August 27, 2015

As was reported on Thursday, August 20th, the IBEW and CWA reached a tentative agreement with Johnson Controls, Inc. on a new, 3-year contract, which would expire on July 31st, 2018. 

Contract Highlights:

Wage Increases

Substantial wage increases over the life of the Agreement, retroactive to August 1, 2015

Benefits

Continued 401(k) and Health Benefits for the life of the agreement. Upon completion of the sale to CBRE, members will move to CBRE’s Cigna-administered health plans. After Contract ratification, members may see an increase in cost-sharing for health coverage, depending on the plan options chosen. Contribution rates are guaranteed through the end of 2016. After December 31, 2016 any changes to plans, benefit levels, or contribution rates would apply to all employees of CBRE.

Holidays

Secured 10 paid holidays, which includes 2 Floating Holidays. In addition, retained the ability to earn both a KPI day and a Safety Day.

Vacations

Created a cleaner vacation selection process which starts in the previous calendar year, with a defined end date.  Includes the ability to “carry-over” one week of vacation time.

Seniority

Current employees retain their earned seniority; language changes ensure that a new employee coming into the contract will not get super-seniority based on previous employment at AT&T or another company.

Scope of Work

Facility Mechanics will not perform work which requires a CFC certification. Any such work is exclusively the jurisdiction of Facility Engineers. Furthermore, the company cannot hire more than 25% of the total workforce as Facility Mechanics without agreement from the Union.

Overtime

If trouble is cleared from home, a 1 hour minimum (or actual time worked in 15 min. increments over 1 hour) will be paid.

Except in limited circumstances, you will not be required to participate in On Call rotation 2 weeks in a row.

If you work 3 hours or more above a regularly scheduled shift in a 24-hour period, you will receive the $15.00 meal allowance.

Payment for Time Not Worked

By utilizing short-term disability, members will be able to stretch out the amount of time they receive full pay while off of work due to injury or illness.

Surplus and Layoff

Cleaned up language to ensure seniority is protected in the event of a surplus or layoff.

Joint Advisory Committee

Re-formed the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) to include a timetable for meetings as well as broadening its coverage to include issues around safety and training.

Ballots will be mailed to members’ home address of record in the first week of September.