AT&T (NYSE: T) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have worked out two tentative agreements covering DirecTV employees in 14 states.
One agreement covers over 1,600 employees in the company's field services group, located in 14 states. The other contract covers about 1,300 employees working in call centers in Boise, Idaho and Missoula, Montana.
Former DirecTV employees covered under these contracts joined AT&T when the telco purchased the pay-TV provider in July 2015.
The new agreements with the IBEW-represented workers focus on a series of issues including wages, health care, pension, and work rules.
Both of the new proposals will be submitted to the union's membership in the coming days for a vote.
Being able to work out an agreement with the union that represents its DirecTV unit is important for AT&T, particularly as it looks to grow the satellite TV provider.
In addition to this agreement with the IBEW, AT&T is in the process of negotiating new contracts with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) covering over 16,000 employees in three of the telco's East and West states.
However, trouble is brewing in AT&T's wireless division.
A group of 40,000 union members of the nation's second-largest mobile network operator rejected a proposed benefits contract that was completed in June between AT&T and representatives of the CWA. Similar to its wireline contract negotiations, the wireless four-year contract covers health care benefits for AT&T Mobility workers while other agreements address issues such as wages and pensions.
For more:
- see the release
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