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Nebraska Local Fights Giveback Demands at Alltel
Members of CWA Local 7470 are in a tough fight for a fair contract at Alltel Corp., where the company is demanding givebacks in health care, premium pay rates and retirement security.
The contract covering more than 500 workers in Lincoln and southeastern Nebraska, expires Oct. 15. Members approved strike authorization by a 94 percent vote.
Alltel took over the local phone company, Aliant Communications, in 1998. CWA had a 50-year, positive bargaining relationship with Aliant but that changed quickly under Alltel, CWA Local 7470 President Denny Martin said.
Alltel has been cutting jobs — more than 500 since it took over in 1998 — despite assurances made to elected officials and the public that employment levels would be maintained, Martin said. The company has been contracting out work and moving other jobs out of state, resulting in deteriorating service and a growing number of customer complaints, he said.
In August, the Nebraska Public Service Commission held a hearing to examine the problems with Alltel service, listening to complaints from residential and business customers as well as testimony from union workers.
Nationally, Alltel generated a record $7 billion in revenues and $2 billion in profit last year, but continues to put the squeeze on workers by demanding cuts in health care coverage and retirement security, and an end to retiree health care benefits.
In a letter to CWA members in Nebraska, 11 CWA locals representing Alltel workers from Florida to Pennsylvania pledged their support for the Nebraska workers, stressing that “Alltel’s lack of respect for important employee concerns about paid medical benefits and improved retirement speaks volumes about Alltel’s lack of commitment to employees and customers, as Alltel struggles to maintain service quality.”
Local 7470 members, state and local AFL-CIO leaders, local elected officials and community supporters will rally Oct. 2 to support the bargaining team.
The contract covering more than 500 workers in Lincoln and southeastern Nebraska, expires Oct. 15. Members approved strike authorization by a 94 percent vote.
Alltel took over the local phone company, Aliant Communications, in 1998. CWA had a 50-year, positive bargaining relationship with Aliant but that changed quickly under Alltel, CWA Local 7470 President Denny Martin said.
Alltel has been cutting jobs — more than 500 since it took over in 1998 — despite assurances made to elected officials and the public that employment levels would be maintained, Martin said. The company has been contracting out work and moving other jobs out of state, resulting in deteriorating service and a growing number of customer complaints, he said.
In August, the Nebraska Public Service Commission held a hearing to examine the problems with Alltel service, listening to complaints from residential and business customers as well as testimony from union workers.
Nationally, Alltel generated a record $7 billion in revenues and $2 billion in profit last year, but continues to put the squeeze on workers by demanding cuts in health care coverage and retirement security, and an end to retiree health care benefits.
In a letter to CWA members in Nebraska, 11 CWA locals representing Alltel workers from Florida to Pennsylvania pledged their support for the Nebraska workers, stressing that “Alltel’s lack of respect for important employee concerns about paid medical benefits and improved retirement speaks volumes about Alltel’s lack of commitment to employees and customers, as Alltel struggles to maintain service quality.”
Local 7470 members, state and local AFL-CIO leaders, local elected officials and community supporters will rally Oct. 2 to support the bargaining team.