AT&T Midwest Bargaining Retort #37 – Supplemental

The Bargaining team is currently working on materials for the contract explanation meeting for Local Presidents which will be held on Tuesday, May 19th at 10:00 AM CST.

The following is a short summary of highlights from the tentative agreement.

• General Wage Increase of 8.25% for all titles covered in the Midwest agreement over the life of the agreement.
• 1% increase in each year of the agreement to Pension Bands, maintained BCB2 Pension plan for existing employees and new hires.
• SSP Payments will now be cash payouts.
• Maintained Traditional Health Care Plan with only 1% cost share shifting each year of the agreement. A new, low premium, health care option is available to all employees beginning in 2016. The new plan with higher deductibles but significantly lower monthly premiums may be a good option for individuals or families that have low usage. The plan has the same benefits and networks with a different cost structure. The original plan and pricing structure remains available as well.
•  Introduction of a new Vision Plan with higher benefit levels than the previous standard plan. The significantly higher benefit levels in this plan will provide better value than the former AT&T Vision Plus Plan at much lower premiums.
• Article 26 and all associated MOA’s were protected and includes further improvements.
• No changes to AT&T Midwest Disability Benefits Program for current employees.
• Appendix F adds nine (9) core contract provisions including full access to the AT&T Non-management Staffing Process and National Transfer Plan, a reduction in overtime cap down to 14 hours and new language for crediting time not worked towards overtime calculation.
• Additional wage increases for Dispatchers and Premises Technicians preceding the GWI.
• Appendix G will now have full access to the AT&T Non-management Staffing Process and National Transfer Plan.