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CWA Members at SBC's Southwestern Bell Ratify Contract
By a three-to-one margin, members of the Communications Workers of America at Southwestern Bell ratified a new 32-month agreement that provides significant improvements in wages and pensions, as well as employment security gains, for some 43,000 CWA-represented employees.
More than 72 percent of voting members approved the Southwestern Bell settlement, which provides a compounded wage increase of about 12 percent; a 9.2 percent pension increase with a lump-sum payout option; and new limits on forced overtime and subcontracting of work, among other improvements.
CWA agreed to early bargaining with SBC Communications, which includes Southwestern Bell and Pacific Telesis, because the company made clear that it was not seeking any concessions from employees, said CWA President Morton Bahr.
SBC has recognized the productivity and profitability edge that CWA members provide, and stressed that it wanted to reach a fair settlement, said CWA Vice President Ben Turn, who represents the Southwestern Bell employees.
"By bargaining early and without an immediate deadline, we were able to work through our issues and achieve the positive gains our members deserve. I'm pleased that our efforts were successful, and resulted in this early agreement.It reflects the progressive and positive relationship we have with SBC, and sets the tone for continued partnership and financial success at the company," he said.
The settlement goes into effect Aug. 8, 1998, when the current agreement expires, and terminates April 1, 2001. A $500 bonus is effective on ratification.
The ratification vote among the Pacific Telesis employeesöCWA represents some 35,000 workers there will be finalized the week of May 25.
CWA is bargaining this year on behalf of some 400,000 telecommunications industry workers, and to date has reached agreements with SBC and AT&T.
More than 72 percent of voting members approved the Southwestern Bell settlement, which provides a compounded wage increase of about 12 percent; a 9.2 percent pension increase with a lump-sum payout option; and new limits on forced overtime and subcontracting of work, among other improvements.
CWA agreed to early bargaining with SBC Communications, which includes Southwestern Bell and Pacific Telesis, because the company made clear that it was not seeking any concessions from employees, said CWA President Morton Bahr.
SBC has recognized the productivity and profitability edge that CWA members provide, and stressed that it wanted to reach a fair settlement, said CWA Vice President Ben Turn, who represents the Southwestern Bell employees.
"By bargaining early and without an immediate deadline, we were able to work through our issues and achieve the positive gains our members deserve. I'm pleased that our efforts were successful, and resulted in this early agreement.It reflects the progressive and positive relationship we have with SBC, and sets the tone for continued partnership and financial success at the company," he said.
The settlement goes into effect Aug. 8, 1998, when the current agreement expires, and terminates April 1, 2001. A $500 bonus is effective on ratification.
The ratification vote among the Pacific Telesis employeesöCWA represents some 35,000 workers there will be finalized the week of May 25.
CWA is bargaining this year on behalf of some 400,000 telecommunications industry workers, and to date has reached agreements with SBC and AT&T.