Chris Hayes secret meeting with MSNBC writers group re: union organizing.

[Ninga]

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/12/exclusive_chris_hayes_attends_secret_nbc_union_meeting/



Amid workers alleging union-busting by an NBC Universal-owned company, MSNBC’s prime-time host Chris Hayes recently met privately with a group of them to hear their concerns, according to several people present at the meeting.

Hayes is one of five prime-time MSNBC hosts – along with Rachel Maddow, Al Sharpton, Lawrence O’Donnell and Ed Schultz – whose support the Writers Guild of America–East is seeking in an ugly labor struggle with Peacock Productions, which is owned by NBC Universal and has produced programming for MSNBC. A petition posted by the AFL-CIO and hosted by MoveOn.org Civic Action asks the five hosts to “Please meet with these workers and take a public stand to support their right to organize” at Peacock Productions. None of the five has so far publicly addressed the issue.

Hayes, Maddow, Sharpton and O’Donnell did not comment in response to Monday inquiries (sent to MSNBC or personal email addresses, to Sharpton’s National Action Network, and to Random House, which published Maddow’s book; Random House referred the inquiry to MSNBC).

But, asked about the campaign, Schultz emailed Salon, “Moveon.org has never been an ally of Ed Schultz, why should I help you with a story? Give me a reason.” A follow-up email was not answered. (The email came from a personal address provided to Salon by people who have been in touch with him there; following a series of inquiries, an MSNBC spokesperson said, “I can’t confirm that e-mail address,” but declined to dispute that it belonged to Schultz.)

-snip-

[a kennedy]

1. My critics have “income envy”: Ed Schultz unloads after backlash to his union quote

After a Salon report depicting Ed Schultz’s handling of a dispute between a group of NBC workers and the network led to criticism of the host, he took to the airwaves Thursday to address the backlash. As Salon reported Thursday morning, workers at Peacock Productions have attempted to land meetings with MSNBC’s top hosts in an effort to win their support — and successfully managed to meet with Chris Hayes, while Schultz gave Salon a comment that elicited some negative reactions.

In response, Schultz addressed the matter in the first segments of his radio show Thursday afternoon, professing his vocal support for organized labor and slamming Salon’s reporting, but not specifically addressing alleged union-busting by the NBC Universal-owned company Peacock Productions.

“Are they that freaking stupid that they don’t know where I stand?” Schultz asked listeners. “Wow.” Schultz also suggested he wasn’t necessarily “able to influence” someone “of authority,” and asked “why should I put myself in jeopardy through an email?”

http://www.salon.com/2013/12/13/my_critics_have_income_envy_ed_schultz_unloads_after_backlash_to_his_union_quote/

[seveneyes]

2. why should I put myself in jeopardy

This may suggest for some that Schultz puts his paycheck ahead of labor principles.

[polichick]

3. Yikes!

[TeamPooka]

5. or rather how tenuous his position at MSNBC is with the management who hate him there.

[NuclearDem]

4. Chris and Rachel I can see definitely getting behind them.

A little shocked about Schultz's reaction.

[El_Johns]

7. I doubt they will.

[JaneyVee]

6. Why are they going through the WGA and not SAG/AFTRA?