IBEW members employed by AT&T approved a 5-year agreement with AT&T with the company that ensures the largest wage increases and the strongest benefit improvements in at least two decades.
Taking advantage of a favorable bargaining position, IBEW members employed by AT&T overwhelmingly ratified a contract in August that calls for improvements in wages, holiday pay, health care coverage and job protection.
“We look at it as an historic agreement,” Telecommunications International Representative Kevin Curran said. “It’s the most lucrative agreement we’ve negotiated in the last 20 years or so. We felt we used the leverage we had with the economy and with the administration now in the White House.”
President Joe Biden’s administration has been reshaping the National Labor Relations Board since his inauguration, making it more receptive to workers – which it was originally designed for – instead of large corporations.
“Under previous administrations that haven’t been as supportive of labor, some companies’ attitude has been ‘So you want to file charges with the NLRB? See if we care,” Curran said. “We’ll get the paperwork for you.”
Downers Grove, Ill., Local 21 Business Manager Paul Wright, who serves as chairman of the T-3 AT&T System Council, noted the IBEW and AT&T began negotiations early on two previous contracts. But this time, IBEW negotiators decided to take a more traditional and lengthy approach, believing it would lead to a better contract.
“Under previous administrations that haven’t been as supportive of labor, some companies’ attitude has been ‘So you want to file charges with the NLRB? See if we care,” Curran said. “We’ll get the paperwork for you.”
A tight labor market also enhanced the IBEW’s negotiating position.
“They clearly knew the oar was in the water on our side of the boat,” Curran said.
“Obviously, we feel like the wages and the health care costs are all strong points,” added Wright, who, like Curran, has been a negotiator in multiple negotiations with AT&T.
The highlights include:
“For the last 20 years, we’ve been playing defense trying to protect as much as we could,” said Curran, a Local 21 member himself. “This year, we felt like we used the leverage that we had with the economy and a supportive administration.”
The agreement covers members of local unions that are part of the T-3 AT&T System Council. Most employees covered by the contract are members of Local 21 in Illinois and northwestern Indiana.
Other locals covered by the agreement are Hollywood, Calif., Local 45; Detroit Local 58; Chicago Local 134; Milwaukee Local 494; East Windsor, N.J., Local 827; Boston Local 2222; and Worcester, Mass., Local 2325.
“Congratulations to our negotiating team and all our members employed by AT&T on a terrific new contract,” International President Lonnie R. Stephenson said.
“It’s gratifying to see our telecom brothers and sisters earn such substantial gains while ensuring long-term labor piece with a major partner. It also is another example of why having friends in the White House and Congress is so important.”
