Bargaining Updates

Bargaining Update 7/22

Your CWA Bargaining Committee and Dan Reynolds from our CWA research department met with the Piedmont Bargaining committee on July 16, 17, and 18.

CWA began the session by passing proposals on Article 17: Benefits, where we proposed to expand health care coverage to agents working 20 hours a week or more, keep the same percentage for co-pay of the plan, and increase the stipend if an agent opts out of coverage. We also responded to the company counter proposal for training.

The company provided their initial proposal for wages, and our committee is insulted by the low proposal from the company. For an example, in year one, agents at the start rate in CLT would see an increase of 27 cents, PHX an increase of 12 cents, BOS an increase of 17 cents, and AVL an increase of just 4 cents.

We countered the company proposal holding the line to our economic proposal which would provide a livable wage, and cut the number of wage scales and length of the scales. The company gave counters to our proposals on Article 8: Overtime and Article 9: Training. The Union also gave counter proposals on Article 18: Safety and Health and presented a proposal for Article 24: General and Miscellaneous.

We are at a critical point in negotiations trying to finish up the non-economic items and work on the economic items, which include pay and benefits. We need the support of every member to achieve our goal of a contract that secures good pay and benefits for all.

Our next bargaining session is August 20, 21, and 22. We want to thank the agents who completed the health care survey. It was instrumental to help us with the proposal on benefits and we will send the results out soon.

Mobilization is critical at this stage of bargaining. We need to show the company we are unified and want a fair contract. Stay tuned for our next action to show the company they need to do better.

You can see the pictures of those stations that participated in the health care action on the Facebook page. Stay tuned for our next action, it will be shared soon.