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.
BellSouth and Communications Workers Reach Settlement
ATLANTA – BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS) and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have reached a five-year tentative agreement covering approximately 45,000 BellSouth employees. The previous contract was set to expire at midnight on Aug. 7, 2004.
"We are pleased that once again the company and CWA have been able to work together successfully to find solutions to the complex issues facing our business," said Dick Sibbernsen, vice president of Human Resources for BellSouth. "This agreement allows BellSouth to effectively compete in the and continue to provide customers with high-quality products and services while providing employees with benefits that rank among the best in the nation."
By reaching a longer-term agreement, BellSouth will increase the stability and certainty for its employees, customers and investors.
"This agreement is a very important one for BellSouth workers," said CWA District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith. "It achieves our members' key goals of safeguarding health care for active and retired workers and strengthening employment security by providing new access for members to jobs in the growth areas of the company," he said.
More detailed highlights will be released later. Among the provisions: a 5-year contract duration, an increase in base wages of more than 10.5 percent over the contract term, pension improvements, and a health care solution that enables BellSouth to continue to provide high quality, affordable health care.
The tentative agreement is subject to membership ratification. The contract covers BellSouth workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless voice and data provider.
Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth AnswersSM, residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access and Cingular® Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth® RealPages.comsm and The Real Yellow Pages®.
About Communication Workers of America
CWA, the union for the information age, represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications and information technology, media and publishing, airlines, public service, health care and higher education and manufacturing. For more information, go to ga.cwa-union.org.
More information about BellSouth can be found at www.bellsouth.com.
"We are pleased that once again the company and CWA have been able to work together successfully to find solutions to the complex issues facing our business," said Dick Sibbernsen, vice president of Human Resources for BellSouth. "This agreement allows BellSouth to effectively compete in the and continue to provide customers with high-quality products and services while providing employees with benefits that rank among the best in the nation."
By reaching a longer-term agreement, BellSouth will increase the stability and certainty for its employees, customers and investors.
"This agreement is a very important one for BellSouth workers," said CWA District 3 Vice President Jimmy Smith. "It achieves our members' key goals of safeguarding health care for active and retired workers and strengthening employment security by providing new access for members to jobs in the growth areas of the company," he said.
More detailed highlights will be released later. Among the provisions: a 5-year contract duration, an increase in base wages of more than 10.5 percent over the contract term, pension improvements, and a health care solution that enables BellSouth to continue to provide high quality, affordable health care.
The tentative agreement is subject to membership ratification. The contract covers BellSouth workers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
About BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Corporation is a Fortune 100 communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and a parent company of Cingular Wireless, the nation's second largest wireless voice and data provider.
Backed by award winning customer service, BellSouth offers the most comprehensive and innovative package of voice and data services available in the market. Through BellSouth AnswersSM, residential and small business customers can bundle their local and long distance service with dial up and high speed DSL Internet access and Cingular® Wireless service. For businesses, BellSouth provides secure, reliable local and long distance voice and data networking solutions. BellSouth also offers online and directory advertising through BellSouth® RealPages.comsm and The Real Yellow Pages®.
About Communication Workers of America
CWA, the union for the information age, represents more than 700,000 workers in telecommunications and information technology, media and publishing, airlines, public service, health care and higher education and manufacturing. For more information, go to ga.cwa-union.org.
More information about BellSouth can be found at www.bellsouth.com.