December, 2007
Dear ABC Member:
NABET-CWA and ABC, Inc. have reached a tentative agreement for a new four-year contract to replace the one that expired on March 31, 2007. The agreement was completed after a week of off-the-record negotiations between the parties in New York City. The officers of NABET-CWA and the members of your bargaining committee are unanimously recommending that you ratify the agreement.
We are not recommending this package because we think it is ideal. However, we think it is the best agreement we can achieve now – in the current labor relations climate in the United States – without seeking serious sacrifices from the ABC membership, and we believe you should have the opportunity to vote on and ratify it.
These negotiations, which began on February 28, were extremely difficult. From the start of the talks, ABC sought to obtain many radical changes to our contract, and attempted to freeze the pension plan our staff members rely on for their retirement security. Throughout the negotiations, we were able to eliminate or blunt many of the company's proposals, and the week of off-the-record discussions resulted in dozens of additional significant improvements to ABC's so-called "last, best and final offer" of October 22, including changes in the company's seniority proposal which will significantly reduce the likelihood of anyone on staff being laid off out of seniority. In addition, we were able to preserve the wage incentives the company threatened to withdraw if its "final" offer was not ratified by November 30.
Our defined benefit pension plan will continue and – provided it remains as healthy as it is today – will retain the ability for a retroactive accrual rate increase toward the end of the contract. However, the company reserves the right to reinstate its defined contribution plan proposal for any unit that fails to ratify the agreement by January 11, 2008.
There are improvements for daily-hire members, including changes in the so-called "sandwich day," an increased payment in lieu of benefits in the third year of the agreement, and an opportunity for certain frequently-used daily hires to be eligible for major portions of Disney's Signature Benefit Plans such as the medical plan.
If the contract is ratified by January 11, 2008, wage increases will be effective retroactively back to December 15, 2007. For most members, the increases will be 3.5%, 3%, 3% and 3.5% over the remaining course of the agreement if it is ratified, with the second and subsequent increases being effective at the beginning of the pay period closest to April 1 in each year. Thus, if the agreement is ratified, members will receive raises equaling 6.5% in a four-month period. However, Desk Assistants in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Building Services employees in Los Angeles will receive increases of 4%, 3.5%, 3% and 3%, provided the agreement is ratified by January 11, 2008 – resulting in an increase of 7.5% in a four-month period.
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Of course, there are numerous changes to the contract that are not as positive as those described above. Members are advised to study the summary of the package prepared by the bargaining committee and to view copies of the proposals themselves on www.abc-contract.info to get a more detailed picture of the full agreement. Your Local Union will be holding membership meetings to discuss the tentative agreement and you should make every effort to attend.
Secret ballots will be mailed on December 17. Please see the ballot instructions for the deadline to return it. The results of the ratification vote will be announced on January 11, 2008.
Your bargaining committee asks you to study the proposal carefully and to cast your vote wisely. If the agreement is not ratified, we believe that further improvements are unlikely without significant action and sacrifice from our ABC membership. Moreover, you should understand that such action – up to and including a possible strike – may not result in further positive change and could lead to a package containing lesser terms and conditions than the one before you now.
Your committee thanks you for your invaluable support during this difficult process. We feel strongly that we could not have significantly changed the company's October 22 offer without your continuing and passionate assistance.
In unity,
Gene Maxwell Maurice "Moe" Thomas
Local 16 Local 31
Ray W.Taylor Kevin Wilson Local 41 Local 51
Richard Daszkowski
Local 57
John S. Clark James C. Joyce
President, NABET-CWA Sector Vice President
/tnb
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