Union threatens to boycott Rockefeller Center tree lighting TV show, wants NBC contract talks

Union may skip Rockefeller Center tree TV special

NEW YORK — A broadcasters union is threatening to boycott a popular television special of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony unless NBC’s entertainment division restarts stalled contract talks.

The New York City chapter of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians says its workers might boycott NBC’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” special Wednesday night. The union has launched a Web site publicizing its position.

Union President Ed McEwan says its 3,000 network producers, writers and technicians at NBC are angry about working without a labor agreement since March.

NBC Universal claims the union hasn’t been willing to meet for negotiations. It says the special is expected to air without disruption and will feature actors Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski.

NBC is based at Rockefeller Center, where the famed Christmas tree was set up for the first time in 1931.

(This version CORRECTS special will feature Krakowski and Levi, not Beyonce and Jonas Brothers.)