FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 16, 2018
BROAD COALITION OF CITY & STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS BOYCOTT NY1 AS STRIKING WORKERS CONTINUE ACTION AGAINST NETWORK
35 Elected Officials Send Letter Boycotting NY1 & Demanding Charter/Spectrum Come To The Negotiating Table
Local Union No. 3, IBEW Continues Action Outside NY1 Studios In Chelsea
NEW YORK – One day after Mayor Bill de Blasio canceled his weekly appearance on Spectrum News NY1 in solidarity with striking IBEW Local 3 workers, a broad coalition of 35 state and city elected officials announced they will also refuse to appear on the network while the workers’ action is in effect. In a letter to Charter/Spectrum CEO Thomas Rutledge, the group of elected officials called on the corporation to come to the table and negotiate with the union representing 1,800 workers who have been on strike for 19 months. Signers to the letter include NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Council Speaker Corey Johnson and dozens of city council members and state legislators.
“We are thankful that this broad coalition of elected leaders is doing the right thing and standing with the striking Local 3 members. From Mayor de Blasio to Comptroller Stringer to Speaker Johnson, our allies are united on behalf of the hardworking men and women that Spectrum refuses to treat with respect,” said Chris Erikson, Business Manager of IBEW Local 3. “In the face of Spectrum’s limitless greed and heartlessness, our workers will continue to take action to get the secure pensions and retiree medical coverage they’ve earned. Together, we will not back down from this fight.”
A full copy of the letter is below:
October 16, 2018
Thomas M. Rutledge
President & CEO
Charter Communications
12405 Powerscourt Drive
Columbia, MO 63131
Dear Mr. Rutledge,
As elected officials from across the state of New York, we are deeply concerned that after 19 months, 1,800 of your company’s workers remain on strike in New York City. As long as these workers from IBEW Local 3 maintain their informational leafleting action at NY1’s headquarters, we will honor that action by not entering the studios.
With Charter Communications’ revenue rising to a total of $81.4 billion in 2016 and 2017, it is unthinkable that these workers have been forced to strike for the basic wages and benefits they deserve. We are proud to follow Mayor de Blasio’s lead by refusing to appear on NY1 until Charter comes to the table and negotiates with these workers in good faith.
Sincerely,
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer
New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson
New York City Council Member Diana Ayala
New York City Council Member Justin Brannan
New York City Council Member Fernando Cabrera
New York City Council Member Margaret Chin
New York City Council Member Costa Constantinides
New York City Council Member Robert Cornegy
New York City Council Member Laurie Cumbo
New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm
New York City Council Member Rafael Espinal
New York City Council Member Vanessa Gibson
New York City Council Member Mark Gjonaj
New York City Council Member Barry Grodenchik
New York City Council Member Ben Kallos
New York City Council Member Rory Lancman
New York City Council Member Stephen Levin
New York City Council Member Mark Levine
New York City Council Member Francisco Moya
New York City Council Member Bill Perkins
New York City Council Member Keith Powers
New York City Council Member Antonio Reynoso
New York City Council Member Donovan Richards
New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez
New York City Council Member Helen Rosenthal
New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca
New York City Council Member Ritchie Torres
New York City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer
New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams
New York State Assembly Member Brian Barnwell
New York State Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa
New York State Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez
New York State Assembly Member Walter Mosley
New York State Assembly Member Christine Pellegrino
New York State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal
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