Teamsters strike averted at Time Warner

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/News/articles.asp?articleID=20214

Teamsters strike averted at Time Warner

By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune Chronicle

WARREN — Teamsters Local 377 agreed to a 30-day contract extension Friday while negotiations continue with Time Warner Cable.

The union was set to strike at 12:01 this morning if a new deal was not reached, but Teamsters Secretary Treasurer Bob Bernat said progress has been made in recent talks.

He said a tentative deal was reached on benefits, hours, working conditions, pension and health care, but there were three sticking points — wages, subcontracting issues and medical leave of absence. The current five-year contract expired Wednesday, but the extension moves the new deadline to Aug. 10.

Time Warner spokeswoman Heidi Mock said previously that the company was bargaining in good faith and believed a settlement could be reached.

Bernat said Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons collected a bonus of between $7.5 million and $8.5 million the past four years despite being given a poor performance rating by shareholders.

He said members of the Teamsters Local 377 were being hired at $9 per hour, while workers with 30 years’ experience were topping out at $20 per hour.

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