American Red Cross - NEPA Region - Bargaining Report: December 20, 2011

Click here to read the Tentative Agreement (PDF).

CWA Local 13500 and the NEPA Region reached a new tentative labor agreement late last night.

The new agreement provides wage increases as follows: 3% beginning the first full pay period following ratification of the contract, 2.5% in July 2012 and 2.5% in July 2013. The new contract will expire in June 2014. All increases are applied to the minimum and maximum rates on the job classification schedules. Those over the maximum rate for their wage schedule will receive an equal amount in a one-time lump sum payment.

Additionally, all Nursing Technicians (NT) will receive a special increase of $1.00 per hour; and those NT’s with two or more years in the position will receive an additional 18¢ per hour increase. The minimum rate for this job classification will be increased from $11.39 to $12.39. There will be a new starting (hiring) rate established for this title at $12.00. At the completion of his or her probationary period (generally 6 months) the NT’s wage rate will move to $12.39, the new minimum for that position.

Over the past couple of years a coalition of Unions representing American Red Cross (ARC) workers, including CWA, have joined together to insure that ARC continues to provide high-quality healthcare coverage at a reasonable cost. The health care language in the new contract is, in large part, the result of this coalition’s efforts. The new rates for coverage under any of the offered medical plans in 2012 are either the same as or within a couple of dollars per month of those announced during the open enrollment period in October. (The rates announced in October were based on the language in the expired 2007 labor agreement.) During the life of the new contract your share of the monthly healthcare premium cannot increase by more than 10% over the rates you will pay in 2012. The new contract includes a listing of the actual rates that apply to all offered medical plans in 2012.

A copy of the entire package of modifications and improvements, along with a list of Highlights, will be mailed to everyone’s home over the next week. Local 13500 is attempting to schedule an explanation meeting for Sunday, January 8, 2012. Please look for confirmation of the date, place and time on the bulletin board. A ballot to approve or reject this new tentative agreement will be mailed to every member’s home early next month. It will include instructions and details of the voting process.

A complete copy of the Tentative Agreement is available by clicking on the link below:

http://files.cwa-union.org/District13/2010-redcross-cba.pdf