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New ALLTEL Pacts in Mississippi, North Carolina
ALLTEL technicians and customer service representatives in four CWA locals in Mississippi and North Carolina ratified two new contracts bringing wage increases of 2.25 percent in each of three years, along with improvements in vacation and rules governing excused paid absences, reported Vice Presidents Jimmy Smith, District 3 and Jimmy Gurganus, Telecommunications.
"While there were no give-backs in health care benefits, the union did finally agree to increases in co-pays for the prescription drug plan," said Gurganus. "But, for the first time, the company agreed to include retiree health care issues during the May 2005 pension plan negotiations."
He praised the hard work of CWA Representatives Ron Tyree, who headed the bargaining team for Mississippi Local 3511, Jackson, and Karen Murphy for North Carolina Locals 3683, Marshville, 3684, Winston-Salem, and 3716, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. The two contracts, one for each state, cover about 150 members.
"We feel that the support of the Telecommunications office and local members aided in reaching an acceptable agreement," Gurganus said. "While we certainly aren't totally satisfied, the bargaining teams were able to fight off unacceptable company proposals concerning health benefits and a ridiculous proposal called 'short term earnings protection,' which would have given the company full control of paid time off."
Wage increases are retroactive to April 3, 2004, and will be paid on the same date in 2005 and 2006. There are additional improvements concerning hours of work, travel conditions and expenses, promotions and transfers and differential payments, Gurganus said.
"While there were no give-backs in health care benefits, the union did finally agree to increases in co-pays for the prescription drug plan," said Gurganus. "But, for the first time, the company agreed to include retiree health care issues during the May 2005 pension plan negotiations."
He praised the hard work of CWA Representatives Ron Tyree, who headed the bargaining team for Mississippi Local 3511, Jackson, and Karen Murphy for North Carolina Locals 3683, Marshville, 3684, Winston-Salem, and 3716, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. The two contracts, one for each state, cover about 150 members.
"We feel that the support of the Telecommunications office and local members aided in reaching an acceptable agreement," Gurganus said. "While we certainly aren't totally satisfied, the bargaining teams were able to fight off unacceptable company proposals concerning health benefits and a ridiculous proposal called 'short term earnings protection,' which would have given the company full control of paid time off."
Wage increases are retroactive to April 3, 2004, and will be paid on the same date in 2005 and 2006. There are additional improvements concerning hours of work, travel conditions and expenses, promotions and transfers and differential payments, Gurganus said.