Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Contract Ratification

An explanation meeting was held for the membership on the Tentative Agreement between Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative and Communications Workers of America, Local 6012 on Friday, October 29, 2010 at Kamo Building in Vinita Oklahoma, from 6:00-9:00 PM.  The membership ratified the Agreement.

Highlights of the Agreement include: Article 6 – Work Schedules, Overtime and On-Call. New Language: Section 4B.  All qualified employees with less than thirty (30) years of service shall be placed on a rotating schedule for on-call assignment.  An employee, who has completed thirty (30) years of service or more, shall request in writing to their department manager if they wish to be scheduled for on-call assignment.

Article 15 – Group Insurance – New Language: The parties agree there will be no diminishment of insurance benefits that are within the control of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative excluding any changes and/or modifications set forth by National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) or applicable law.

Section 2 – The Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative may offer a high deductible plan (HDHP).

Section 3 – Premium amounts effective January 1st of each year:

2011 2012 2013 2014

Company 87.0% 85.0% 83.0% 81.0%

Employee 13.0% 15.0% 17.0% 19.0%

Section 4 – Effective as of November 1, 2010, for any newly disabled employee, the Cooperative pays 100% of the costs of the disabled employee’s participating in available group life, medical, dental, vision, and retirement programs for individual, spouse and/or dependent coverage after becoming disabled as determined by the insurance carrier, as follows: For zero (0) through six (6) completed years of service, six (6) months; for seven (7) completed years or more of service, one (1) additional month for each completed year of service, or upon the employee who has become disabled reaches their Normal Retirement Date, which ever occurs first; otherwise the disabled employee pays 100% of the costs.  The Cooperative shall make no further consideration to the disabled employee’s HAS account while receiving LTD benefits.

Article 18 – Reimbursement of Expenses – New Language: Section 3A

An employee assigned to the surdary shall only be allowed an M&IE per diem of $38.00 per day for each day associated with an overnight stay.  In accordance with IRS regulations the first and last day of travel shall be paid at 75% of the above rate in lieu of detailed accounting of these expenses.

Article 29 – Duration 3½ year Agreement (Expiration June 1, 2014)

Wages – Wages increase in line with industry standards and continue to close gap in two tier system.

Tier 1 wages range from 2.75% year 1, 3.00% year 2, 3.25% year 3, 3.00% year 4

Tier 2 wages range from 1.90% year 1, 3.25% year 2, 3.50% year 3, 3.50% year 4

The bargaining committee would like to thank the membership for their support during negotiations and for their vote to ratify this tentative agreement.

In Unity and Solidarity,

Your CWA Bargaining Committee

Shawn Heiller, Bryan Langley, Matt Lemons, David Holland, Dave Ratcliff and Jerrell Miller