Series: The Ten O'Clock News
Date: 1989-06-26
Duration: 00:03:33

Subject: City planning; Construction industry; Manpower policy
People: Cruz, John; Fox, Richard; Nigro, Joe; Wang, Deborah;

Clip Description
Deborah Wang reports on a labor dispute concerning the Boston Harbor Cleanup project. Wang notes that labor have signed an agreement with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Wang reports that the unions have promised not to strike if the MWRA agrees to hire only union workers for the project.Wang interviews John Cruz (J.B. Cruz Construction). Cruz says that many minority businesses would like to bid on the project. Cruz says that he runs an "open shop." Cruz adds that he can afford union wages but cannot afford union rules. He says that his business is more efficient because his workers are not unionized. Wang's report includes footage from an interview with Richard Fox (MWRA). Fox says that the MWRA wants to avoid a work stoppage during the project. Wang also interviews Joe Nigro (Building Trades Council). Nigro says that unions give workers good healthcare and pensions. Wang reports that Cruz and other non-union contractors may challenge the agreement in court. Wang's report is accompanied by footage of African American and white construction workers working at a construction site. This tape includes additional footage of construction workers and construction sites.

Series Description
A local program aimed at the Boston audience, The Ten O'Clock News debuted on January 15, 1976. Its two immediate predecessors were The Reporters and Evening Compass. A news and public affairs show focusing on neighborhood, local and state issues, The Reporters was produced and broadcast on WGBH from 1970 to 1973. The Reporters was then replaced by Evening Compass, which expanded into a twice-nightly news broadcast during the tense moments of Boston's busing crisis. On the air from 1973 to 1975, Evening Compass found an audience through its in-depth coverage of school desegregation in Boston, which began in 1974. The Ten O'Clock News stood out as an in-depth news program. It strove for a balance between local and national stories, between politics and the Arts. The last The Ten O'Clock News program was broadcast on May 30, 1991.

See also: http://main.wgbh.org/ton/programs/6582_01