Skip to main content

News

Search News

Topics
Date Published Between

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.

CWA Settles Strike at U S West with Pact Guaranteeing Health and Income Security, Limits on Forced O

The Communications Workers of America has reached a tentative agreement with U S West that provides substantial wage and pension improvements, protects health care security and curbs excessive forced overtime.

The proposed contract, which now goes to the membership for ratification, covers some 35,000 U S West workers in 13 states. It ends a strike by members that began Aug. 16.

"Our members were strong and totally united in their determination to resist major contract takebacks by a profitable and successful company. It was through their determination that we prevailed in winning a contract in line with the rest of the industry and which meets the contract goals that we set this year at U S West," said District 7 Vice President Sue Pisha, CWA's chief negotiator at U S West. "This agreement restores to our members time with their families, time that had been lost due to abusive overtime demands by U S West," she said. "Families have been literally torn apart by workers forced to work up to 70 hours a week for months and years at a time," she added.

"Further, this agreement maintains our members' health security, enabling them to choose the health plan and doctors that suit their families' needs. And it provides solid wage and pension increases to help retain a high quality, well trained workforce," Pisha said.

CWA President Morton Bahr said, "I congratulate our members for their courage and strength in standing up to U S West's assault on their job standards and the security of their families."

Among the highlights of the settlement:

Wage increases of 11.3 percent compounded over the three-year contract term, and a $500 ratification bonus.

Pension improvements of 22.4 percent compounded over three years. In addition, a joint committee will be set up to research options for implementing a lump-sum option.

An increase in the savings match to 75 percent next January and 81 percent the following year.

Limits on excessive, forced overtime that restrict mandatory overtime in a week to 16 hours next January, and to a maximum of eight hours in a week by January 2001; workers will be guaranteed at least two 5-day workweeks per month.

The company extends union recognition to the Idaho customer care center.

U S West backed away from imposing a pay scheme on any new technicians that would have tied wage increases to job quotas set only the by the company. In the final settlement, the plan is completely voluntary for all present and future workers, and the union will have input into the design and implementation of the plan.

The company also dropped concession demands that provoked the strike, including healthcare cost shifting and the elimination of overtime pay after eight hours' work.


###

Press Contact

CWA Communications