotionally. We’d rather be proud employees of NBC. . . . We hope not to strike. We’d rather see a contract worked out with NBC.”

An employee of the network for 18 years, Biggs-Adams took part in the 1987 strike that lasted for more than four months. The walkout began after NBC imposed a contract that union negotiators had rejected. In the end, NBC held firm with its intention to eliminate 200 jobs formerly held by union members.

“It was very, very difficult on our members,” Biggs-Adams recalled. “It was a massive financial hit to us. We gave up some things at the bargaining table.”

Many marchers said they are proud to work at NBC.

“I love this company,” said an engineer who declined to be identified. “I put in 22 years here. Unfortunately, we’re in a little labor dispute.”