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Adelphia Pact Closing the Pay Gap for Cable Workers
Workers at Adelphia Cable in Los Angeles made a big leap toward closing the pay gap between cable and telecom workers with a new contract that delivers an immediate wage boost averaging 33 percent.
"It's about time - we've been underpaid for years and now we've closed the gap," said Local 9000 bargaining committee member Mike Maye, a 13-year employee of the company.
Some technicians will see an immediate increase of as much as 42 percent, bringing top hourly wages up to $19.70 an hour in the new three-year agreement which covers 178 workers.
This was the first negotiation following Adelphia Communications' purchase of the L.A. cable operation from Century Communications. "This a great way to start our relationship with Adelphia here in California," said CWA Representative Cherie Brokaw, who headed the bargaining team.
"The dramatic improvement in wages is a demonstration that the cable industry will have to pay competitive wages if they hope to retain the skilled workforce necessary to compete in the new communications industry," she noted.
Another contract breakthrough is fully paid health care for the first time. The workers previously contributed up to $110 a month for family medical coverage.
Other gains include an increase in on-call pay from $118 to $140 a week, improved short-term and long-term disability plans fully paid, and improved grievance procedure.
"It's about time - we've been underpaid for years and now we've closed the gap," said Local 9000 bargaining committee member Mike Maye, a 13-year employee of the company.
Some technicians will see an immediate increase of as much as 42 percent, bringing top hourly wages up to $19.70 an hour in the new three-year agreement which covers 178 workers.
This was the first negotiation following Adelphia Communications' purchase of the L.A. cable operation from Century Communications. "This a great way to start our relationship with Adelphia here in California," said CWA Representative Cherie Brokaw, who headed the bargaining team.
"The dramatic improvement in wages is a demonstration that the cable industry will have to pay competitive wages if they hope to retain the skilled workforce necessary to compete in the new communications industry," she noted.
Another contract breakthrough is fully paid health care for the first time. The workers previously contributed up to $110 a month for family medical coverage.
Other gains include an increase in on-call pay from $118 to $140 a week, improved short-term and long-term disability plans fully paid, and improved grievance procedure.