CWA Members at AT&T Southeast Ratify New Contract

CWAers in District 3 ratified a new three-year agreement covering 35,000 CWA-represented workers at AT&T Southeast, the BellSouth Telecommunications unit. The settlement was ratified by a 65 percent vote. 

Among improvements, the agreement provides for a compounded 9 percent wage increase over the contract term, plus additional increases for workers covered by progression scales. Pension bands will increase by 2 percent in June of each contract year, and the lump sum payout option was retained.

CWA District 3 Vice President Judy Dennis said the contract reflected the union bargaining committee's hard work and determination to negotiate a contract that addressed CWA members' key issues for wages, benefits and other conditions.

"In these very tough economic times, our bargaining team did an exceptional job in improving wages and benefits and making real gains for workers in job security, including new transfer rights and other job rights covering customer service and sales workers," Dennis said.