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Sprint Settlement in N.J., Struggle in Virginia
About 80 striking Local 1101 members in Clinton, N.J., returned to work at Sprint-New Jersey on June 2, after ratifying an agreement similar to those won by 3,700 Sprint workers in seven other bargaining units earlier this year. The pacts raise wages by an average of 9 percent over three years.
Meanwhile, CWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Sprint-Virginia for attempting to declare an impasse in negotiations two hours prior to expiration of the old contract, after having proposed only one "package for settlement." The company would impose several retrogressive demands on about 80 members of Local 2277 in Martinsville.
The settlement in New Jersey came after Sprint softened its demand to cut total available sick time. The company earlier imposed both reduced sick leave and additional wait days on its non-union employees and proposed the same restrictions to its CWA-represented workers, provoking the five-week strike.
In addition, Sprint-New Jersey workers won the option to continue in their current indemnity health care plan or to enroll in Sprint's FlexCare Plan, which will provide more cost-effective benefits for some members. Pressure from the strike also persuaded Sprint to drop its demand for temporary layoffs without severance pay, said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications.
Local 1101 Business Agent Pat LaScala thanked District 1 locals that contributed to an Adopt-a-Striker Fund to assist the New Jersey workers and Sprint locals nationwide that contributed directly to the local to aid the strikers.
Virginia Settlement Elusive
At 10 p.m. on May 31 - two hours prior to contract expiration - Sprint Virginia still had proposals on the bargaining table unacceptable to CWA. That's when the company attempted to declare an impasse. Sprint Virginia wants to eliminate protections against the use of contract labor and take upon itself the authority to impose temporary layoffs. It would also reduce sick pay and impose "corrective actions" for sick absence. The layoff clause was proposed by Sprint and later withdrawn in earlier negotiations with other units, Gurganus said.
CWA Representative Jack Dotson, bargaining for the workers along with Local 2277 President Russell Wells and Vice President Nathan Harkey, said that Sprint's use of contract workers is one of several key issues unresolved. "Of the 80 people in this bargaining unit, 60 of them have 25 years of service or more. The unit would be wiped out in 10 years if the company had its way."
On June 19, CWA filed its charge with the National Labor Relations Board that "the employer has refused to bargain in good faith by refusing to provide information that the union needs for collective bargaining negotiations. The employer has also attempted to deal directly with bargaining unit members in captive audience meetings and has interfered with the employee's rights to deal with the employer through their exclusive representative."
Meanwhile, CWA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Sprint-Virginia for attempting to declare an impasse in negotiations two hours prior to expiration of the old contract, after having proposed only one "package for settlement." The company would impose several retrogressive demands on about 80 members of Local 2277 in Martinsville.
The settlement in New Jersey came after Sprint softened its demand to cut total available sick time. The company earlier imposed both reduced sick leave and additional wait days on its non-union employees and proposed the same restrictions to its CWA-represented workers, provoking the five-week strike.
In addition, Sprint-New Jersey workers won the option to continue in their current indemnity health care plan or to enroll in Sprint's FlexCare Plan, which will provide more cost-effective benefits for some members. Pressure from the strike also persuaded Sprint to drop its demand for temporary layoffs without severance pay, said Jimmy Gurganus, CWA vice president for Telecommunications.
Local 1101 Business Agent Pat LaScala thanked District 1 locals that contributed to an Adopt-a-Striker Fund to assist the New Jersey workers and Sprint locals nationwide that contributed directly to the local to aid the strikers.
Virginia Settlement Elusive
At 10 p.m. on May 31 - two hours prior to contract expiration - Sprint Virginia still had proposals on the bargaining table unacceptable to CWA. That's when the company attempted to declare an impasse. Sprint Virginia wants to eliminate protections against the use of contract labor and take upon itself the authority to impose temporary layoffs. It would also reduce sick pay and impose "corrective actions" for sick absence. The layoff clause was proposed by Sprint and later withdrawn in earlier negotiations with other units, Gurganus said.
CWA Representative Jack Dotson, bargaining for the workers along with Local 2277 President Russell Wells and Vice President Nathan Harkey, said that Sprint's use of contract workers is one of several key issues unresolved. "Of the 80 people in this bargaining unit, 60 of them have 25 years of service or more. The unit would be wiped out in 10 years if the company had its way."
On June 19, CWA filed its charge with the National Labor Relations Board that "the employer has refused to bargain in good faith by refusing to provide information that the union needs for collective bargaining negotiations. The employer has also attempted to deal directly with bargaining unit members in captive audience meetings and has interfered with the employee's rights to deal with the employer through their exclusive representative."