CenturyLink of Northwest AR ? Bargaining Report #6

Today the joint committees met again to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract. The Union’s committee met on Wednesday to try and package some of the outstanding issues with the Union making movement off of their position hoping that the Company would make movement from their position from the last meeting. Language from Company representatives explaining the Healthcare Proposal was proposed by the Union in an effort to take that issue off the table. It was met with the same negativity and sarcasm that your Union committee has come to expect from this round of negotiations.

When we met today with the company, there was absolutely NO MOVEMENT from their side. They were NOT WILLING to embrace any of the changes that the Union brought forth even though the members overwhelmingly rejected the Company’s Last, Best, and Final offer that was mailed out in October.

The Union feels that the Company’s hard stance and refusal to negotiate is just a tactic to bust the Union in Arkansas. In a last ditch effort to reach an agreement that the employees can ratify, the Union is requesting mediation. The Union Negotiating Committee is being supported by the National T&T office by Lois Grimes-Patow, as well as Vice President Ralph Maly.

The New York Stock Exchange showed $1.17/per share increase on the CenturyLink stock update today, just FYI. However, they continue to say we are in a “recessionary” period.

STAY STRONG! STAY UNITED! MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND KEEP THE SUPPORT GOING! PARTICIPATE IN THE MOBILIZATION THAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR UNITS!!!!

Your CenturyLink of Central & Northwest AR Bargaining Committees

UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG!!!