Tentative Agreeement between CWA and Windstream Kentucky, LLC

Congratulations goes out to Billy O'Dell, CWA Representative for Kentucky, and his Bargaining Team for a job well done!

Bargaining Team

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HIGHLIGHTS--TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA

AND WINDSTREAM KENTUCKY, LLC.

ARTICLE 4: SERVICE COMMITMENTS

* Added language requiring the Company to provide proper equipment, safe means of transportation, proper training to employees

ARTICLE 34: SAFETY AND FIRST AID

* Added new language for instruction on Company time for CPR.

ARTICLE 11: GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

* Added language to accelerate the arbitration process.

ARTICLE 15: NON-DISCRIMINATION

* Added language to include “disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and learning disabilities”

ARTICLE 22: PREMIUM AND DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENTS

* Added new language to pay 10% differential if any portion of shift falls between 8PM and 6AM

READY TO SERVE MOA:

* Increased RTS pay to one hour pay for scheduled days and two hours pay for nonscheduled days

ARTICLE 23: TRAVEL TIME AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS-SECTION 3 TRAVEL EXPENSE

* Increased per diem to $42 to cover all expenses other than lodging and transportation. Company may offer corporate credit card that employee may accept or reject. Partial days out of the area shall be reimbursed as follows: $10-breakfast, $12- lunch, and $20- dinner.

ARTICLE 27: VACATIONS

* Improved vacation for employees with less than 12 months service, new hires and rehires.

ARTICLE 13: RECORDS

* Added new language to remove all disciplinary entries and all data related to such entries in 30 months. Once removed the entries and data related to the entries shall not be referred to for any reason.

MOA:

* MOA stating the Company agrees to include installation and maintenance work on IP Products and Services as work normally performed by bargaining unit personnel and shall be subject to all of the protections and restrictions contained in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

ARTICLE 32: PENSIONS

* Protected Defined Benefit Pension for “Verizon Pension Employees”. NO MANDATORY PENSION FREEZE.

* Added language stating  “Verizon Pension Employees” will have the option to elect to freeze their Defined Benefit Pension and participate in the Windstream 401 (k) Plan with a one-time Company contribution of $5,000 and a 100% match on the first 3% of eligible (total) compensation plus a 50% match on the next 2% of eligible compensation.

ARTICLE 40: GROUP INSURANCE

* No mandatory Wellness Program

* 75% Company/25% Employee premium cost share for each year of the contract.

* No increase in SELECT PPO PLAN costs for the life of the agreement:

    $10 co-pay

    $30 specialist co-pay with referral (plus deductible and co-insurance)

    $60 specialist co-pay without referral (plus deductible and co-insurance)

    $400 In Network Individual Deductible

    $800 In Network Family Deductible

    $2,500 In Network Individual Annual Out of Pocket Max (includes deductible)

    $5,000 In Network Family Annual Out of Pocket Max (includes deductible)

    20% In Network Coinsurance (Participant portion)

    40% Non-Network Coinsurance (Participant portion)

WAGES:

* 2% upon ratification retroactive to June 8, 2015

* 2% effective June 8, 2016

* 2% effective June 8, 2017

* All Retail Sales Consultants and Tellers will be paid on Wage Schedule #2

* Wage Schedule 7 top hourly wage will be increased from $28.97 to $29.27 plus applicable general wage increase.

* $1,000 lump sum payment to all employees to be paid as soon as practical after ratification to all employees employed on ratification.