SuperMedia Bargaining 2012: Report from January 23, 2012 Meeting

As a follow up to SuperMedia's Benefits overview to CWA's bargaining team last week, the Company presented its retrogressive benefits proposal on Monday. The Company's proposals to the Union included a package of healthcare plan reductions at a higher cost to employees, freezing pensions for those who currently have them, severely reducing their 401(k) match, and significantly reducing the severance and the short term disability payments.

On the bright side, SuperMedia proposed changing contract language reflecting the current (but improved during the life of the current contract) practices for paying Short Term Disability and reimbursing telecommunications expenses.

Unfortunately that "good news" was offset by their proposal to eliminate the flat transportation (car) allowance and require all employees to participate in the Runzheimer plan.

After SuperMedia responded to a series of clarifying questions from the Union's bargaining team, the meeting was adjourned for the day. Several days next week have been set aside to continue the negotiations for a new labor agreement. The Union plans to begin presenting its proposals for improvements on Tuesday.

You may want to take some time to express to your managers how you feel about their proposal that you begin paying more for less medical coverage in the future.

REMEMBER

TOGETHER WE BARGAIN
DIVIDED WE BEG