The union that represents Golf Channel’s technicians will vote on a new contract early next week, according to a memo sent to members early Jan. 20.
Details on the new contract were not immediately available, but the employees were encouraged to approve it.
“Your bargaining committee, not unanimously, but by a strong majority, recommends you vote ‘yes’ on ratifying this contract,” Sandra England, director of broadcast for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), wrote in a note to technicians.
England instructed the union members to suspend picketing. She said details on the new proposal would be distributed shortly. A vote on the contract is expected to happen over the next few days.
The strike began Jan. 14. The roughly 350 technicians – who include cameramen, audio, video, fiber, and playback capture – were unhappy with changes to their workweek, healthcare and other benefits. They also wanted to negotiate higher wages for audio and utility crafts workers and eliminate a two-tier wage system. It’s not yet clear how those issues were resolved in the pending contract.
Coverage of the Farmers Insurance Open Jan. 25-28 will be handled by CBS, whose technicians are represented by a different union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. There is no indication that coverage of Farmers, Tiger Woods’ first tournament of the year, will be impacted.
In a Facebook post to members, IBEW Local 1220 reminded members, “We do work for CBS, which is contractually obligated to the PGA (Tour) to provide early-round coverage, wherever it airs.” That early-round coverage will air on Golf Channel.
Editor’s Note: The final two paragraphs have been corrected and updated from an earlier version of this story.
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