Tentative Agreement Reached - Embarq (Sprint) and Local 2277, Martinsville, VA

June 5, 2006

CWA Local 2277 (Martinsville, Virginia) reached a tentative agreement with Embarq (Sprint) on June 1, 2006. It should not have been because of the many other contracts ratified in 2005 and 2006, but negotiations were very difficult.

CWA Representative Carol Summerlyn, Local President Russell Wells, and Tim Thomas made up the bargaining team. Although it was a very difficult table, the end result is that the tentative agreement is very similar to the other ratified contracts. The highlights are as follows:

A 2.5% wage increase effective immediately; a 1.25% increase effective June 2, 2007 and every six (6) months thereafter. The Union and the Company also agree that the employees will receive a $250 ratification bonus if the agreement is ratified by June 25, 2006.
Pension Bands will be increased as a result of the wage increase.
Increase in stand-by pay to $25 on weekends and holidays.
Safety footwear allowance of $75 to be paid annually with no proof of receipt.
Supplemental Income Protection Plan increase to $525 monthly with a maximum of $25,200.
Guaranteed company-paid Long Term Disability.
401(k) company match of 25% will not end and will continue through the life of the contract.
Phasing out of double-time - Effective January 1, 2007, Sunday time will be time and one-half; effective June 2, 2006, double-time begins after 65 hours; effective June 2, 2007, double-time begins after 67 hours; and effective June 2, 2008, double-time will cease.
Effective January 1, 2007, Embarq will no longer pay meal allowance in conjunction with overtime.
With five (5) consecutive days of absence, the employee may elect to take two (2) of the five (5) days without pay.
During FMLA for a covered relative, the employee may take unpaid time off.
When the Company declares inclement weather and determines it is unsafe to work, the employee may take a half day excused without pay.
Vacation may be carried over beyond the first quarter of the following year with concurrence of the Company.
Employees injured on the job and receiving Workers' Compensation will receive 85% of their salary. Since Workers' Compensation is not taxable, they will still be taking home more than their normal take-home pay.
Employees who exhaust their Short Term Disability will be able (with medical certification that they will be able to recover) to take up to a 90-day unpaid leave of absence.
Will be able to purchase Critical Care insurance through FlexCare.