Q&A
Council member inquires about Randy Mastro's misrepresentation of labor dispute facts
8:43:51
·
3 min
Council Member Amanda Farías asks for elaboration on Randy Mastro's alleged misrepresentation of facts regarding Cablevision's unfair labor practices and NLRB procedures. Two witnesses, Gabrielle Semel and Bertha Lewis, provide detailed responses about the labor dispute and Mastro's involvement.
- Semel explains how Mastro mischaracterized the NLRB process and downplayed the seriousness of the complaints against Cablevision
- Lewis offers firsthand account of the tactics used against workers in Brooklyn, emphasizing the significance of a lawyer's choice to represent certain clients
Amanda Farías
8:43:51
And your testimony you referenced sorry.
8:43:54
Miss Semmel.
8:43:55
Your testimony you referenced, Mister Mastro, representing misrepresenting the facts and process related to cable visions, unfair labor practices, and LLRBs procedures.
8:44:05
Can you just elaborate a little bit more on that misrepresentation?
Gabrielle Semel
8:44:08
Yeah.
8:44:09
As the hearing, he claimed or he implied that that the trial at that the trial of the NLRB was part of the investigatory process as would be the the the that that as would be the appeal to the NLRB.
8:44:28
And it was really the courts that would decide it.
8:44:31
At the NLRB before a complaint is issued, it is the NLRB that issues the complaint, not the charging party.
8:44:40
They do a thorough investigation, which means that they have sufficient evidence to believe that a trial is warranted.
8:44:48
That become the next step is the trial level within ALJ.
8:44:52
Most cases settled before they get to the ALJ stage, and very few cases are appealed beyond the AOG stage.
8:45:02
So usually, the AOG is the decision maker.
8:45:07
The agency in 2012, the agency won about 90% of its cases before the ALJ.
8:45:18
So at the time of the hearing with Mister Mastro, the the agency had already held one trial for 20 days That means they had investigated it and believed that these violations had occurred and had issued a second comprehensive complaint that would then also be tried for another 20 days.
8:45:40
At the hearing, Mister Mastro contrary to what he said here, said that the union's charges were frivolous, and he believed that ultimately, cable vision would be completely vindicated.
8:45:53
It was not the union won most of the issues that were tried.
Bertha Lewis
8:45:58
I was a community per person organizing in Brooklyn.
8:46:02
I lived in Brooklyn.
8:46:04
I knew these workers.
8:46:05
I saw firsthand the tactics that were used in these closed meetings with threats firings at which we had to get, workers reinstated, Mister Dolan, who, at the time, own cable vision, just coincidentally, same client.
8:46:27
For Madison Square Garden, Mister James Dolan.
8:46:32
I was there.
8:46:33
I witnessed it.
8:46:34
And again, it is a decision of any lawyer.
8:46:40
To take on a client or not to take on a client and to do his homework on that client prior to taking that client.
Amanda Farías
8:46:51
Thank you for both of your responses.