Congratulations, North Central!

Mobilization Works!

The North Central units won their new agreement with strong mobilization across the region that included practice picketing (CWA Local 4371 pictured above), a health care action day, Christmas cards to Ivan, workplace standups, wearing stickers and t-shirts, and much more.  Great work!

Highlights of the tentative agreement include:

• Lump-sum payment of 4% at ratification
• General wage increases:
• 1% effective January 1, 2005;
• 2% effective February 5, 2006;

• 2.5% effective February 4, 2007;

• 2.5% effective February 3, 2008;

• 2.5% effective February 1, 2009.

• Parity wage increases and wage progression increases by February 1, 2009 for equivalent job classifications within the contract; 
• Continuation of the Point-of-Service medical plan currently offered to active employees in Ohio and Michigan, with expansion of that plan to include Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin 
• Protecting retiree health benefits by increasing the retiree medical premium contribution caps, with an adjustment to retiree medical deductibles; 
• A 5% increase in pension minimums;
• One additional personal holiday effective January 1, 2008
• The Fiber Network Field Technician job title will be established in wage group O to perform Verizon FTTP/FIOS provisioning work. 

For more details, visit district4.cwa-union.org

The CWA bargaining committee is unanimously recommending ratification of the tentative agreement to its members. The union bargaining committee will hold meetings with its members to review the settlement and to answer questions prior to the ratification vote, which will be conducted by a ballot process. Ratification results are expected by March 7, 2005.

Upon ratification, the new contract will be effective from January 30, 2005 through February 13, 2010.

The bargaining committee thanks the bargaining unit for their support during these difficult negotiations.