Anybody else work for the telephone company?

[BC]

I work for one of the big telephone companies and we have a union. Our contract expires the 7th of August. Not to start a debate over organized labor, but just wondered if anyone else has had a union contract renewed recently and if so, how did you come out as far as healthcare benefits, wages, etc.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Our contract expred last August, we worked without one for about 2 months, until we signed a 5 year deal. Our healthcare and benefits more or less stayed the same. As far as wages we received a 3% lump sum last October and then 2% wage ioncrease every year for the next 4 years. Are you CWA?

 

[jfulcer]

My brother works for SBC in the suburbs of Chicago and they just recently were set to go on strike but was averted at the last moment with a deal. My brother is the shops union steward so he woulda probably mentioned to me if they got the shaft. It sounds like he was ok with it...

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I worked for "Ma" for 32 years (craft) now retired...my DH still works as manager said the company is going to push hard over the Health Care, trying to have employes pay much more. The managers have been paying for a few years now...He is planning on working mega overtime as he is one of the only managers in his center that knows how to actually do the work. Has worked his way up...outside/central office/testing tech/manager. Most managers don't want a work stoppage, because if craft doesn't get a good wage increases nither do they.

Good luck hope your local gets a great contract.

 

[Mercy]

Originally posted by dcgrumpy
Our contract expred last August, we worked without one for about 2 months, until we signed a 5 year deal. Our healthcare and benefits more or less stayed the same. As far as wages we received a 3% lump sum last October and then 2% wage ioncrease every year for the next 4 years. Are you CWA?

DH was involved in the same contract dispute last year. I'm just thankful that they never actually went out on strike. The strike of 2000 (almost 3 weeks I think) took a long time to recover from. We were actually in WDW when they called the strike, boy was that stressful for DH

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I was in that same situation last August working without the contract as dcgrumpy so same outcome, IBEW here.

 

[BC]

I have 31 yrs with "Ma" tomorrow!! I knew that SBC got a pretty good deal and we were hoping for the same, but the last update sure does not look good. Healthcare is the big deal and it looks like we are gonna get it stuck to us big time if something doesn't change in the next week. Of course, they always wait until the last minute to offer anything good. My husband is also retired with 31 years as management and he was having to pay for his insurance until we got married as I am craft and now he is on mine. He really pushed me to retire before this contract was up, but I haven't done it. Sure hope I didn't make a big mistake. I guess I could go in next week and sign the line to leave right then! I really don't forsee a strike. I think they will come thru with something right before the deadline.

 

[dcgrumpy]

They've been threatening to change our healthcare since 88' when we went on strike for 4 months.

 

[candykisses]

I work for an independent phone company. We belong to CWA Local 13000. I am the clerical rep and and on the negotiating team. Our contact is up Oct 1.

We had our first meeting last Thurs to exchange proposals, but the company didn't come to the table with any demands, so we didn't exchange.

They did a presentation on how bad the market is, the high cost healthcare, the need for employees to be flexibile, retirees living longer... yadda yadda yadda.

We meet again Sept 7. I don't think this will be an easy contract to negotiate, but I'm hopeful that we'll be able to get a contract that we can live with.