The CWA and CenturyTel Bargaining Committees reached a tentative agreement on a new contract at 12:56 am on Thursday March 13, 2008. The term of the Agreement is three years. Highlights and modifications are listed below. Locals are currently in the process of scheduling meetings to explain the changes to the members in much greater detail. Please contact your Steward or Local for the pertinent information regarding these meetings.
Your CWA Bargaining Committee put in long hours and worked extremely hard to reach this tentative agreement. The Committee, chaired by CWA Representative Mark Franken, consists of Gene Whitfield (6310), Danny Rice (6312) and Gary Kolb (6373). Your CWA Bargaining Committee unanimously recommends ratification of this tentative agreement.
The Committee wishes to issue a final note of gratitude to all the members who left messages, sent e-mails and notes of support. We really appreciated them. Special thanks to all members, Stewards and Local officers who participated in the various mobilization efforts across the bargaining unit. These efforts were instrumental in attaining what we believe is a fair contract.
Highlights and Amendments
· Article 2: Recognition and Area Designation – Correct Cape Fair and Shell Knob
· Article 3: Grievances – Change Manager responsible for grievances at the last step
· Article 4: Arbitration - Change Manager notice of intent to arbitrate sent to
· Article 6: Vacations - Improved Vacation language
· Article 7: Holidays - Improved Holiday language
· Article 8: Leaves of Absence – Improve LOA
· Article 18: Pension Plan – Pension Plan for current employees remains unchanged. Employees hired after 3/13/2008 will receive benefits under CenturyTel Retirement Plan.
· Article 19: Wages – Improve In-Charge pay, Night Differential and Compensated Availability
· Article 19: Wages – Annual increases of 2.5% / 2% / 2%. Customer Contact Associate; Service Office Representative; Warehouse Person; and Mailroom Clerk will receive wage increases in annual lump sum payments instead of base.
· Article 19: Wages – Title changes: Service Office Representative to Department Clerk and Warehouse Person to Warehouse Coordinator. Incumbents will remain on current wage scale.
· Article 25: Job Vacancy – Improve and amend Job Vacancy procedures
· Article 26: Overtime and Sunday Worked – Improved language to clarify when overtime will be paid
· Article 27: Work Schedules – Retained and clarified employees right to change work schedule if done so by noon the preceding Thursday
· Article 29: Evening Meal Expense – Increase Evening Meal Expense
· Article 30: Board and Lodging – Improve Board and Lodging
· Article 31: Force Adjustment - Improve Force Adjustment procedures
· Article 32: Termination Pay – Improve Termination Pay schedule
· Article 37: Duration – 3 year Agreement. Effective 3/13/2008 and expires midnight 3/11/2011
· MOU: Interns – New MOU outlining use of students serving Internships in telecommunications
· MOU: VEBA – Add benefit schedule agreed to in 2005 for clarification purposes
· MOU: Lump Sum Payment Option – Amended language. Does not impact employees in the Bargaining Unit prior to March 13, 2008
· MOU: Team Performance Award – Modified language
· MOU: Plan For Hourly Paid Employees’ Pensions – Extended
· MOU: Lump Sum Pre-Retirement Death Benefit – Extended
· MOU: Payroll Deduction For COPE – Extended
· MOU: Common Interest Forum – Extended
· MOU: Assignment Of Work Across Union Jurisdictional Boundaries – Extended
· MOU: Home Dispatch – Extended
· MOU: Hourly Relocation Plan – Extended
· MOU: Drivers/Chauffeurs License – Extended
· MOU: CenturyTel Union 401(K) Plan and Trust – Changed name and extended
· Company to resolve CWA 06-07-191 (Chris Gilbert – Progression Wage Increase) in Union’s favor and pay cancellation fees
· Company to resolve Jarold B. Smith vacation grievance in Union’s favor
· Company to resolve Mike Edmonds work schedule grievance in Union’s favor
