by May Silverstein, Nov 17, 2008

Hundreds of registered nurses in Texas, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, rallied for the Texas Hospital Patient Protection Act of 2009—and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS
CNA/NNOC, Texas: Hundreds of registered nurses in Texas, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), rallied at the state Capitol in support of the Texas Hospital Patient Protection Act of 2009, which cracks down on unsafe hospital practices.

IAM, Vought: More than 800 striking members of the Machinists (IAM) Local 735 at Vought Aircraft Industries returned to the bargaining table in Nashville, Tenn., seeking to resolve a six-weeklong strike. The key issue is Vought’s proposal to shift newer workers from a traditional defined-benefit pension plan to a 401(k).

NEGOTIATIONS
SAG, Hollywood Studios: Leaders of the Screen Actors and the Hollywood studios continue to meet separately with federal mediator Juan Carlos Gonzalez about resuming negotiations. No date has been set for the resumption of contract negotiations, which broke off July 16 after 42 sessions.

LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS
TWU: A Brooklyn judge ruled that the Transport Workers (TWU) Local 100 can once again automatically deduct dues from the paychecks of members who working for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The union lost the right to do this after the two-and-a-half day strike in late 2005. The state’s Taylor law prohibits public employees from striking in New York. City attorneys said they wouldn’t oppose restoring the dues privilege because of TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint’s filing that the union had no intention of going on strike again ”now or in the future.” The next contract with the MTA expires in December 2009.

SETTLEMENTS
CWA, Qwest Communications: Some 20,000 Qwest Communications workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), ratified a tentative four-year agreement that includes wage increases totaling more than 12 percent over the term of the contract.

CSEA-AFSCME, Westchester County: More than 4,000 Westchester County, N.Y., workers, represented by Civil Service Employee Association-AFSCME (CSEA-AFSCME) Local 9200, ratified an agreement that includes a 3 percent raise, retroactive from 2006, and 11.25 percent wage increases over the next three years.

MTC, Electric Boat: In Connecticut, 2,400 workers at submarine-maker Electric Boat Corp., represented by the Metal Trades Council (MTC), have a tentative five-year deal. Details were not released

AFT/NEA, Hernando County Schools: Teachers and staff in Brooksville, Fla., represented by a joint partnership between the AFT and the National Education Association, reached tentative agreements on a new contract with the Hernando County School Board that provides a 2.39 percent average salary increase in their current contract, plus a 1.5 percent boost for health care premium increases.

USW, MeadWestvaco: Some 540 workers, represented by the United Steelworkers (USW), ratified a new agreement at MeadWestvaco’s Mahrt, Ala., paper mill plant. The agreement, which will expire Oct. 31, 2013, provides an immediate $3,000 lump sum bonus payable to production and maintenance employees, plus an immediate general wage increase of 2 percent, which will be retroactive to Nov. 3, 2008.

AFTRA, Vidgame Contract: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) has agreed to a one-year extension on its vidgame contract with employers, six weeks prior to the expiration of the current contract. Terms include a 3 percent increase in initial compensation for all session fees and a 0.5 percent gain in health and retirement contributions. Both go into effect Jan. 1.

AFSCME, Trumbull, Conn.: Police officers in Trumbull, Conn., represented by AFSCME Local 1745, Council 15, reached a four-year contract with 3.5 percent raises, retroactive to July 1, 2007.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (0)