October Bargaining Round-Up

CenturyLink - Butler, PA

UPDATED 10/29/2020: A Tentative Agreement has been reached with CenturyLink. Read the latest report for details, and attend the ratification vote on Monday, November 2 at 5:30PM!

In the latest update from the CWA Local 13000 Bargaining Committee, the Team reports:

The contract expires on Saturday, October 31 and we continue to inch closer to a new agreement that we can bring to you to vote on. Today we made substantial progress on proposals that improve holiday language, call out procedures and others. We also had our first discussions on wages. We still have a lot to accomplish to secure a fair contract and will be meeting with the company throughout the next three days in an effort to complete that task. Please contact your Rep with any questions about this round of bargaining.

Read the full report. 

Comcast Corliss

The Corliss bargaining unit ratified their Tentative Agreement! Congratulations to the CWA Local 13000 Bargaining Committee and our Corliss members. 

LifePath

CWA Local 13500 reported:

As we last reported, LifePath’s bargaining team was struggling with agreeing to a contract extension. We are pleased to announce that the issue has been resolved. As a result, the contract is extended in full force and effect, until sixty (60) days after the PA DHS provides its new funding structure for the next three (3) year cycle.

As LifePath is critically dependent on PA State funding before wage increases can be considered, this extension agreement is in the interest of all. All benefits, wages, and working conditions, including arbitration rights continue during the term of the extension.

We realize this comes with some sacrifice on your part, as no wage increases are immediately available. We simply cannot get blood from a stone.

As bargaining is now on pause, our focus must now turn to the political arena where not just the Presidential election, but the election of PA State Legislators is critically important. The lawmakers we send to Harrisburg must be supporters of working men and women. Make a plan to vote and vote for the local representatives endorsed by Labor. It is those very people that will impact us directly at our kitchen table.

Read the latest report here.

Nokia

The Nokia bargaining ratified their Tentative Agreement! CWA T&T states:

For two and a half years, CWA members at Nokia have been fighting back against the company's attempt to eliminate the bargaining unit. Their hard work paid off. The bargaining team, using all means at their disposal, filed lawsuits, NLRB charges, grievances, and arbitrations in an effort to preserve the bargaining unit. CWAers ratified a new Effects Agreement and a Collective Bargaining Agreement last week, which includes job offers for all 201 Installers in the unit with third party vendor Goodman.

These agreements extend retiree healthcare through 2027, increase pension bands by 7%, and provide the equivalent of an enhanced severance package with an additional $30,000. The Goodman contract preserves much of the same core language as the current Installation contract and protects bargaining unit work from erosion by subcontractors.

"I would like to acknowledge all of the people who worked hard to make this happen, including the Locals who made themselves available whenever we needed them," said Bargaining Chair Mary Jo Reilly. "I'd also like to acknowledge the CWA bargaining team whose knowledge, intelligence, commitment, and tenacity made them the best bargaining team for the job."

Lisa Bolton, CWA's Vice President of Telecommunications and Technologies said, "When we fight, we win! And we weren't going to give up on our members and their families.

Read the Bargaining Report here.

Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C.

The CWA Local 2336 Bargaining Committee reports that the PIW contract has been extended to January 15, 2021. Active negotiations continue.

Thyrv

CWA District 2-13, negotiating with CWA District 1, reports:

Bargaining for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) opened on Monday, October 12. The current CBA expires October 23rd.

In past bargaining sessions, the company, under its previous names (Idearc, SuperMedia and DexYP), was either seeking bankruptcy or in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings. During those sessions, while turning shareholders into bag holders, the company sought “greater flexibility” by reducing your benefits, compensation and job security as the only means necessary to turn the business around.

You would think nothing has changed as the company again submitted proposals to reduce both employee protections under the contract and slashing compensation items like Business Tool expenses. And of course, they don’t have anything to give to workers in the form of additional compensation.

Also, on Monday, the new Thryv (THRY) began trading on the NASDAQ. As Thryv is no longer privately held, they are required to publish information that was previously private. Here is some of what we learned:

As the company has demanded and imposed terms on you in the past, their Executive compensation has gone wild. Last year the Executive team was compensated a total of $45,000,000 and CEO Joseph Walsh walked off with $30,000,000 plus for himself.

To put this in perspective, the entire company has a market capitalization of $100 million and Joseph Walsh takes home 30% of the total value of the company yearly. The Board of Directors must believe that if they don’t pay Joe, he might leave.

Meanwhile, at the bargaining table it is clear that they see all of you as a drain on the profits. The company proposals are designed to reduce their commitments to you and to usher you more quickly out the door. This is the flexibility they seek. It’s hard to pay Joe, when they have to pay for so many of you.

Next time you have a zoom meeting with Joe, you will understand why he’s smiling. Ask yourself then, “Is this guy really worth $30,000,000.00?”.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice (three, four, five) times, shame on me. We will provide further updates as bargaining progresses.

Read the latest report here.