Fidium Bargaining Update #3 for Katy, Texas

Tentative Agreement Reached!!!!

After significant negotiations, the Katy Bargaining Unit team is pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with Fidium Manager Services, LLC.

This agreement is designed to provide a stable, long-term path for our workforce by integrating into a larger contract while securing consistent wage growth and protecting hard-earned seniority. The highlights of this transition include:

• Effective Date: With a ratification vote by March 13, 2026, the Katy Bargaining Unit will officially merge into the Lufkin & Conroe unit on April 1, 2026.
• Wages: New wage schedules take effect April 5, 2026, with a plan to fully equalize all Katy wages to Lufkin & Conroe levels by April 2029.
  • Total Average Increase: Across job titles, the workforce will see an average total wage increase of approximately $17.8% over the life of the transition period.
  • Frequency: Unlike traditional annual raises, these increases are structured as semi-annual steps (every 6 months), providing faster access to higher pay.
  • Cable Locators: These employees will transition directly into the OST classification on April 5, 2026, and will be placed at Step 6 of the new schedule, regardless of their previous pay level.
• Seniority: All employees will keep their seniority during this transition.
• Vacation:
  • 2026 vacation schedules already selected for 2026 will be honored.
  • No employee will lose a vacation week during the transition to the new service milestones.
  • Vacation will move from an "accrual" (earning as you go) to an "allotment" (upfront) process.
• Holidays: Katy employees will transition to the Lufkin & Conroe holiday schedule.

DW/cm
opeiu#13