News

Atlantic Broadband Tentative Agreement Update

20 Oct, 2010

Contract negotiations resumed on Monday, October 18, 2010 in Blairsville. The Company and Union met with a Federal Mediator to discuss the status of bargaining and issues which needed to be resolved in order to reach a tentative agreement.

At the conclusion of negotiations the Company and Union reached a tentative agreement. The details are as follows:

1. The contract will be for the term Oct 1, 2010 – Sep 30, 2013.

2. Article 6- Adjustment of Grievances
a. Changes in the grievance procedure time limits.

3. Article 9- Seniority
a. Language to address force reductions allowing bumping.
b. Also removing from the Job Posting pay ranges (no longer needed because of the wage scale) and date which the job will begin.

4. Article 13- Wages and Job Classifications
a. Bilingual CCRs are in their own classification for all purposes including but not limited to overtime, layoff/recall, weekly, vacation and holiday scheduling.
b. Work in a higher paid classification will be rounded to the next halfhour.

5. Article 15- Hours of Work and Overtime
a. In the technical department, for the months of March through October the hours will be 7am-9pm and for November through February it will be 7am- 7:30pm.
b. Technical and CCRs who are not normally scheduled to work on Sunday will be compensated at double time, provided the minimum 40 hours have been worked.
c. CCRs that are normally scheduled to work on Sunday and are required to return back to work after they have completed their normally scheduled shift will be compensated at double time. Consecutive overtime will be paid at time and one-half provided the minimum 40 hours have been worked.
d. Shift differential will increase to $1.40 effective 1/1/2012.
e. Standby for weekdays increased from $17 to $20 per day.

6. Article 16- Holiday Pay
a. Effective 1/1/11, all employees will receive four floating holidays each calendar year.
b. Technical employees must give 1 week notice before taking the floating holiday. CCRs must give 24 hours notice before taking the floating holiday.
c. Clarification on how holidays are handled depending on your regular schedule and if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
d. Clarification on CCR/Bilingual CCR scheduling on a holiday.

7. Article 17-Vacation
a. Vacation scheduling for the Bilingual CCR
b. Incorporate Reserve Vacation Time Agreement into the contract.

8. Article 22- Tools and Uniforms
a. Language to allow for the reimbursement of boots and approved work related items needed by technician. The reimbursement will be a maximum of $175 per calendar year.

9. Article 25- Cable Service
a. Language to include all services consistent with Company policy.

10. Article 38- Educational Reimbursement; Wage Increases
a. Allows for the Company to create their own Company specific training and offer those as an alternative or in conjunction with NCTI courses. These courses will give at $.25 hourly increase upon successful completion.

11. Wages
a. Scales

INSTALLER Current 1/1/2011 1/1/2012 1/1/2013

0-12 MONTHS $ 10.41 $ 10.31 $ 10.31 $ 10.31

13-24 MONTHS $10.31 $ 10.75 $ 10.75 $ 10.75

25-36 MONTHS $ 10.49 $ 11.29 $ 11.29 $ 11.29

37-48 MONTHS $ 11.29 $ 11.90 $ 11.90 $ 11.90

49-60 MONTHS $ 12.12 $ 12.50 $ 13.11 $ 13.11

61-72 MONTHS $ 13.11 $ 13.11 $ 14.02 $ 14.02

73-84 MONTHS $14.02 $ 14.02 $ 16.92 $ 17.43

85+ MONTHS $ 16.43 $ 16.43*

DM TECHNICIAN Current 1/1/2011 1/1/2012 1/1/2013

0-12 MONTHS $ 11.12 $ 11.12 $ 11.12 $ 11.12

13-24 MONTHS $ 12.48 $ 12.48 $ 12.48 $ 12.48

25-36 MONTHS $ 13.81 $ 13.81 $ 13.81 $ 13.81

37-48 MONTHS $ 15.14 $ 15.14 $ 15.14 $ 15.14

49-60 MONTHS $ 16.76 $ 16.76 $ 16.76 $ 16.76

61-72 MONTHS $ 18.66 $ 18.66 $ 18.66 $ 18.66

73+ MONTHS $ 21.46 $ 21.46* $ 22.10 $ 22.76

PM TECHNICIAN Current 1/1/2011 1/1/2012 1/1/2013

0-12 MONTHS $ 12.00 $ 12.00 $ 12.00 $ 12.00

13-24 MONTHS $ 13.56 $ 13.56 $ 13.56 $ 13.56

25-36 MONTHS $ 15.13 $ 15.13 $ 15.13 $ 15.13

37-48 MONTHS $ 16.70 $ 16.70 $ 16.70 $ 16.70

49-60 MONTHS $ 18.51 $ 18.51 $ 18.51 $ 18.51

61-72 MONTHS $ 20.70 $ 20.70 $ 20.70 $ 20.70

73+ MONTHS $ 24.00 $ 24.00* $ 24.72 $ 25.46

CCR Current 1/1/2011 1/1/2012 1/1/2013

0-12 MONTHS $ 9.28 $ 9.91 $ 9.91 $ 9.91

13-24 MONTHS $ 9.91 $ 10.60 $ 10.60 $ 10.60

25-36 MONTHS $ 10.60 $ 11.10 $ 11.10 $ 11.10

37-48 MONTHS $ 11.47 $ 11.75 $ 11.75 $ 11.75

49-60 MONTHS $ 12.53 $ 12.53 $ 13.00 $ 13.00

61-72 MONTHS $ 13.57 $ 13.57 $ 14.53 $ 14.53

73-84 MONTHS $ 14.53 $ 14.53 $ 17.07 $ 17.58

85+ MONTHS $ 16.57 $ 16.57*

b. *Top of the Scale Employees: Within two weeks after ratification, a one time payment of $1,000.00 less withholdings shall be made to each employee who has reached top rate of their classification by that date.
c. DMs in Progression: Within two weeks after ratification, a one time payment of $350.00 less withholdings shall be made to each employee who is in progression by that date.
d. Installers and CCRs in Progression: The wage scale has been shortened by one year for each Installer and CCR who won’t reach top of the scale by the end of this contract.

12. Ratification:
a. This tentative agreement is being recommended for ratification.
b. If this is ratified by Wednesday, October 27, 2010, every employee will receive an additional ratification bonus of $250.00 less withholdings.
c. If this is not ratified the entire tentative agreement will be withdrawn by the Company.

The contract explanation and ratification vote will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 at the AFSME Council 83 Union Hall (161 Patchway Road, Duncansville, PA). The contract explanation will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the ratification vote will take place at 8:30 p.m.

Submitted by:
Unit 31 Bargaining Committee