CNN Workers Win Justice After 11-Year Legal Battle

After 11 years, CNN employees finally have a measure of justice. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Monday found “overwhelming” evidence of anti-union animus at the cable news giant and ordered it to “make whole” more than 300 employees who lost their jobs and the benefits of union representation in the wake of the company’s “phony reorganization scheme to get rid of unionized workers,” reported NABET-CWA, which represents the CNN workers in Washington, D.C. and New York City. “Today is a good day to stand up straight,” said Tyrone Riggs, who lost his job in 2003. “I never gave up hope. I never wavered. I knew justice would prevail.” CNN dragged the case through the legal system for more than a decade before the NLRB issues its ruling Monday. The NLRB ordered CNN to rehire about 100 workers and pay tens of millions of dollars to 200 more who continued to work at the company without the benefits of a union contract. CNN was also ordered to restore outsourced bargaining unit work, recognize the employees’ union and resume bargaining with NABET-CWA Locals 31 and 11. “These workers have waited far too long for this measure of justice to finally be delivered and have suffered far too much as the result of these unlawful activities,” said NABET-CWA President Jim Joyce. “CNN should finally do the right thing now and immediately comply with the orders of the National Labor Relations Board issued today." - photo courtesy IBEW

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