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Members Ratify New Pacts at CenturyTel, AllTel
By a significant margin, Local 6171 members ratified a three-year contract with CenturyTel in Arkansas, winning compounded wage increases amounting to 11 percent over three years.
"The union's bargaining committee did an outstanding job under very trying circumstances," Telecommunications Vice President Jimmy Gurganus said.
The local represents about 200 members at CenturyTel, who have fundamentally different wage scales depending upon location. Those at in "A" towns will receive a 3.37 percent increase in base pay retroactive to Aug. 16, another 3.37 percent on Aug. 16 2005, and 1.5 percent plus a 1 percent lump sum payment on Aug 16, 2006. Those in "1-A" towns will receive a retroactive increase of 2 percent in the base plus a 1.5 percent lump sum immediately, a 1.5 percent increase plus a 1.5 percent lump sum in 2005, and a 1.5 percent increase plus 1 percent lump sum in 2006.
The increases equate to $2.33 per hour over term for members at the top of both scales, Gurganus said. Also, night premium pay increases from 75 cents to 80 cents an hour.
Health care costs will increase under the agreement, Gurganus said. Beginning Jan. 1, biweekly worker costs for health care will be zero for employee only, $21.73 for employee plus spouse, $17.18 for employee plus child and $40.35 for employee plus family. "Future employee increases will be made on the same basis as for management," Gurganus said.
Chaired by CWA Representative Jerrell Miller and Local 6171 Secretary-Treasurer Linda James, bargaining with the company began in late July. Members leafleted at two locations for a better deal on health care and conducted mobilization activities in concert with other CenturyTel units across the country.
Though they voted by 93 percent to authorize a strike, they continued working past their contract expiration of Aug. 15, trying to improve management's "last and final offer while at the bargaining table."
James said that in deciding to ratify, members took into account the fact that their top pay - more than $22 an hour - is exceptional for Arkansas and considered the effect a prolonged strike would have on their families.
Meanwhile, Local 4487 members in Newark, Ohio, ratified a new three-year agreement with Alltel for a bargaining unit of about 100. They will receive pay increases of 2.25 percent this Oct. 1 and on Oct. 1, 2005 and 2006, and the pact improves the employer's contribution to the cost of their health care. Commending CWA Representative Henley Johns and the local committee, Gurganus said the members approved the pact overwhelmingly.
"The union's bargaining committee did an outstanding job under very trying circumstances," Telecommunications Vice President Jimmy Gurganus said.
The local represents about 200 members at CenturyTel, who have fundamentally different wage scales depending upon location. Those at in "A" towns will receive a 3.37 percent increase in base pay retroactive to Aug. 16, another 3.37 percent on Aug. 16 2005, and 1.5 percent plus a 1 percent lump sum payment on Aug 16, 2006. Those in "1-A" towns will receive a retroactive increase of 2 percent in the base plus a 1.5 percent lump sum immediately, a 1.5 percent increase plus a 1.5 percent lump sum in 2005, and a 1.5 percent increase plus 1 percent lump sum in 2006.
The increases equate to $2.33 per hour over term for members at the top of both scales, Gurganus said. Also, night premium pay increases from 75 cents to 80 cents an hour.
Health care costs will increase under the agreement, Gurganus said. Beginning Jan. 1, biweekly worker costs for health care will be zero for employee only, $21.73 for employee plus spouse, $17.18 for employee plus child and $40.35 for employee plus family. "Future employee increases will be made on the same basis as for management," Gurganus said.
Chaired by CWA Representative Jerrell Miller and Local 6171 Secretary-Treasurer Linda James, bargaining with the company began in late July. Members leafleted at two locations for a better deal on health care and conducted mobilization activities in concert with other CenturyTel units across the country.
Though they voted by 93 percent to authorize a strike, they continued working past their contract expiration of Aug. 15, trying to improve management's "last and final offer while at the bargaining table."
James said that in deciding to ratify, members took into account the fact that their top pay - more than $22 an hour - is exceptional for Arkansas and considered the effect a prolonged strike would have on their families.
Meanwhile, Local 4487 members in Newark, Ohio, ratified a new three-year agreement with Alltel for a bargaining unit of about 100. They will receive pay increases of 2.25 percent this Oct. 1 and on Oct. 1, 2005 and 2006, and the pact improves the employer's contribution to the cost of their health care. Commending CWA Representative Henley Johns and the local committee, Gurganus said the members approved the pact overwhelmingly.