AT&T West, CWA hammer out three-year agreement

Only a week after AT&T and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) reached tentative contract deal covering about 8,000 legacy wireline employees, AT&T West and CWA District 9 have finalized a three-year agreement. Passed by a three-to-one margin, the new agreement affects approximately 22,000 wireline employees who reside in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Meanwhile, negotiations between AT&T and the CWA continue for new contracts covering around 65,000 at AT&T East (CWA Local 1298), Southeast (CWA District 3) and Southwest (CWA District 6).

"This agreement achieves members' key goals: it maintains our members' standard of living, safeguards quality health care for workers and retirees, and enhances employment security," said CWA District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp in a press release. "Considering we are in the worst recession in history, this agreement reflects real gains and positive accomplishments for workers."

Under the terms of the agreement, CWA-represented workers will get a 9 percent pay increase with cost of living adjustments. What's more, the agreement includes a 2 percent pension band increase with cost of living adjustments. On the health care front, workers will get fully-funded preventative care and company-funded health reimbursement accounts for any eligible health care expense. In addition, premise technicians will see wage increases, employment security gains and work rule protections.

For more:
- see the CWA release here

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