New labor deal centered on health care benefits for approximately 42,000 CWA union workers at AT&T Mobility
The Communications Workers of America said its members ratified a pending contract with AT&T Mobility that provides health care and other benefits to approximately 42,000 workers.
CWA said the agreement includes reduced premium costs for 20,000 employees hired after 2014; lower rates under a new four-tier contribution structure for employees with dependent children and no covered spouse; Puerto Rico-based employees will be able to select HMO plans at lower contribution rates; and plans to introduce a new “Option 2” plan with lower premium costs.
“Our main goal was to put health care benefits bargaining back in the regional bargaining agreement process and to make health care affordable for all Mobility workers,” said Dennis Trainor, VP for CWA District 1, in a statement. “This new contract reduces health care costs and will improve the standard of living for our members.”
The agreement had initially gained tentative approval from CWA before being submitted to union leadership, where in mid-July it was voted down. Despite the issue, AT&T remained confident in reaching a deal, noting both parties had “agreed to meet in a continuing effort to reach an agreement.”
The four-year contract proposal gained tentative CWA approval last month, before being passed along to union members for what became ratification.
In late May, CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers struck a new four-year labor agreement with Verizon Communications, which ended a contentious strike. That agreement involved approximately 40,000 employees across both union groups, but was mostly focused on wireline employees.
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