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Members Walk Out at Loral Skynet
Confounded by the company's attempt to hide behind bankruptcy proceedings rather than bargain, CWA members at Loral Skynet struck July 12 rather than accept an implemented contract.
Three locals represent about 60 technicians at the satellite uplink and space communications company: 51 in Hawley, Pa., 7 in Three Peaks, Calif., and the remainder in Bedminster, N.J. All come under one national contract, which expired May 21. Loral Skynet acquired most of the company from AT&T about six years ago.
CWA is seeking increased wages, no health-care cost shifting, protection of overtime pay and increased job security, said CWA Representative Terry Tipping, who heads bargaining. However, Loral wants to increase health care co-pays by as much as 400 percent, including a $150 per day charge for the first five days of hospitalization, Tipping said.
The company also wants to cut overtime pay by eliminating sick and annual leave, jury duty or other paid absences as part of the overtime calculation.
And it wants to lay off workers on Aug. 1-about five each in Hawley and Bedminster-without regard for seniority unless they have already been trained for specific job duties the company needs. All of the workers hold the same title of communications technician but are not all trained in every aspect of the job.
"While the company is sufficiently sound to offer us a fair contract, it feels it has to cut more costs to be allowed to emerge from bankruptcy," Tipping said.
Members overwhelmingly rejected Loral's last offer the week of July 5 and walked out the day the company implemented that offer. CWA has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, asserting that the company is refusing to bargain in good faith.
Members are walking picket lines at both the Pennsylvania and California locations and their bargaining representatives, Local 13000 East Region Vice President Don Babnew, Local 9415 Executive Vice President Christina Huggins and Local 1058 Executive Vice President Charles Murphy, are exploring additional mobilization activities.
Three locals represent about 60 technicians at the satellite uplink and space communications company: 51 in Hawley, Pa., 7 in Three Peaks, Calif., and the remainder in Bedminster, N.J. All come under one national contract, which expired May 21. Loral Skynet acquired most of the company from AT&T about six years ago.
CWA is seeking increased wages, no health-care cost shifting, protection of overtime pay and increased job security, said CWA Representative Terry Tipping, who heads bargaining. However, Loral wants to increase health care co-pays by as much as 400 percent, including a $150 per day charge for the first five days of hospitalization, Tipping said.
The company also wants to cut overtime pay by eliminating sick and annual leave, jury duty or other paid absences as part of the overtime calculation.
And it wants to lay off workers on Aug. 1-about five each in Hawley and Bedminster-without regard for seniority unless they have already been trained for specific job duties the company needs. All of the workers hold the same title of communications technician but are not all trained in every aspect of the job.
"While the company is sufficiently sound to offer us a fair contract, it feels it has to cut more costs to be allowed to emerge from bankruptcy," Tipping said.
Members overwhelmingly rejected Loral's last offer the week of July 5 and walked out the day the company implemented that offer. CWA has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, asserting that the company is refusing to bargain in good faith.
Members are walking picket lines at both the Pennsylvania and California locations and their bargaining representatives, Local 13000 East Region Vice President Don Babnew, Local 9415 Executive Vice President Christina Huggins and Local 1058 Executive Vice President Charles Murphy, are exploring additional mobilization activities.