ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 23, 1996 TAG: 9601230070
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Communications Workers of America said Monday its tentative labor agreement with Bell Atlantic Corp. includes a 10.6 percent pay raise over three years, improved job security and fully paid health care for retirees through 2001.
The three-year pact with the regional telephone company was reached Jan. 12, but details initially were withheld pending resolution of local issues. It still needs ratification by the company's 34,400 CWA employees, about 6,500 of whom work in Virginia.
Bell Atlantic serves about 12 million customers in Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia.
In announcing the contract provisions, CWA President Morton Bahr said they meet ``our major goals in bargaining throughout the telecommunications industry - access to future jobs, a fair wage and benefit package, and protection of retiree health care.''
The pay package includes increases of 3.3 percent retroactive to Dec. 31, 1995, 3.6 percent effective Dec. 31, 1996, and 3.7 percent at the beginning of the final year. It also provides for a ratification bonus of $1,500 and profit-sharing payments of at least $300 in 1997 and 1998.
Job security had been a major sticking point during the contentious five-month negotiations. The union said Bell Atlantic agreed to union representation for new jobs associated with wiring homes for interactive cable TV services. The company also agreed to eliminate outside contracting of copper cable splicing.
The CWA estimated the security provisions would mean hundreds of new union-covered jobs.
The pact also provides that, before outside technicians are laid off, subcontractors providing the same type of work will be eliminated.
The contract boosts future pension benefits by 12 percent and increases benefits for workers already on pension rolls by 4 percent.
The workers represented by the CWA, Bell Atlantic's largest union, have been without a contract since the old one expired Aug. 5, 1995. Although the union had threatened to strike, workers remained on the job.
The union opted instead on an advertising blitz focusing on the company's growing use of outside contract workers, which CWA linked to declining service, and the company's initial demand to shift health care costs to retirees.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB