AT&T, IBEW hammer out tentative agreement for wireline workforce

AT&T (NYSE: T) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have established a tentative agreement for a one-year contract extension covering about 7,000 wireline employees.

The timing of the agreement, which will be submitted to the union's membership for ratification vote over the next few days, is key as it comes before the current contract expires on June 23.

This new contract covers members of IBEW Local 21 who are located in Illinois, northwest Indiana, New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California and the Northwest.

Earlier this month, the union met with AT&T to discuss the telco's proposed treatment of time-not-worked and cutting benefits.

Under the proposed one-year agreement, union members will get a 1 percent base raise. Additionally, employees who will make less than $50,000 following the salary increase will get a lump-sum payment of $500, while those who will make more than $50,000 after the salary increase will receive $300.

Ronald Kastner, Business Manager of Local Union 21 in Downers Grove, Ill., and lead negotiator with AT&T, said in a statement, "I am pleased we were able to reach an agreement on extending the contract during this difficult time."

Separately, AT&T is continuing its negotiations with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) following a threat of a strike In April, which threatened to strike in April.

May 31, 2012

Continue