ITS Bargaining Update: May 9, 2016

The Union and Company have met three times over the past three weeks to reach a mutually agreeable settlement to our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). During our discussions, both sides have raised several issues of concern. Both sides have been willing to listen to the other and to seek solutions that meet each other’s needs.

The Union presented a proposal for a wage increase that would reach back to April 2015 when the previous contract expired. It also proposed a way to maintain and stabilize health care costs. (The Company’s unilateral change in the health care plan was a source of conflict that resulted in the Union’s challenging the Company’s actions through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).)

Both of these issues were identified as important to CWA members through our bargaining survey.

Additionally, the Union is seeking a three year contract, improvements in layoff allowance and to clarify which paid time-off counts in the work week buildup toward overtime pay.

ITS also presented the Union with issues important to it. The primary concern expressed by the Company was the loss of work to the IBEW. It also presented concerns over the escalating cost of providing health care benefits. Additionally, ITS presented proposals to reduce or eliminate bereavement payments for specific relations, to increase the number of employees it can retain without regard to seniority during a layoff, to be permitted to terminate the employment of employees with less than 180 days for any reason, and to correct how “Shift Differential” payments are calculated.

Both parties left the bargaining table on May 5th feeling that all issues had been voiced and that each party had given respectful consideration to that other’s valid concerns. The Union requested additional documentation regarding the current medical plan. Once those documents are received and the Union has had sufficient time to analyze this data, it will present the Company with an offer of settlement covering all issues discussed.

This report and all future updates can be found at: district2-13.cwa-union.org and on Local 13500’s website at: cwalocal13500.com.