Consolidated Communications Bargaining Report #2

The Company and Union met in full sessions February 11th – 13th and again this week on Tuesday with plans to meet again on Thursday.

The Company initially presented 9 proposals covering Article 11 Work Schedules, Article 19 Overtime/Premium Pay (On-call), Article 23 Short Term and Long Term Disability, a new title on House Utilities Attendant, and Healthcare.

The Union presented 19 proposals covering a significant wage increase, improvements in compensation on differentials and overtime/premium pay, the addition of Christmas Eve as holiday and new language on Perfect Attendance, improvements in Life Insurance including an option to retain coverage post retirement and the addition of  Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage, reductions in employee contributions towards healthcare, renewal of all Memorandums of Understanding on PMEI, Responsible Union-Company Relationship, and Employees with hourly rates above the top of the wage scale, new language on OST Assistant, and Article 17 Vacation - vacation weeks take precedence over the on-call schedule, 

The Company and Union spent time daily discussing each proposal in detail and exchanging information as needed.  On February 12th, time was spent discussing the creation of a Business Systems department in the Katy group based on the feedback from the bargaining unit collected in preparation for bargaining.  A mutual decision was reached to table the discussion until the next Common Interest Forum which will be held late March to further explore the business needs and training concerns around creating a new department.

On February 12th, the Company presented a package for settlement.  The Union requested a recess and presented counter offers the next morning to which the Company responded. The Union presented a Counter offer in the afternoon for settlement.  The Company requested time to research the Union proposal offered on Healthcare and it was mutually agreed to reconvene on the morning of February 18th.

Both Committees met and worked on reaching a tentative agreement until 7:00 PM last night.  The Union requested time to review the proposal on Healthcare which includes changing the plan design to the non-bargained model (higher deductibles) with an offset of establishing Wellness Accounts for each plan type.  Your Union Bargaining Committee is spending the day reviewing the proposal in detail and will reconvene meeting tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM with the Company Committee.

In Unity,

Stephanie Collier, CWA Representative, Chair
Darrell Novark, President Local 6218
Mario Lopez, Elected Member Local 6218