CenturyLink of Arkansas Bargaining Report - Tentative Agreement

Sisters and Brothers,

After intense and determined bargaining, your CWA Bargaining Committee is proud to report that we have reached a Tentative Agreement with the Company. Listed below are some, but not all of the highlights of what was achieved at the bargaining table:

1.            2 additional Personal Holidays

2.            $150 Safety Footwear Allowance

3.            Double time pay for the Northwest Employees

4.            Per Diem Meal Allowance increase

5.            Aunt and Uncle added to the Funeral Leave Article

6.            Increase in Night Differential

7.            Increase in on-call pay

8.            Able to retain the Lump Sum Pension payout

9.            Able to retain VEBA/Retiree Healthcare

10.          General Wage Increases and Lump Sum Payments for each of the 3 years of the agreement

                                a. 2015: 2% and $500 Lump Sum

                                b. 2016: 2% and $500 Lump Sum

c. 2017: 2% and $500 Lump Sum

11.          Able to achieve a General Wage Increase and Annual Lump Sum Payment for the Structure Loader Title (classification 3A) that has not had a GWI since 2006

                                 a. 2015: 1% and $500 Lump Sum

                                 b. 2016: 1% and $500 Lump Sum

                                 c. 2017: 1% and $500 Lump Sum

12.          Was able to successfully merge the Northwest and Central contracts to a single agreement

A Town Hall Call will be scheduled to do a full contract explanation. Please check back for the date and time later this week. The Bargaining Committee thanks you for your support while at the bargaining table while trying to achieve the items that were submitted on the bargaining surveys while also fighting off multiple retrogressive proposals presented by the Company. Your Committee UNANIMOUSLY recommends this Tentative Agreement for ratification.

In Unity,

Your Local 6171 CenturyLink Bargaining Committee