Premises Technicians

Premises Technicians

 We are most pleased to present terms and conditions for Premises Techs that represent great improvements for a first contract, especially in wages, pension, and healthcare. One thing we want to address upfront is the possibility of the Services Technicians or Outside Plant Technicians bumping into these positions. U-verse is the growth end of the business as evidenced by over 250 vacancies in the Southeast today. It has always been the practice to fill vacancies before any bumping occurs. Furthermore, STs and OPTs must complete all of their force adjustment process before any bumping can begin.

Below are key changes:

Economic improvements include:

• Effective September 2, 2012 move to Wire Technician, wage scale 6 in the BST Agreement and for those below top rate of pay place at the next higher step on the Wire Technician wage table. Thereafter they will receive a guaranteed progression increase every 6 months until they reach the top of the scale.

• A one time special payment of $1323 will be received if the tentative agreement is ratified by September 28th.

• General Wage Increases of 2.25% on 9/1/13 and 2.25% on 8/31/14 will be applied at the top of the wage scale.

• Participation in the Success Sharing Plan starting with the 2013 award year. Eligible Wire Technicians have the opportunity for an award tied to the Company’s stock appreciation and dividends declared in 2013, 2014, and 2015 award years.

• Added Sunday Premium Pay for employees who work on Sunday to receive 1.5 times their basic rate of pay for up to 8 hours per day.

• Added Holiday Premium Pay for employees who work on a holiday to receive 1.5 times their basic rate of pay for each hour worked on the holiday in addition to 8 hours at straight time for the holiday.

• Added Shift Differential of 10% of base wages for each day worked when employees are scheduled to work a tour where more than 50% of the time falls between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

• Wire Technicians with one year of service will be eligible for up to 5 paid absence days for personal illness effective January 1, 2013.

 Health Care Gains:

CWA fought hard and were successful in getting these members moved from the Management Health Care Plan to the same Health Care as the rest of our represented employees. In an environment where Health Care costs are rising, we were successful in getting your Health Care cost cut by almost 50%. Highlights include:

• Effective April 1, 2013, Annual Deductibles will drop by more than 50%: In-Network Family will drop from $2,400 to $1,000 and In-Network Individual from $1,200 to $500. These annual deductibles are good for all three years of the contract. Additionally, under their current plan no benefits are paid until the family deductible is met. In MAP with family coverage, benefits are payable on an individual level once the individual deductible is satisfied.

• Out of Pocket Maximums (OOP): Currently under Option 1 the Family In-Network OOP is $8,250 and effective April 1, 2013 it will decrease all the way down to $3,000. January 1, 2014 it will be $3,400 and January 1, 2015 it will be $4,000, still less than 50% of the current amount.

• Currently under Option 1 the Individual In-Network OOP is $4,125 and effective April 1, 2013 it will decrease all the way down to $1,500. January 1, 2014 it will be $1,700 and January 1, 2015 it will be $2,000, still less than 50% of the current amount.

Retirement Enhancements:

• Currently Premises Technicians are not eligible for a pension. Effective April 1, 2013, they will be eligible to participate in the Bargained Cash Balance Program #2 of the AT&T Pension Benefit Plan (BCB2).

• Currently Premises Technicians are not eligible for post-retirement benefits. Effective April 1, 2013, Wire Technicians will have access to post-retirement health benefits.

• AT&T Retirement Savings Plan (ARSP) – Wire Technicians will be eligible to participate in this savings plan with a great match of 80%.

Grievance and Arbitration Procedures:

• Wire Technicians will be covered by Articles 21 and 23 of the BST Agreement that gives these employees much needed grievance and arbitration rights.

 Improvements in Work Rules:

• Transfer Rights - Employees who have 30 months in the Wire Technician title after 09/02/12 will have the opportunity to be considered for transfer to available positions in the BST contract. Currently, Premises Technicians do not have transfer rights. Also, Wire Technicians will be eligible to participate in the National Transfer Plan which enables them to move between participating bargaining units within AT&T companies, including Mobility.

• Guaranteed Weekend Off – We heard loud and clear from these technicians that they needed some guaranteed time off. We were able to get one guaranteed weekend off per month.

• 7.01K Rights - Upon ratification of the contract, employees laid off under the BST agreement that were hired as Premises Technicians will have 7.01K rights back to BST instead of 7.02.

• Cancellation of Hours - Hours cannot be cancelled once an employee begins the scheduled workday. Currently, the hours can be cancelled after the scheduled workday begins and the employee receives three (3) hours pay or pay for actual time worked whichever is greater.

If notified less than twelve (12) hours before the original scheduled start time -receive two (2) hours pay. Currently, notified less than one (1) hour -receive the two (2) hours pay.

• Vacation Carry Over – Employees may now carry over one (1) week of vacation into the next vacation year to be used by April 30th.

• Work Week – The work week will be spread over a maximum of 6 days; currently it may be spread over 7 days.

 As we said at the outset, for a first contract, we made vast improvements for this group and welcome them into the BST Bargaining Unit.