On July 6, 2011, pursuant to Article 15.N of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the Union and the Company met in Washington DC at the office of Kathryn Kobe, Director of Price, Wage, and Productivity Analysis for Economic Consulting Services. The purpose of the meeting was to continue discussions pertaining to cost of living data in cities where technician and related are based. In attendance for the Union were myself and IBT Economist/Consultant Norman Weintraub. Attending for the Company was Jeff Wall, Managing Director, Labor Contracts Strategy.
The parties shared information with Ms. Kobe to give her a better understanding of where technician and related employees are based. The parties also questioned Ms. Kobe on many issues including but not limited to, various ways of determining the cost of living in these cities, what elements to include (i.e.: housing, utilities, food and clothing, taxes, transportation etc.), the ability to determine a base line (average) city in the Continental United States to compare the cost of living to as well as comparing the cost of living between bases where technician and related are employed to determine that average.
Ms. Kobe has taken all the information and will be putting together a bid/proposal outlining the scope of work requested by the parties. She has committed to return that information within 2-3 weeks. The information will be sent to the Union and the Company. Article 15.N requires the Company to “provide adequate funding for the Committee to conduct meetings and consult with necessary professional experts”, like Ms. Kobe.
A local Cost of Living Committee meeting will be scheduled just as soon as the aforementioned data has been received by the parties. Should you have any questions feel free to contact the Union office anytime.
In Solidarity,
Ralph Salzano
Business Agent
Local-210-IBT
973-681-2750 (Office)
973-681-2752 (Fax)