CWA Announcement On KPFA Contract Settlement id XAA10418; Mon, 29 Sep 1997 23:20:27 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source: CWA9415@compuserve.com Communications Workers of America Local 9415, Oakland, CA. Local 9415 Members ratify new agreement with Pacifica Radio Station KPFA FM 94.1 1st CWA Contract features wage gains, a new pension plan, binding arbitration, and continued employer paid health and dental coverage Oakland, September 10, 1997: CWA members at radio station KPFA ratified a new contract by a significant margin Monday. The new agreement, which runs from August 1, 1997 to September 30, 2000, contains new features such as: 7 Base pay increases of 3.5% immediately, 3.5% in1998, 3.75% in 1999, as well as seniority increments making the average wage gain over 3 years appx. 12.6%. - A new pension fund with employer contributions of 2% of base pay. - Binding arbitration for resolving grievances. - Enhanced security for current employees and special severance for new on-air and executive producer employees let go for creative or programming reasons. - On-air "voice bug" identifying KPFA as a union shop. Other provisions include: - Fully employer paid medical and dental coverage for all employees including part-time. - Child care allowance-- $100 a month for every child under 12. - Vacation schedule that adds 1 week per year--up to 5 weeks after 4 years. - 14 paid holidays - 403 (b) savings plan with $50 per month employer contribution. "This contract is the result of tough and creative bargaining by both parties" said Bill Harvey, Secretary/Treasurer and chief negotiator for the Union. "We were faced with many challenges, not the least of which was changing from a relatively informal labor-management relationship that had broken down because it lacked professional mechanisms for resolving conflicts. KPFA also was faced with difficult fiscal issues as a nonprofit listener-sponsored radio station." CWA is strongly encouraging union members to listen to, and subscribe to, KPFA FM 94.1. "Not only are they a wall-to-wall Union shop, but they truly do tell our story" said Harvey. "KPFA carries more union news and worker oriented programming than any other station on the dial and deserves the support of working people." CWA Local 9415 thanked their many friends in the labor movement and elsewhere who strongly supported the KPFA workers by writing letters on their behalf to the management. "Those letters of support clearly turned the tide and made this settlement possible" Harvey said. Communications Workers of America Local 9415 represents 3000 workers in the communications, telecommunications, and cable TV industries in Northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytlab-09.29.97-23:20:33-27441