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Verizon Buried Service Pact Boosts Pay and Benefits
CWA has settled on a new agreement on behalf of about 200 members employed by the Verizon Buried Service Wire Group, bringing them fully paid health care premiums, new dental and 401(k) retirement savings plans, and other gains. The package, combined with raises every six months, is valued at 16 percent over the three-year term of the contract.
The agreement is the second negotiated for this former GTE unit, which works with underground cable throughout the United States in all areas outside Verizon's home service region.
The bargaining committee is recommending ratification, and T.O. Moses, CWA vice president for Telecommunications, said locals were asked to report vote tallies to his office by Feb. 28.
"New work coming in has enabled the company to pay better and we have received assurances that Verizon is shifting away from the use of contract workers," Moses said. "Management admitted it has not hired as many employees as expected three years ago, but we're hoping that before this contract expires, it will cover 1,000 union employees."
John Howard, assistant to Moses, said that in bargaining, the unions were able to demonstrate how hiring full-time workers will be more cost-effective than the continued use of contractors. "Because contractors lack commitment to the company and because they are inadequately trained, the work they perform often has to be redone by our members," Howard said.
The pact brings wage increases over term of between 12.5 percent and 13.5 percent for locator titles and 13.5 percent for technicians. Progression to reach top pay is shortened from 60 to 48 months. Additional "market adjustments," or location pay, will go into effect upon ratification.
Verizon will pay 100 percent of all medical plan premiums, including employee-plus-one and family coverage currently covered at only 75 percent, and for dental coverage, beginning Jan. 1, 2002, 100 percent of premiums for employees and 50 percent for partners and dependents. The company will match 66 cents on the dollar for up to 6 percent of pay that employees contribute to a new 401(k) savings plan.
Serving on the CWA bargaining committee with Moses and Howard were Presidents Faye Liebermann of CWA Local 3372; Ron Anderson, Local 4770; Mike Simmons, Local 6171; and Mike Crowell, Local 9588.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which negotiated jointly with CWA, settled on a similar pact for its members.
The agreement is the second negotiated for this former GTE unit, which works with underground cable throughout the United States in all areas outside Verizon's home service region.
The bargaining committee is recommending ratification, and T.O. Moses, CWA vice president for Telecommunications, said locals were asked to report vote tallies to his office by Feb. 28.
"New work coming in has enabled the company to pay better and we have received assurances that Verizon is shifting away from the use of contract workers," Moses said. "Management admitted it has not hired as many employees as expected three years ago, but we're hoping that before this contract expires, it will cover 1,000 union employees."
John Howard, assistant to Moses, said that in bargaining, the unions were able to demonstrate how hiring full-time workers will be more cost-effective than the continued use of contractors. "Because contractors lack commitment to the company and because they are inadequately trained, the work they perform often has to be redone by our members," Howard said.
The pact brings wage increases over term of between 12.5 percent and 13.5 percent for locator titles and 13.5 percent for technicians. Progression to reach top pay is shortened from 60 to 48 months. Additional "market adjustments," or location pay, will go into effect upon ratification.
Verizon will pay 100 percent of all medical plan premiums, including employee-plus-one and family coverage currently covered at only 75 percent, and for dental coverage, beginning Jan. 1, 2002, 100 percent of premiums for employees and 50 percent for partners and dependents. The company will match 66 cents on the dollar for up to 6 percent of pay that employees contribute to a new 401(k) savings plan.
Serving on the CWA bargaining committee with Moses and Howard were Presidents Faye Liebermann of CWA Local 3372; Ron Anderson, Local 4770; Mike Simmons, Local 6171; and Mike Crowell, Local 9588.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which negotiated jointly with CWA, settled on a similar pact for its members.