NBC News cuts 40 jobs, leading to rebuke by union [Video]

NBC News conducted a round of layoffs on Thursday, leading to swift backlash from union staffers who say the action is illegal. 

NBC Digital NewsGuild and The NewsGuild of New York strongly condemned management’s announcement Thursday, calling the move a clear disregard for workers’ rights, in a press release shared with Fox News Digital. Business Insider reported that NBC laid off about 40 employees, while creating about 12 new jobs that cut workers could apply for as the division makes a shift to growth areas.

The union said laying off Guild-represented workers amidst negotiations for a first contract is illegal. 

“NBC News management has demonstrated a complete disregard for labor law and the demands of its unionized employees,” Carlin McCarthy, first vice chair of the NBC Guild and segment producer of NBC News NOW’s Top Story with Tom Llamas, told Fox News Digital. “We refuse to cower down to their callous and morally …