CC Communications, union reach a labor agreement
A collective bargaining agreement between the union representative for CC Communications workers and the county-owned telecommunications firm was settled on July 6 at a county commissioners meeting.
The tentative bargaining agreement was reached after more than a year of negotiations between CC Communications and Communication Workers of America (CWA). The union represents approximately 65 employees.
The approval and signing of the agreement was a big relief, said Bob Adams, general manager for CC Communications.
The tentative agreement states a 5 percent wage increase for 2005. This amount will be retroactive from July 1, 2005 through June 30 of 2006. The agreement also includes a 3.4 percent wage increase that was determined in March of 2006, beginning the first full pay period after July 1, 2006 and continuing through June 30, 2007.
The amount of the increases was determined by the Consumer Price Index Urban (CPIU) in March, said Adams.
"We're just glad we were able to come up with an agreement," said Adams. "We're also pleased that this is a multiyear agreement."
The new agreement came about after a lengthy process between CC Communications and CWA involving negotiations, mediation and fact-finding recommendations.
After lengthy negotiations were completed and agreements made by both parties, a multiyear agreement was approved and signed. This four year agreement covers the fiscal years of 2005-2006 through 2008-2009.
The agreement states the amount of increase for the final two years of the agreement is to be no less than a 2.5 percent and no more than a 4.5 percent increase each year. The increase amount for each year will be determined by the CPIU in March.
According to the new bargaining agreement, no negotiations would be necessary until 2009.
The estimated retroactive amount of increase for 2005 is approximately $96,000. The amount for 2006, which began on July 1 is approximately $32,000.
"We think we got a good agreement," said John Doran, district representative for CWA. "We look forward to a continued working relationship with CC Communications, the county and county commissioners."
According to one CC Communication worker represented by CWA, the group is happy that an agreement was made and work can resume as normal, said Jay Lingenfelter.
"We just wanted a fair and equitable raise and now we can get this behind us and get back to a good working relationship," he said.
The retroactive payment has already been received, said Lingenfelter. "We got it in the last check," he said.
A decision to adjust all CC Communication wages was made by the company to preserve current wage relationships for positions not covered by the collective bargaining agreement, said Adams. Those positions have already received a 2.5 percent increase for 2005. They will now receive an additional 2.5 percent retroactive increase to bring the difference up to 5 percent.
"They will also receive a 3.4 percent increase for 2006, which begins on the first full pay period in July," he said.
Although not every aspect of the agreement was accepted by either side, all parties stated they were happy with the decision.
"I believe coming from a management standpoint, I think we've done pretty good," said Lynn Pearce, county commissioner. "Nobody got everything they wanted, so I think that means it's probably a pretty good and fair agreement."
There is a benefit in that the agreement is for multiple years and work can resume normally without negotiations for several years, said Pearce.
During the heated period of negotiations in 2006, union members paid for advertisements from various media outlets about the alleged questionable use of company credit cards.
According to Doran in a previous statement to the LVN, the decision to run the ads was made by union members, not union officials. The ads never mentioned contract negotiations or implied association with the bargaining process.
The tentative bargaining agreement was reached after more than a year of negotiations between CC Communications and Communication Workers of America (CWA). The union represents approximately 65 employees.
The approval and signing of the agreement was a big relief, said Bob Adams, general manager for CC Communications.
The tentative agreement states a 5 percent wage increase for 2005. This amount will be retroactive from July 1, 2005 through June 30 of 2006. The agreement also includes a 3.4 percent wage increase that was determined in March of 2006, beginning the first full pay period after July 1, 2006 and continuing through June 30, 2007.
The amount of the increases was determined by the Consumer Price Index Urban (CPIU) in March, said Adams.
"We're just glad we were able to come up with an agreement," said Adams. "We're also pleased that this is a multiyear agreement."
The new agreement came about after a lengthy process between CC Communications and CWA involving negotiations, mediation and fact-finding recommendations.
After lengthy negotiations were completed and agreements made by both parties, a multiyear agreement was approved and signed. This four year agreement covers the fiscal years of 2005-2006 through 2008-2009.
The agreement states the amount of increase for the final two years of the agreement is to be no less than a 2.5 percent and no more than a 4.5 percent increase each year. The increase amount for each year will be determined by the CPIU in March.
According to the new bargaining agreement, no negotiations would be necessary until 2009.
The estimated retroactive amount of increase for 2005 is approximately $96,000. The amount for 2006, which began on July 1 is approximately $32,000.
"We think we got a good agreement," said John Doran, district representative for CWA. "We look forward to a continued working relationship with CC Communications, the county and county commissioners."
According to one CC Communication worker represented by CWA, the group is happy that an agreement was made and work can resume as normal, said Jay Lingenfelter.
"We just wanted a fair and equitable raise and now we can get this behind us and get back to a good working relationship," he said.
The retroactive payment has already been received, said Lingenfelter. "We got it in the last check," he said.
A decision to adjust all CC Communication wages was made by the company to preserve current wage relationships for positions not covered by the collective bargaining agreement, said Adams. Those positions have already received a 2.5 percent increase for 2005. They will now receive an additional 2.5 percent retroactive increase to bring the difference up to 5 percent.
"They will also receive a 3.4 percent increase for 2006, which begins on the first full pay period in July," he said.
Although not every aspect of the agreement was accepted by either side, all parties stated they were happy with the decision.
"I believe coming from a management standpoint, I think we've done pretty good," said Lynn Pearce, county commissioner. "Nobody got everything they wanted, so I think that means it's probably a pretty good and fair agreement."
There is a benefit in that the agreement is for multiple years and work can resume normally without negotiations for several years, said Pearce.
During the heated period of negotiations in 2006, union members paid for advertisements from various media outlets about the alleged questionable use of company credit cards.
According to Doran in a previous statement to the LVN, the decision to run the ads was made by union members, not union officials. The ads never mentioned contract negotiations or implied association with the bargaining process.
