Local 4401 Grievance More than Triples Severance Pay for Laid-Off Workers

A grievance filed by CWA Local 4401 has led to a big win for four laid-off workers whose employer told them they were eligible for just over $5,000 in severance. Instead, they're being issued checks now for $19,000 to $20,000 each.

Convergys, a billing company spun off from Cincinnati Bell, claimed that changes it unilaterally made to its severance policy applied to union members as well as other workers.

Not so fast, said Local 4401 President Altha Hunter, who insisted that the company honor contract language that provides up to $20,000 per laid-off worker, based on years of service.

The two women and two men laid off in February had worked for the company between 21 and 32 years. The company said it based the layoffs on "skill sets," a matter of dispute for the long-term workers. However, as part of the larger severance package, they agreed not to fight their termination.

Hunter was confident the local would prevail, but she feared it would go to arbitration and be a year or more before her members got the badly needed funds. Instead, the company backed down after a few weeks.

"I got to call each member and tell them, and they were really, really happy," Hunter said. "One woman, she'd already signed for the $5,000 and thought that meant she couldn't get any more. I told her, 'I have some good news.' She said, 'I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. I can not express how grateful I am."

CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen said, "this story is a great example of how, even at a huge, mostly non-union customer service company, CWA really makes a difference for our members. Imagine what we could do if all of Convergys was organized!"