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Members Ratify Veolia Contract
201 Secures Defined Benefit
Pension Plan
Local 201 members who
work in the Lynn Waste Water Treatment plant for Veolia Water voted
on Thursday, May 17, to overwhelmingly ratify a 3 year contract with
the French multi-national. There are currently 30 bargaining unit
members at the plant which was organized by Local 201 in 1994.
Unlike the other contract negotiated locally by 201
with Ametek, the Waste Water contract is not patterned on our GE
contract and, for many years after ’94, catching up on wages was a
primary focus. That effort was successful, as wage increases have
averaged 3.8% over the last 6 years. The new agreement shifts some
potential wage increases to establish, for the first time, a defined
benefit Pension Plan for our members there. Other highlights
include caps on medical costs our members may have to pay,
additional paid time off, preservation of the bargaining unit, and
renewal of a “no layoff” clause.
Below is summary of the agreement which was distributed
in the plant as a flyer, except for the “Note” in italics following
the wage increases.
TENTATIVE AGREEMENT REACHED
OFFICIAL NOTICE – MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007
IUE-CWA Local 201 and Veolia Water reached
a tentative agreement on a new 3 year labor agreement at
approximately 4 PM on Friday, May 11. The agreement came after two
long difficult negotiating sessions with a Federal Mediator
involved. Your Negotiating Committee feels we achieved our
objectives with this agreement, winning a pension plan, capping and
modifying medical increases, getting 3 general wage increases,
improving “time off,” while retaining our no layoff clause and
keeping our Bargaining Unit intact. The union also was successful
in resisting many other negative Contract language provisions
proposed.
Local 201 is tentatively scheduling information
meetings and a ratification vote for Thursday, May 17 at 1:15 PM and
3:15 PM at the Union Hall. Below are some summary highlights of the
agreement.
Summary Highlights of Tentative Agreement
I. WAGES
- 1.5% General wage increase (5-18-07).
- 1.5% General wage increase (5-1-08).
- 1.5% General wage increase (5-1-09).*
(Note: Wage increases were low for 2 reasons, (1) monies were
diverted to start a defined benefit pension plan, and (2) wage
increases had been "above average" for a number of years, as
compared to other similar plants, and higher than GE increases
also.)
* The 5-1-09 increase will not apply to any
operator who does not have a Grade IV license, by May 1, 2009. If
such operator only has a Grade 2 or 3 by May 1, 2009, his pay rate
will stay at the May 1, 2008 rate. If such operator has no license,
his pay rate reverts back to the current $24.77 rate.
- “Side bar” letter on Grade IV classes
being held at Plant.
- Current General Wage/COLA clause stays in
contract, but is waived for 3 years.
- Progression (step raises) totally
restructured.
- Shift Premiums increased:
Swing shift – current $1.00 per hour
increases to $1.05 (4-1-2008)
and to $1.10 (4-1-2009).
Night shift – current
$1.25 per hour
increases to $1.30 (4-1-2008)
and to $1.35 (4-1-2009).
- $100 net (not gross) tool allowance
(Jan. 2008).
- Pager premium increased from $75 weekly
to $100 weekly.
II. Medical Insurance
- Company medical and dental plans.
- Currently members pay approximately 11% of
the Company plan costs due to rates frozen from 2001 – 2007.
- Effective 5-18-07 – members shall pay 15%
of current plan costs (approx. $7 to $21 bi-weekly increase
depending on single, 2 person, or family coverage.)
- Effective 1-1-08 – Members shall pay 20%
of plan costs.*
*However, if in any year plan
costs rise by 11% or more, members’ increases
are capped by using the following formula: 11-15% increase –
members
payment reduced to 18%; 16-20% plan increase – members’ payment
reduced
to 16%, 21-25% plan increase - members’ payment reduced to 14%; and
a
26% or more plan increase – members’ payment reduced to 12%.
- Medical Offset Adjustment Payment
Member shall receive on 12-1-07 a gross payment of $500 (if
member is in
single plan), $750 (if member is in 2 person plan), or
$1,000 (if member has
the family plan).
All other Company
plans – vision, disability, etc. stay in place.
III. Pension/Retirement
- 401K Plan stays in place.
- A defined benefit Pension Plan!!
-
IUE-CWA Pension Plan
-
Company contributes $.50 per hour for all paid hours
(1-1-08)
-
Company contributes $.75 per hour for all paid hours
(1-1-09).
Example: if a member
worked 17 years with the above $.75 per hour rate, such member would
earn approximately a $574 lifetime monthly pension. Of course, more
years or an increased rate would mean a higher pension.
IV. Paid Time Off
- Additional floating holiday gained in the
“side bar” of the 2001 Contract has now been moved into the 2007
Contract itself.
- Additional sick day gained in the
“sidebar” of the 2001 Contract has now been moved into the 2007
Contract itself.
- An additional Perfect Attendance Day
for any member who has 2 perfect consecutive 6 month periods
(would get 5 paid days instead of 4).
V. Other
- No
layoff clause retained.
- Shift
leaders remain in Bargaining Unit.
- Foul
weather gear – provided every 2 years (instead of 3 years) effective
2007.
- Safety
Award Program maintained – meetings mandatory.
- 30 minute
break for everyone (instead of two 15 minute breaks).
- Upgrading
language change.
- Others.
Please attend your Contract Information Meeting –
either 1:15 PM or 3:15 PM Thursday, May 17 at the Union Hall.
The ratification vote, by secret ballot, will be immediately held
following the meeting.
Thanks for your great support and participation in meetings and on
“visibility” day.
IUE-CWA Local
201 Negotiating Committee.
Jeffrey C.
Crosby Ric
Casilli Alex Brown
President Business
Agent
VP/RS
Bob Maitland Ray Comeau
Pat Cooke
Chief Steward
Steward Steward
Tentative Agreement Reached with
Veolia
Friday, May 11, 2007
IUE-CWA Local 201 and Veolia Water reached a
tentative agreement on a new 3 year labor agreement at approximately
4 PM today. The agreement came after 2 long, hard, negotiating
sessions with a Federal Mediator involved.
A summary leaflet will be put out to Local 201 members at the
Lynnway Plant mid-day Monday, May 14th, and will be
posted here late Monday afternoon.
Local 201 is tentatively scheduling an information meeting and
ratification vote for Thursday, May 17, at 1:15 PM and 3:15 PM at
the Union Hall.
Local 201 was able to win a defined benefit pension plan, secure
three 1.5% wage increases, modify & “cap” medical cost
increases, improve contractual “time off” provisions, and maintain
the No Layoff clause while keeping our current bargaining unit
intact. There were also a number of other smaller economic
improvements.
The summary leaflet will have more details, and a more complete
report will be given at the information meetings on Thursday,
followed by a ratification vote.
The Negotiating Committee feels we achieved a decent agreement
despite an extremely tough negotiating environment, thanks to the
support of our members.
201 AND VEOLIA MAKE PROGRESS WITH FEDERAL
MEDIATION
Thursday, May 3, 2007
IUE-CWA Local
201 and Veolia met today in a lengthy all day bargaining session
that concluded at 6:00PM. With the aid of a federal mediator, both
sides felt that progress had been made.
The Company and Union exchanged many proposals
and counter proposals throughout the day, slowly “inching” closer in
the crucial areas of medical cost increases, wages, retirement
benefits, night shift bonus, shift premium, time-off and the make up
of the Bargaining Unit.
Bargaining was very serious and tense at times,
but clearly productive. The union felt it is closer to achieving
some of its goals of improvements in retirement and “time off”
areas, while modifying medical cost increases some and without
sacrificing all wage increases.
Both sides agreed to recess late in the day and
have scheduled a second session with the federal mediator for
Friday, May 11 at 10:00AM at the Lynnway Plant. Union negotiators
will meet among themselves before that time.
With some progress being made, neither party has
issued the 5 day notice required to terminate the current 2001-2007
Labor Agreement. The agreement’s expiration date was April 30, 2007,
but the entire agreement continues in full force and effect at
this time. Given the progress made, it is anticipated that
neither party will issue 5 day termination notice before the
next negotiating session. The next scheduled Negotiations are May
11th.
201 Chief Negotiator Ric Casilli stated
“There are still important outstanding issues on the table,
including issues effecting time off, staffing, upgrading,
absenteeism, safety, anti-drug policy, and other contract language
items. If resolved, these items could improve ‘mutual respect’ and
trust between our members and local management in this plant.”
Local 201 is “cautiously optimistic” that an
acceptable agreement can be reached, but some tough and emotional
negotiations are likely to occur.
201 President Jeff Crosby advised, “We ask our members to
continue to perform their jobs to the best of their ability and
remain calm, united and firm. We shall keep you informed as best we
can on developments as they occur, while respecting the negotiating
process and wishes of the federal mediator. Be sure that IF any
‘tentative agreement does get reached’, it will be fully explained
to you and subject to your approval through a democratic
ratification vote per our Local 201’s normal traditions”.
Please talk to your Chief Steward and/or stewards
with any questions or concerns. They are working hard for you.
Note: Thanks for the Great participation on the Lynnway last
week on “Visibility Day”. The 201 Veolia Stewards all wish to
thank our members for the great turn-out and particularly
wish to thank our 201 brothers and sisters from the GE and
Ametek plants for their participation
IUE-CWA LOCAL
201
Local 201 Requests Federal Mediator
Into Veolia Contract Bargaining
IUE-CWA Local 201, on Friday, April 27,
requested the intervention of a Federal Mediator into contract
bargaining sessions. Local 201 made the request after feeling
negotiations were stalling with proposals that were far apart. Veolia
accepted the request and the first session with the Federal Mediator is
scheduled for Thursday, May 3, at 9:00 AM.
The current 2001-2007 Collective Bargaining Agreement (contract)
remains in place since a provision in the contract automatically extends
the agreement until such time as either party gives 5 days notice to the
other of its termination date. Neither party has done such.
Veolia Contract Nears Deadline
Strike a Possibility
30
fellow Local 201 members are in a serious contract fight. Their
contract expires
April 30th and a strike by them is a real possibility.
Veolia Water is proposing (as of April
26th) exorbitant employee medical cost increases, a 1% wage increase,
taking away up to 6 paid
days off, and has not responded to a 201 Pension Proposal. (Members
currently have no defined pension plan.) These are Lynn workers and
taxpayers. They are Local 201 members. Veolia is
a French multi-national and this is nothing but corporate greed.
To raise
the visibility of the Veolia contract fight in the community, Local 201
Veolia members, joined by an almost equal number of Local 201 GE
members, stood out on the Lynnway for 2 hours during rush hour April 25th
with signs calling for Justice, Health Care, and Pensions for Lynn Waste
Water Workers.
Strike Vote Taken
On Tuesday, April 10 Local 201, Veolia members voted almost
unanimously to give the Local 201 Negotiating Committee
authorization to call a strike if no “tentative” settlement is
agreed upon. Here’s part of the determined crew after one of the
split-session meetings.
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