Update: The show will go on.
Despite the lack of in its labor dispute with NBC, NABET-CWA Local 11 president Ed McEwan says his union will "stay on the job" for Wednesday night's Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center.
The union had threatened to strike Tuesday over a failure to bargain with NBC.
"We're not going to let the Grinch at NBC ruin Christmas for millions of people around the world," McEwan said. "So we're going to stay on the job. We hope that NBC sees Christmas as a time of goodwill, too, and that they negotiate a new and fair contract with us. The union is corresponding with NBC Universal to schedule future talks, but we hope the network uses this opportunity to engage in the give-and-take of collective bargaining to reach a fair agreement that favors everyone's interests."
Original Post: A labor dispute is threatening NBC's "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" telecast.
The National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians (NABET-CWA) Local 11, which represents nearly 3,000 of NBC's producers, writers, and technicians, vowed Tuesday to "pull the plug" on Wednesday's Christmas special -— which includes the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree — over failed negotiations with NBC management. The union's contract expired in March and the union says there's been very little progress since talks began last year, describing NBC management as "increasingly hostile" in "ignoring the concerns of the union's membership."
"We can't let the Grinch at NBC steal another Christmas from thousands of honest working people," said NABET-CWA Local 11 president Ed McEwan. "This charade must stop. Christmas is supposed to be a time of goodwill, but the network's management is trying to hide behind their fancy lights while leaving their employees in the dark."
The union has set up a website, NBCStoleChristmas.com, to air their concerns and attempt to avert a strike during Wednesday's Christmas tree ceremony.
NBC did not respond to a request for comment on the union dispute.