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CWA Bargains Early Contract At Lucent
CWA has reached a tentative 20-month agreement with Lucent Technologies covering nearly 6,000 workers, the result of early negotiations with the telecommunications network developer.
CWA opened talks early to try to reach an agreement so workers and Lucent could survive the industry's current economic meltdown, said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies.
The agreement provides a 4.04 percent wage increase compounded over the contract term and some improvements in retirement security.
A major issue - health care coverage for both active and retired workers - was addressed through increases in co-pays and deductibles and the establishment of a pharmacy network. The cost savings associated with health care issues will be deposited into the benefit trust fund covering Lucent retirees, who now number 86,000.
Maly said the early agreement was needed to help the troubled telecom company and to hold the line against cost shifting of health care premiums to workers.
The contract establishes procedures to address charges of management performing bargaining unit work, with a committee and neutral third party dispute resolution process.
In other provisions, recall rights in the event of layoff have been extended to three years and the Alliance education and training program has been continued.
Agreements also were reached covering specific terms for the Installation unit and a combined unit of Bell Labs; Manufacturing Tier Five; Repair, Distribution and Service and Support; Operations and Manufacturing, Production and Maintenance.
Robert Richhart, administrative assistant to Maly and head of the installation table, said Lucent made it clear that without an early agreement, it would demand several retrogressive proposals in May.
"This 20-month contract will at least give time for the economy to recover, Lucent's business to improve and to restore some of the pension funds that have dwindled because of the economy," he said.
Mary Jo Sherman, who headed the combined unit table, noted that CWA was able to bargain a number of improvements in this contract that might not have been achieved in later bargaining.
Details of the proposed agreements are being provided to locals for distribution to members. The bargaining committee has unanimously recommended ratification of the agreement.
CWA opened talks early to try to reach an agreement so workers and Lucent could survive the industry's current economic meltdown, said Ralph Maly, CWA vice president for Communications and Technologies.
The agreement provides a 4.04 percent wage increase compounded over the contract term and some improvements in retirement security.
A major issue - health care coverage for both active and retired workers - was addressed through increases in co-pays and deductibles and the establishment of a pharmacy network. The cost savings associated with health care issues will be deposited into the benefit trust fund covering Lucent retirees, who now number 86,000.
Maly said the early agreement was needed to help the troubled telecom company and to hold the line against cost shifting of health care premiums to workers.
The contract establishes procedures to address charges of management performing bargaining unit work, with a committee and neutral third party dispute resolution process.
In other provisions, recall rights in the event of layoff have been extended to three years and the Alliance education and training program has been continued.
Agreements also were reached covering specific terms for the Installation unit and a combined unit of Bell Labs; Manufacturing Tier Five; Repair, Distribution and Service and Support; Operations and Manufacturing, Production and Maintenance.
Robert Richhart, administrative assistant to Maly and head of the installation table, said Lucent made it clear that without an early agreement, it would demand several retrogressive proposals in May.
"This 20-month contract will at least give time for the economy to recover, Lucent's business to improve and to restore some of the pension funds that have dwindled because of the economy," he said.
Mary Jo Sherman, who headed the combined unit table, noted that CWA was able to bargain a number of improvements in this contract that might not have been achieved in later bargaining.
Details of the proposed agreements are being provided to locals for distribution to members. The bargaining committee has unanimously recommended ratification of the agreement.