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CWA Reaches Early Lucent Contract
In early bargaining, CWA reached a tentative 20-month agreement with Lucent Technologies covering nearly 6,000 workers.
CWA opened early contract negotiations with Lucent to try and reach an agreement that would enable our members and the company to survive the current economic meltdown in the telecommunications industry, 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 costs savings associated with health care issues will be deposited into the benefit trust fund covering Lucent retirees, which now number 86,000.
Maly said the early agreement was needed to help the troubled telecom company and hold the line against cost shifting of health care premiums to workers.
Agreements covering 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 workers also were reached.
Robert Richhart, administrative assistant to Maly and head of the installation table, said Lucent made it very clear that if an early agreement were not reached, it would make 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," Richhart 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 for the ratification vote and a contract explanation meeting will be held at the Communications and Technologies meeting on Jan. 27-Feb. 1. The bargaining committee has unanimously recommended ratification of the agreement.
CWA opened early contract negotiations with Lucent to try and reach an agreement that would enable our members and the company to survive the current economic meltdown in the telecommunications industry, 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 costs savings associated with health care issues will be deposited into the benefit trust fund covering Lucent retirees, which now number 86,000.
Maly said the early agreement was needed to help the troubled telecom company and hold the line against cost shifting of health care premiums to workers.
Agreements covering 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 workers also were reached.
Robert Richhart, administrative assistant to Maly and head of the installation table, said Lucent made it very clear that if an early agreement were not reached, it would make 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," Richhart 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 for the ratification vote and a contract explanation meeting will be held at the Communications and Technologies meeting on Jan. 27-Feb. 1. The bargaining committee has unanimously recommended ratification of the agreement.