The NABET-CWA contract with ABC, Inc., a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, expired Mar. 31, 1997. Since then NABET-CWA has tried to no avail to convince management to reach an agreement fair to its 2,400 employees.

During negotiations, management proposed the Disney Signature Health Plan which would take away major benefits employees and their families enjoy under the current contract. After management's persistent refusal to provide important information about its take-away proposal, union members protested on November 2. Rather than provide the information, management retaliated quickly and brutally by locking-out striking employees when they tried to return to work.

Management wants to do even more than destroy health benefits in these negotiations. They also propose to reduce their pension contributions for employees to one-third of the current rate; triple the number of part-time employees; and reduce benefits for part-time employees.

"ABC likes to portray itself as pro-family, but management's attack against our NABET-CWA brothers and sisters is an attack against working families everywhere that we cannot and will not tolerate," said John Sweeney, AFL-CIO President. "Let's stick together and help return our NABET-CWA brothers and sisters to their jobs. Let's warn ABC, and all of corporate America, that when they attack the welfare of our members and their families, they can expect a battle."

You can protest ABC / Walt Disney's action by calling ABC President Bob Iger at 212-456-6400, Disney CEO Michael Eisner at 818-553-7200, sending E-mail to ABC.com or disney.com or by writing Walt Disney Pictures, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521. Let the locked-out workers know of your support by sending a copy of your letter to John Clark, President, NABET-CWA, 501 Third Street, N.W., Suite 880, Washington, D.C. 20001.

Jeremiah Brake, shown here at his Eagle Court of Honor with his proud parents Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Brake, made Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting, on May 7, 1998. Gerald Brake, a track laborer for Norfolk Southern in Somerset, Kentucky is a 22-year member of Burnside Subordinate Lodge 636. He is also the Scoutmaster of Burnside Boy Scout Troop 81.