Cablevision (NYSE: CVC) has fired back against the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), claiming the MSO had a right to fire a part-time worker the labor groups are currently defending.
"The assertions made by the CWA and NLRB are false," Cablevision said in a statement provided to FierceCable. "The former employee falsified information and the company issued 13 different corrective actions before finally terminating employment for exceedingly poor performance."
The NLRB went to federal court last week to seek an injunction against Cablevision and prevent the MSO from firing Dorothea Perry, an 11-year company veteran the labor group called an "exceptional" employee. According to the CWA, which represents about 300 Cablevision workers, Perry was fired for being a "point person" for a union organizing drive.
"Cablevision and its CEO, James Dolan have a long history of violating federal labor law," said Richard Brodsky, counsel to the union, to the New York Daily News. "The CWA managed to organize about 300 tech workers in Brooklyn in 2012, despite an all-out union-busting campaign by the company that included illegally firing 22 workers and intimidating, harassing and even bribing workers in Brooklyn and the Bronx."
Dolan and Cablevision have a long, acrimonious history with the CWA and NLRB.
In February, after a three-year battle, approximately 260 Brooklyn-based Cablevision employees represented by the CWA voted to ratify a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with Cablevision.
But even with Dolan poised to step down as CEO if and when Altice NV closes its $17.7 billion purchase of Cablevision, the signing of that CBA apparently didn't result in a lasting ceasefire.
For more:
- read this New York Daily News story
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