Comcast-NBC Deal Hurts Jobs, Investment and Prices, Union Says

Comcast's proposed takeover of NBC Universal would hurt jobs, stifle Internet investment and raise cable prices, said Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America union.

"We don't see value in the merger as it stands," Cohen said in an interview before his scheduled testimony tomorrow to the House Judiciary Committee. "We see huge problems in terms of jobs and workers rights in the industry." The merger will affect about 100,000 union jobs within the industry, including those at Internet and production companies that work with NBC Universal, Cohen said. The CWA and consumer groups say the deal, which will give Comcast 51 percent of NBC Universal, will give it too much control over the market.