CAN TV WORKERS WANT A UNION!

CANTV Workers Demand a Voice!

Organizing for Respect, Fairness, and Improving CAN TV

The hard working employees at CAN TV (Chicago Access Network Television) are fighting to form a union. On July 31, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., in their fight to organize, they will rally in front of CAN TV’s Studios at 322 S. Green Street, Chicago. The workers are not alone. Community leaders, churches, politicians, organizations and groups across the City of Chicago are joining them in that fight for respect, fairness and a voice at the workplace.

After years of unfairness and disrespect, CAN TV employees filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to be recognized as a union. The employees are seeking to organize under NABET-CWA Local 54041 (National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians - Communications Workers of America), Chicago’s Broadcast Union.

CAN TV workers are organizing for respect. As media professionals, CAN TV employees are dedicated to creating the best content for their viewers, the people of Chicago. Every day, they endure the stress of deadlines, demands on their skills and the pressures produce. But on top of that already stressful workplace, many feel disrespected and marginalized by CAN TV management. CAN TV, respect your workers!

The CAN TV workers are organizing for a voice at the workplace. CAN TV employees spend their days working to give Chicago residents, organizations and groups a voice. But when it comes to their own voice, and discussing their concerns about wages, hours and working conditions at the CAN TV, they suffer in silence. They have no real voice when it comes to their concerns. They’re now speaking out!

The CAN TV workers are organizing for fairness. CAN TV employees often work on productions and programs about income inequality and poverty in Chicago. In reality, many longtime employees struggle to make ends meet on wages that have remained frozen for many years. They barely make above minimum wage. They want fairness and equality!

The CAN TV workers are organizing to improve CAN TV. Management has consistently told them that CAN TV is in a budget crisis and can't afford to give raises. Despite that, CAN TV is moving to a new facility, and continues to pay managers at the non-profit handsomely. By forming a Union, and winning respect, fairness and a voice, CAN TV workers hope to transform the workplace and improve the lives of everyone.

CAN TV Employees are asking that letters of support of their organizing efforts be sent to:

Barbara Popovic, Director: bpopovic@cantv.org

Board Members:

Alie Kabba, alie.kabba@uniteafrican.org

Teresa Cordova, tcordova@uic.edu

Andrew Fogaty, afogaty@illinoismanufacturing.org

Lorraine Forte, ivforte@gmail.com

Thomas Johnson, gochicago@sbcglobal.net

RA Joy, joy@artsalliance.org

Aileen Kim, aileenkim0@gmail.com

Suleyma Perez, s-perez1@neiu.edu

James Thindwa, jthindwa@aft.org

Chuck Thurow, chuckthurow@gmail.com

Fernando Avila nano514@yahoo.com

Elizabeth Granato EGranato1016@gmail.com

Michael Lee lee.michael.r@gmail.com

Shelly Ng shelly@AmericanMassMedia.com

Levi Moore levimoore@aol.com