CenturyLink Bargaining Update # 7

We have been in recess form bargaining since 5pm on Friday 05/22/15. Members of the company bargaining team are on vacation for the Memorial Day week. We are awaiting information on data requests we made on 5/22 that were promised to be sent to us no later than Monday June 1st.

After discussions with other Locals across the country it appears the company has the same action plan in all locations. Which is freeze your pensions, no pensions for new hires, no increase to existing 401k match, no protections against layoffs, no limit to use of contractors, reduce allowance on safety shoes, reduce allowance on safety glasses, no changes in healthcare to at least restore the pre-2015 copay amounts and the list goes on…….

Once we have received the information we requested we will advise the company that we desire to continue bargaining on the issue we continuously placed on the table. If they refuse to do so or do not offer acceptable dates we can move in different directions at that time but please understand that the company began our bargaining session by stating that if we could not reach an agreement by expiration date they wanted to extend the current contract with the right by either party to cancel with 10 days advance notice to the other.

They are taking a cookie cutter approach to only offer to each local what was ratified in previous contracts with other units. CWA has continuously told their bargaining team if they want these items to all be the same nationwide then they need to bargain a nationwide contract with all CenturyLink employees.

We will update you as more information becomes available to us. Please watch your email and the website www.cwalocal2204.org for information.

WE WILL NOT GO BACK AND ALLOW THEM TO TAKE EVERYTHING WE HAVE BARGINED OVER PREVIOUS YEARS.

STAY STRONG-STAY UNITED

Your Bargaining Team

Dan, Carol and Chuck

For more information, visit: www.cwalocal2204.org