New Cingular Wireless Contract in Puerto Rico

Cingular Wireless workers in Puerto Rico, members of Local 3010, ratified a new 4-year contract that improves wages and holidays and establishes a Strategic Alliance Committee to address issues important to the members between bargaining.

The contract covers about 520 customer care, sales and other workers.

The agreement provides for wage increases of 11.7 percent (compounded) over the contract term plus $600 in signing bonuses. It adds two additional floating holidays and increases severance pay from the previous maximum of $1,750 to $12,000.

Improvements in the arbitration process include expedited hearings and provisions calling for cases to be handled in Spanish.

A new Strategic Alliance Committee, a joint committee of management and workers from sales, network and customer care. will take up such issues as training, job slotting, quotas and other concerns.

Angelo Andujar, president of CWA Local 3010, commended the bargaining committee for its hard work in negotiating the agreement and answering members' questions about the settlement.

"This agreement makes real improvements in salaries and other benefits. In addition, the changes in the grievance and arbitration process will go a long way in helping members address their job concerns," he said.

The bargaining committee members were Javier Torres and Heriberto Lopez, Local 3010 stewards; Betty Witte, administrative assistant to CWA District 3 Vice President Noah Savant; Jorge Rodriguez, District 3 staff representative, Puerto Rico; Karen Murphy, District 3 staff representative and Angelo Andujar, CWA Local 3010 president.