PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gabrielle Semel, Retired Union Side Labor Lawyer and Former District Counsel for Communication Workers of America, on Randy Mastro's Nomination
8:40:29
·
3 min
Gabrielle Semel, a retired union-side labor lawyer, testifies in opposition to Randy Mastro's appointment as Corporation Counsel. She criticizes Mastro's behavior during a 2014 City Council hearing, accusing him of showing contempt for unions, workers, and the National Labor Relations Board, as well as misrepresenting facts about Cablevision's labor practices.
- Semel details Mastro's alleged false claims about Cablevision CEO James Dolan's threats to workers during a union vote
- She asserts that Mastro sought to justify anti-union behavior and attacked recognized protections of organized labor
- Semel offers to provide more information in response to questions from the council members
Gabrielle Semel
8:40:29
Good afternoon, speaker, Adams, Chair Powers, and members of the council.
8:40:35
Who are here, not here.
8:40:38
My name is Gabrielle Semmel.
8:40:40
I've testified before in the papers say gay Semmel.
8:40:43
That's also my name.
8:40:45
Just wanna be clear about that.
8:40:47
I am a retired union side label lawyer who previously worked as district counsel for the Communication Workers of America for more than 30 years.
8:40:57
Before that, I worked for the as a field attorney for the now labor relations board in Manhattan.
8:41:04
I was the main attorney for CWA in the 5 plus year battle by workers to hold on to a union and get a contract at Cablevision in Brooklyn, and that case has come up a couple of times in some of the questions by the council.
8:41:22
The lay that labor fight was quite infamous in the city and the council's subcommitting on zoning and franchises held a hearing in December 2014 where Randy Mastro testified on behalf of the council.
8:41:39
I am here today on behalf of the Communication Workers of America to state its opposition to the appointment of Mister Mastro as Corporation Council and to explain why.
8:41:51
During the council hearing in 2014, Mister Mastro exhibited contempt for unions Contempt for workers, contempt for CWA, contempt for the National Labor Relations Board, and also contempt for the counsel.
8:42:07
He also misrepresented the facts regarding cable visions many unfair labor practices and NLRB procedures.
8:42:15
He actually misrepresented what he said again here.
8:42:19
2 New York City regions of the NLRB issued sweeping complaints against Cablevision regarding the its unlawful behavior in both the Bronx and Brooklyn.
8:42:33
Mister Mastro falsely claimed that Cablevision CEO James Dolan This was at the hearing, did not threaten the workers before conducting an illegal vote on September 10 2014.
8:42:48
That was untrue.
8:42:50
Mister Dolan threatened workers that if they voted for the union a second time, contrary to what Mister Mastro said, the union was certified.
8:43:01
If they voted for the union this second time, he would never give them wage parity And with the nonunion workers in the company, all workers elsewhere in the company were making 14% more on average than the Brooklyn workers.
8:43:18
That is a threat And that is the truth.
8:43:21
I have a transcript.
Keith Powers
8:43:22
Thank you.
8:43:23
We're gonna
Gabrielle Semel
8:43:24
I have one
Keith Powers
8:43:25
We'll let you finish now, and then we're gonna ask questions.
Gabrielle Semel
8:43:27
Two more sentences.
8:43:29
Mister Masimo represented the facts, sought to justify anti union behavior and attack recognize protections of organized labor.
8:43:39
I'd be happy to expand on any of this in in in response to questions.
8:43:44
Thank you.
Keith Powers
8:43:44
Thank you.
