Oregon AFL-CIO resolution on media monopolies

No. 30 The Development of a Labor Cable
Television Channel




Submitted by the Oregon AFL-CIO.

WHEREAS, the monopolization of television and cable is a threat to democratic rights
of expression and the right of labor to have its own independent programming; and

WHEREAS, the importance of open access to cable systems around the country is
critical to further labor and other independent television programming as well as
access to the Internet; and

WHEREAS, the exclusion of labor, environmental and human rights programming
from television is a pressing issue of concern for all working people and the public as
a whole;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oregon AFL-CIO will call for the
AFL-CIO (nationally) to investigate the establishment of a 24-hour labor cable
channel broadcast by satellite and will, if feasible, seek support from all affiliates for
the programming of this channel on every cable system in the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oregon AFL-CIO will call on the AFL-CIO
(nationally) to fund a study of the role of media monopolization and privatization of
public television and the censorship of labor and other programming as a result of
these policies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oregon AFL-CIO will call on the AFL-CIO
(nationally) to ask for the inclusion of a labor representative on all telecommunication
commissions and bodies, including the ECC, CPB, PBS and NPR; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oregon AFL-CIO will ask the AFL-CIO
(nationally) to support a call for a congressional hearing on the issue of
monopolization of the media and the threat that this means to freedom of speech as
well as the exclusion of labor programming, not only on all commercial networks but
on the PBS/NPR system as well; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oregon AFL-CIO will send this resolution
for concurrence to the October 1999 AFL-CIO convention in Los Angeles.

Referred to the Public Policy Committee.