Search News
For the Media
For media inquiries, call CWA Communications at 202-434-1168 or email comms@cwa-union.org. To read about CWA Members, Leadership or Industries, visit our About page.
ARC Workers Get Raises, Key Language in Contract
After 10 months of bargaining and the threat of a strike, CWA members at the Association for Retarded Citizens in New Jersey have emerged with a "model first contract," Local 1037 President Hetty Rosenstein said.
"It's a great contract," she said. "I think the bargaining committee was really sort of beside itself, really thrilled. There were a lot of tears, a lot of excitement from the committee."
The unit of 210 technicians, counselors and program aides for ARC's group homes and day training programs in Essex County, N.J., voted for CWA representation last December. Bargaining began in January, with money a key issue for the workers, who had been earning between $9 and $10 an hour. They now will get an hourly raise of 90 cents in the first year and 70 cents in the second.
The committee also laid important groundwork for the unit. The contract establishes grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety language, job security, and layoff and recall rights, and maintains their health care benefits. Workers also will receive a clothing allowance and, for the first time, get a paid lunch break. "Before, they ate lunch and dinner with clients and didn't have one minute for themselves," Rosenstein said.
The unit was close to taking a strike vote when the contract was settled Oct. 29. "The looming threat of a strike vote, as well as some other mobilization activities, apparently initiated some movement, or at least accelerated it," said George Krevet, the local's vice president for its professional unit.
"It's a great contract," she said. "I think the bargaining committee was really sort of beside itself, really thrilled. There were a lot of tears, a lot of excitement from the committee."
The unit of 210 technicians, counselors and program aides for ARC's group homes and day training programs in Essex County, N.J., voted for CWA representation last December. Bargaining began in January, with money a key issue for the workers, who had been earning between $9 and $10 an hour. They now will get an hourly raise of 90 cents in the first year and 70 cents in the second.
The committee also laid important groundwork for the unit. The contract establishes grievance and arbitration procedures, health and safety language, job security, and layoff and recall rights, and maintains their health care benefits. Workers also will receive a clothing allowance and, for the first time, get a paid lunch break. "Before, they ate lunch and dinner with clients and didn't have one minute for themselves," Rosenstein said.
The unit was close to taking a strike vote when the contract was settled Oct. 29. "The looming threat of a strike vote, as well as some other mobilization activities, apparently initiated some movement, or at least accelerated it," said George Krevet, the local's vice president for its professional unit.