Bargaining Update

Lumen

CWA District 7 members at Lumen (formerly known as CenturyLink) have reached a tentative agreement. This agreement includes an increase in wages, job security, new work brought into the bargaining unit with a commitment to hire CWA workers, and no changes to benefits and pensions for active employees. The workers have been engaged in early bargaining for the contract which is set to expire next year. The members built a strong mobilization plan via the Fight Forward at Lumen campaign for 2023 bargaining, and they continued to build power and solidarity on and off the bargaining table until the company met their demands.

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American Red Cross

Last Thursday, blood service workers at the American Red Cross (ARC), represented by a coalition of labor unions including CWA, reached a tentative agreement on the 2022-2024 national addendum. The workers have been mobilizing for the last year by holding workplace actions, rallies, educating the public about their working conditions, and engaging elected officials. Although they were met with resistance on various proposals including a healthcare proposal that would allow workers’ to continue to have high quality, affordable healthcare, the workers triumphed. In addition to affordable healthcare benefits, the new agreement also includes wage increases, new language that promotes health and safety, additional resources, and more.

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DirecTV (Orange)

CWA members at DirecTV covered by the Orange Mobility contract in Eden Prairie, Minn.; Huntington, W.Va.; and Englewood, Colo., continue to mobilize for a fair contract. The company has proposed major cuts to the workers’ healthcare benefits and inadequate raises that do not match with inflation. Management continues to put profits before workers in order to appease their partners at the private equity firm TPG Capital. The workers are fighting back and making their demands for a fair contract heard by participating in workplace actions, online mobilization, and more. Workers are currently engaged in a letter campaign to let the company know that the proposed cuts are unacceptable and they will not stop until they reach an agreement on a fair contract.

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LifePath

CWA Local 13500 members have reached a new agreement with LifePath, an organization that serves individuals with disabilities. The new agreement includes a ratification bonus for the 450 full-time and part-time workers, wage increases, continued cost of living adjustments, increased matching 401(k) contributions by the employer, and improvements to bereavement leave. In addition, the workers successfully fought back against the company’s regressive proposals to reduce their short-term disability benefits and paid time off.