BULLETIN 29
August 21, 2007
NABET-CWA and ABC, Inc. negotiators resumed talks today at 1:00pm with Union Chief Spokesperson John S. Clark presenting ABC with counterproposals concerning replacement arbitrators and Daily Hire travel compensation. The Union also presented the Company with a revised retiree medical insurance proposal which would provide an incentive for certain long-service staff employees to retire, within a limited window of time from the date of ratification, effectively building an affordable bridge of retiree medical coverage and encouraging voluntary separation from employment. During the Union's comprehensive explanation of this revised proposal, it was made clear that as an alternative to the Company's proposed virtual elimination of the seniority system, the Union was counter-proposing a creative way to address and resolve the Company's current concerns.
The parties also discussed ABC's Section 8.5 proposal concerning 6-minute pay increments, ninth hour overtime, and sick leave not counting as time worked for calculation of overtime.
The Company presented a number of proposals including a modified Section 11.3 Seniority proposal which made a minor reduction in the number of proposed separate seniority lists in some offices, but did not address the Union's strongly stated concerns surrounding the extremely damaging layoff component.
In an effort to move the Company towards focusing on major issues, the NABET-CWA Committee withdrew thirteen proposals and strongly encouraged the ABC committee to review their proposals and make some similar withdrawals, rather than waste time on proposals which clearly should not be on the table at this stage of the negotiating process.
The Sick Leave and Sports Graphics subcommittees will meet tomorrow morning, with the parties scheduled to resume negotiations in the afternoon. At that time, Stephen King, of Bolton Partners, an outside actuary hired by the Union to objectively analyze the funding status of the Plan, will give a presentation on the status of the ABC-NABET Retirement Trust.
The Union Bargaining Committee reminds all members to ignore rumors. All official negotiation and mobilization information will be delivered on the Sector website at www.abc-contract.info. Please also check Local websites, hotlines, and e-mail for additional information.
NABET-CWA Network Negotiating Committee
For an archive of all bulletins, go to www.abc-contract.info/barg_mobe/.
