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Qwest Contract Extension Boosts Pensions, Wages
CWA has reached a tentative agreement with Qwest Communications and Qwest Business Resources Inc., that will extend the current contract covering 35,000 CWA members and provide wage and benefit improvements. The company was formed by the merger of US West and Qwest which was finalized in June.
CWA District 7 Vice President John Thompson said the agreement includes substantial improvements in pensions — a 16 percent increase in the pension bands over the two-year period — and an 8.5 percent wage increase over the contract term.
A major gain is the lump sum pension benefit option which will be available to workers throughout the contract and extension term, following the management formula as defined in the US West pension plan currently in effect, Thompson said.
Other improvements include extension of current retiree health provisions until Jan. 1, 2004 and an additional $400,000 grant to the Family, Work and Development Fund over the life of the extension.
Information about the proposed agreement, the lump sum option and ratification schedule has been distributed to locals. The ratification vote will be completed by Dec. 15. Following the ratification vote, CWA and Qwest will jointly seek an end to the injunction issued by a federal district court over the issue of some CWA members wearing black armbands while on the job. CWA has appealed the court’s ruling and has been working with Qwest to resolve this and related issues, Thompson noted.
Bargaining committee members were Annie Hill, chair, and LeRoy Christensen, co-chair, District 7; Linda Mulligan, EVP. Local 7777; Bill Buelt, assistant to Vice Pres., Local 7400; Fred Tricarico, EVP, Local 7800 and Rose Wegiel, EVP, Local 7803.
CWA District 7 Vice President John Thompson said the agreement includes substantial improvements in pensions — a 16 percent increase in the pension bands over the two-year period — and an 8.5 percent wage increase over the contract term.
A major gain is the lump sum pension benefit option which will be available to workers throughout the contract and extension term, following the management formula as defined in the US West pension plan currently in effect, Thompson said.
Other improvements include extension of current retiree health provisions until Jan. 1, 2004 and an additional $400,000 grant to the Family, Work and Development Fund over the life of the extension.
Information about the proposed agreement, the lump sum option and ratification schedule has been distributed to locals. The ratification vote will be completed by Dec. 15. Following the ratification vote, CWA and Qwest will jointly seek an end to the injunction issued by a federal district court over the issue of some CWA members wearing black armbands while on the job. CWA has appealed the court’s ruling and has been working with Qwest to resolve this and related issues, Thompson noted.
Bargaining committee members were Annie Hill, chair, and LeRoy Christensen, co-chair, District 7; Linda Mulligan, EVP. Local 7777; Bill Buelt, assistant to Vice Pres., Local 7400; Fred Tricarico, EVP, Local 7800 and Rose Wegiel, EVP, Local 7803.