Capcities/ABC pushes pact

By VARIETY STAFF

Capital Cities/ABC Inc. said it is going to put into effect the new contract recently reached with 13 bargaining units of the National Assn. of Broadcast Employees & Technicians on the company's proposed contract -- despite the fact that two NABET units have yet to ratify the contract.

Additionally, the company said it was filing charges with the National Labor Relations Board, charging NABET officials with unfair labor practices for refusing to sign the contract.

NABET officials said they would not sign the new contract until the two units , representing publicists in New York and radio writer/producers in San Francisco, had further negotiations and reached agreement.

CapCities/ABC, in response, said it is at impasse with those units. The company is vowing that it will not change its position on contract terms with these two units, which together represent about 19 employees, company officials said.

Union officials say they cannot sign the agreement until all the bargaining units have approved it, according to union bylaws.

The company said it would put most provisions of the pacts into effect June 12.

As a result, CapCities/ABC said, it will not pay 5% ratification bonuses to any of the employees until the pacts are signed.