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CWA, IBEW Reach Jurisdictional Agreement
CWA and the IBEW have reached an agreement intended to end decades of jurisdictional disputes over telecommunications wiring and installation.
The agreement, brokered by the AFL-CIO, gives a clear definition of telecommunications work and declares that employers under contract to either union have an equal right to bid for and perform the work so long as they meet minimum wage and benefit standards as jointly determined by the unions.
Previously, CWA employers largely were blocked from project labor agreements as the IBEW insisted that all telecommunications installation was “building trades” work and should be performed by electricians.
“This agreement opens up all building construction and renovation work to CWA employers and IBEW employers equally, and removes an issue that has been a serious point of contention for a long time,” said CWA President Morton Bahr.
Bahr had praise for both former IBEW President Jack Barry and his successor, Ed Hill, for “joining with us to end discord between our unions and lay the foundation for even greater cooperation in bargaining and organizing.” Bahr noted: “Ed Hill said to me when the agreement was reached that he was glad this is behind us, and that now maybe we can devote our energies to organizing the unorganized. I share that view completely.”
The agreement acknowledges that both unions have jurisdiction for telecommunications work, which it defines “as wireless and cabling systems and equipment used for the transmission, switching and reception of voice, data and video signals, including backbone and horizontal wiring systems, related communications closets, equipment rooms, and associated equipment, devices and materials including telecommunications cable tray.”
Minimum job standards in the agreement are based on union contracts with such “blue ribbon” CWA employers as AT&T, Lucent, Avaya, Verizon, BellSouth, SBC, and Qwest as well as IBEW “inside” construction employers.
All of these employers are automatically covered by the agreement as are other CWA and IBEW companies that meet the “blue ribbon” wage and benefit standards in each respective region.
The agreement also calls for regular meetings between the two unions to review minimum job standards in the various regions and discuss other concerns.
The agreement was the result of a process begun in 1998 after CWA asked AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s assistance in helping both unions resolve the problem. Sweeney appointed a special committee of the federation’s executive council to help draft an agreement acceptable to the two unions. The special committee will continue to oversee the agreement and help resolve any future concerns.
The agreement, brokered by the AFL-CIO, gives a clear definition of telecommunications work and declares that employers under contract to either union have an equal right to bid for and perform the work so long as they meet minimum wage and benefit standards as jointly determined by the unions.
Previously, CWA employers largely were blocked from project labor agreements as the IBEW insisted that all telecommunications installation was “building trades” work and should be performed by electricians.
“This agreement opens up all building construction and renovation work to CWA employers and IBEW employers equally, and removes an issue that has been a serious point of contention for a long time,” said CWA President Morton Bahr.
Bahr had praise for both former IBEW President Jack Barry and his successor, Ed Hill, for “joining with us to end discord between our unions and lay the foundation for even greater cooperation in bargaining and organizing.” Bahr noted: “Ed Hill said to me when the agreement was reached that he was glad this is behind us, and that now maybe we can devote our energies to organizing the unorganized. I share that view completely.”
The agreement acknowledges that both unions have jurisdiction for telecommunications work, which it defines “as wireless and cabling systems and equipment used for the transmission, switching and reception of voice, data and video signals, including backbone and horizontal wiring systems, related communications closets, equipment rooms, and associated equipment, devices and materials including telecommunications cable tray.”
Minimum job standards in the agreement are based on union contracts with such “blue ribbon” CWA employers as AT&T, Lucent, Avaya, Verizon, BellSouth, SBC, and Qwest as well as IBEW “inside” construction employers.
All of these employers are automatically covered by the agreement as are other CWA and IBEW companies that meet the “blue ribbon” wage and benefit standards in each respective region.
The agreement also calls for regular meetings between the two unions to review minimum job standards in the various regions and discuss other concerns.
The agreement was the result of a process begun in 1998 after CWA asked AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s assistance in helping both unions resolve the problem. Sweeney appointed a special committee of the federation’s executive council to help draft an agreement acceptable to the two unions. The special committee will continue to oversee the agreement and help resolve any future concerns.