Unions oppose FCC push to
consolidate media ownership
SEATTLE — Union members
were among an estimated 1,000 people
attending a town hall meeting here
Nov. 9. Most of them where there to
tell the Federal Communications Com-
mission (FCC) not to go forward with
a plan to consolidate big media.
The FCC is considering sweeping
changes to media ownership rules that
would allow media conglomerates to
swallow up more local radio and tele-
vision stations and newspapers. A sin-
gle company could own the major
daily newspaper, and as many as eight
radio stations and three TV stations in
a city.
Reportedly, FCC Chairman Kevin
Martin plans to seek a commission
vote by Dec. 18 on the proposed regu-
lations. A majority of the commission-
ers on the FCC were appointed by
President Bush.
A previous effort to relax media
regulations was led by former FCC
chairman Michael Powell — son of
then-Bush Secretary of State Colin
Powell. The plan was tossed out by the
federal appellate court in Philadelphia
because the FCC held no hearings on
it.
The FCC resurrected the plan, this
time holding hearings in Los Angeles;
Nashville, Tenn.; Harrisburg, Pa.;
Tampa, Fla.; Chicago, Ill. and Seattle.
The FCC in 2003 wiped out
decades-old limits on the number of
local TV, radio and newspaper outlets
a corporation could own, but a biparti-
san majority in the Senate voted to
overturn the rule changes with Con-
gress eventually reaching a compro-
mise — limiting the number of sta-
tions one company could own to 39
percent of the national audience. Since
then, growing media consolidation has
resulted in increasing lack of diversity
both in the content produced and those
producing it.
In Oregon, Musicians Local 99 and
Communication Workers of America
Local Motion
October 2007
Union activity in Oregon and Southwest Washington,
according to the National Labor Relations Board
and the Oregon Employment Relations Board
Election results
Company
Date
Union
Results:
Union
Location
8
Hanard Machine
10/12 Carpenters Industrial Council
20
50
Local 7901 have led the fight against
media consolidation. The two unions
helped pass a resolution at the Oregon
AFL-CIO convention in October op-
posing the FCC proposal.
“Our unions and the general public
suffer from under reporting of labor is-
sues and misinformation influenced by
corporate America,” the unions said.
“The frontline workers most affected
include journalists, musicians, writers,
artists, actors and telecommunication
workers.”
Washington U.S. Sen. Maria
Cantwell (D) sent a recorded statement
to the Seattle town hall expressing
concern over the impact media con-
centration would have on Northwest
communities. Cantwell has co-spon-
sored the “Media Ownership Act of
2007,” a bipartisan bill that would put
the brakes on the FCC proposal.
At a breakfast with union officials
in August, Oregon U.S. Sen. Gordon
Smith was asked about media consoli-
dation. He told union leaders consoli-
dation is being driven by expansion of
the Information Age.
“In the Information Age in which
we live, you can get newspapers on-
line. You have 200 TV channels and
AM, FM, FM2 and AM2, XM Radio
and Band Radio,” Smith said.
“Don’t lose any sleep over (media
mogul) Rupert Murdoch. You have
endless choices.”
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Representation petitions
Location
# of employees
Fred Meyer
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555
The Dalles
70
US Metal Works
Iron Workers Local 516
Sandy
26
First Student
Teamsters Local 206
Sandy
41
Paragon Systems (decertification)
Security, Police, & Fire Professionals of America Local 50
Portland
105
Allied Waste of Portland
Teamsters Local 305
Portland
19
NOVEMBER 16, 2007
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37
Apria Healthcare
10/29 Teamsters Local 81
For Homeowners 62 and Older
Swanson, Thomas &Coon
No
Union
Rosemont Residential Training Center & School
10/10 SEIU Local 503
Portland
Salem
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