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Solidarity Yields Three-Year Pact at Cincinnati Bell
Weeks of rallies and mobilization and a final marathon bargaining session—past the May 7 contract expiration—produced a new tentative agreement for members of CWA Locals 4400 and 4401 at Cincinnati Bell.
The agreement provides a compounded wage increase of 7.5 percent over three years and a 10 percent hike in pensions for current employees.
Management was pressing for massive givebacks in just about every area, from wages to job security and benefits, especially in health care for active and retired members, but members stayed tough, CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach said.
The agreement establishes a new health reimbursement account plan for future retirees and maintains health care costs through 2006, with moderate increases to take effect in 2007. Health care improvements include a new hearing benefit and better dental care coverage.
The contract addresses job security concerns by adding a new process to negotiate job titles and wage rates and to explore new opportunities in emerging-technology work, as well as another new process to negotiate over contracted-out work.
"Both of these provisions mean that there will be opportunities for more union work in the future than there would have been prior to this contract," said Seth Rosen, administrative assistant to Rechenbach.
"This agreement addresses many of the concerns our members expressed in their bargaining surveys," said Local 4400 President Tim Donoghue. He and Local 4401 President Edwina Davis thanked members for their solidarity in what were difficult negotiations. "I'm proud of the way our members joined together to help move negotiations forward," Davis said. "Their support made all the difference."
More than 150 CWAers, retirees and other supporters—and a 15-foot rat—turned out for the Cincinnati Bell annual meeting, where union members called on management to "get serious at the bargaining table" and asked lots of tough questions about executive compensation and recent salary increases granted to top executives.
The contract, covering more than 2,000 Cincinnati Bell workers, will be sent to members for a ratification vote by mail with results expected in June.
The agreement provides a compounded wage increase of 7.5 percent over three years and a 10 percent hike in pensions for current employees.
Management was pressing for massive givebacks in just about every area, from wages to job security and benefits, especially in health care for active and retired members, but members stayed tough, CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach said.
The agreement establishes a new health reimbursement account plan for future retirees and maintains health care costs through 2006, with moderate increases to take effect in 2007. Health care improvements include a new hearing benefit and better dental care coverage.
The contract addresses job security concerns by adding a new process to negotiate job titles and wage rates and to explore new opportunities in emerging-technology work, as well as another new process to negotiate over contracted-out work.
"Both of these provisions mean that there will be opportunities for more union work in the future than there would have been prior to this contract," said Seth Rosen, administrative assistant to Rechenbach.
"This agreement addresses many of the concerns our members expressed in their bargaining surveys," said Local 4400 President Tim Donoghue. He and Local 4401 President Edwina Davis thanked members for their solidarity in what were difficult negotiations. "I'm proud of the way our members joined together to help move negotiations forward," Davis said. "Their support made all the difference."
More than 150 CWAers, retirees and other supporters—and a 15-foot rat—turned out for the Cincinnati Bell annual meeting, where union members called on management to "get serious at the bargaining table" and asked lots of tough questions about executive compensation and recent salary increases granted to top executives.
The contract, covering more than 2,000 Cincinnati Bell workers, will be sent to members for a ratification vote by mail with results expected in June.