Cablevision Goes on Offensive as Council Questions Labor Practices

One of New York's big three cable providers is aggressively defending itself against charges of union-busting.

Last month, the National Labor Relations board accused Cablevision of illegal activities when it allegedly tried to de-certify the Communications Workers of America as the representative of several hundred technicians.

In a hearing at City Hall on Tuesday, Councilman Mark Levine asked Cablevision attorney Randy Mastro why CEO James Dolan visited workers in a garage in September, just one day before they were to vote on whether to keep the union as their representative.

“What was the message he delivered? Was he threatening employees or promising them something?” Levine said

Mastro’s reply: “Not in the least, and I think that, um, the accusations that have been made by the union in that regard are completely false.”

Mastro said the City Council has no authority to get involved and said members were "pawns" of the union.

Cablevision is fighting the NLRB's charges in court.