The union representing striking camera operators at NBC-owned WCAU in Philadelphia says the station may have caused a “serious breach of security” during the recent visit of Pope Francis, and Local 98 president Brian Burrows has asked Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to investigate.
Philadelphia Magazine reports the union has “significant reason” to believe fill-in photographers hired by the station were using credentials assigned to striking workers.
A station spokesperson provided the following statement to TVSpy:
“This is absurd and simply not true. All credentials obtained by NBC10 to cover the World Meeting of Families were obtained through the proper channels and provided by the appropriate authorities to ensure our viewers had non-stop coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia. Instead of playing games by disseminating false information, it would be more productive for IBEW to engage in productive bargaining so that its members can return to work under the terms of a fair contract.”