CenturyLink Bargaining 2011: Report # 1

During the first week of negotiations, the Union and Company bargaining committees met on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 18, 19 and 20, 2011.

On the first day of bargaining, the Company presented 24 proposals, six of which were tentatively agreed to and a few were merely date and name changes. The remainder of them can be fairly characterized as retrogressive and intentionally designed to standardize contract language across the entire company.

The Union presented six of its proposals consisting of improvements language that took rising costs over the last three years into consideration. One was tentatively agreed to.

On day two, the Company stated they weren’t interested in one Union proposal. The Union presented one Request for Information, six new proposals and two counter proposals. There were three tentative agreements.

On the third day of bargaining, the Union stated they weren’t interested in one Company proposal, presented one new proposal and four counter proposals to the Company.

The Company proposed one new proposal. However, after the Union questioned the intent of the wording and asked for clarification, the Company withdrew it.

The Company stated they were working on the answers to the Union’s Request for Information and would provide them as they became available. Some were supplied on October 21.

Bargaining resumed on today, October 25, 2011. There are also sessions scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, October 26-27, 2011.

Stand Strong • Stand United