CenturyLink Kansas/Missouri Bargaining Report #4

The Union (CWA) and Company (CenturyLink) met Tuesday, January 31, 2012, all day and into the night.
The Union and Company agreed to the following Proposals; No Strike, Short Term Disability, Work Rules and Recognition and Incentive.  With a midnight deadline approaching the Company withdrew their Bridging and Combining Job Title proposals.
However, we were not able to reach an agreement due in part to the Company’s retrogressive proposals (Use of Contractors, Job Bidding and Job Classifications).  The Company continued to show “No Interest” in Union proposals to employee safety, grievance procedure and 30 and out Lump Sum Pension.
The Company gave the Union a “Last Best and Final Offer”, which includes a wage increase of 1.25% in 2012, 1.25% in 2013 and 1.75% in 2014, bring Missouri hourly rates in line with Kansas rates and the Company agreed to look at the feasibility of merging the Kansas and Missouri contracts into one contract.  The “LBF” also includes all of the proposals we have agreed to. 
In addition, the Company and Union agreed to a 60 day extension of the current agreement to allow the Union time to fully review this offer with the Union Members.
Your bargaining committee will be setting up meetings with the Members as soon as practicable to fully explain the Company Offer prior to contract ratification ballots being mailed out.
I want to personally thank the bargaining committee for all of their hard work during this round of negotiations.
In Solidarity,
A.J. Villegas                                                                                                                                                                            CWA Representative