May 30, 2012 Breaking News - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and AT&T reached a tentative agreement on May 30th to extend the existing contract by 12 months. The contract which covers 7,000 employees in several states had been set to expire June 23, 2012.

During this 12 month extension, all contract items will remain intact with the exception of the following items:

• Some benefit modifications will be made which will be offset by a $500 signing bonus and a one percent wage increase for employees earning under $50,000 annually.  Employees earning more than $50,000 annually will receive a $300 signing bonus and a one percent wage increase.
• There will be a moratorium on any surplus or layoff through September 14, 2012.
• An agreement was reached to engage in negotiations concerning modifications to the training and employment security provisions in the collective bargaining agreement after ratification of the extension.

IBEW representative Ronald E. Kastner said, “I am pleased we were able to reach an agreement on extending the contract during this difficult time.” Kastner is Business Manager of Local Union 21 in Downers Grove, IL, and lead negotiator with AT&T.

IBEW Local Union 21 will present the settlement offer to its members over the next few weeks, and each bargaining unit member will be afforded the opportunity to vote through a secret ballot process.  Complete ratification details will be provided as soon as possible.