GE union members get their say Tuesday

LYNN – A bonus and pay adjustment proposal worth $15,500 over four years for River Works union workers is part of a tentative contract agreement endorsed by top union negotiators and slated to be presented to members next Monday.The tentative agreement?s compensation package includes a $2,000 ratification bonus, three “accelerated payments” totaling $8,000, and four fix cost of living adjustments as well as one general wage increase, according to a GE contract proposal summary.Members will be briefed during two sessions at St. Michael?s Hall on Monday and vote by secret ballot on Tuesday. A simple majority vote for or against the tentative agreement will be recorded as a vote by the full membership for or against the contract.International Union of Electrical Workers Local 201 Business Agent Ric Casilli called the tentative agreement “a package that is acceptable” and GE Labor Relations Vice President Greg Capito said the tentative agreement provides “an excellent GE job package.”Union leaders representing more than 16,000 GE union workers negotiated with company representatives for three weeks in New York City to hammer out the agreement. Casilli represented 1,435 River Works union workers during negotiations.The contract is the first negotiated between GE and its national unions since 2011. The proposed four-year contract also includes pension and health insurance proposed improvements.A contract proposal summary provided by General Electric stated the agreement includes no increase to health care contributions in 2016 and various types of expanded coverage. Casilli said the agreement makes provisions to freeze co-payments and other costs but includes medical contribution rate increases in the contract?s last two years.He said the biggest gains for union members came in pension improvements guaranteeing eight more years of defined pension plan participation — a provision Casilli said is important to middle-age union members.?We were very worried about a (defined benefit) freeze in 2019,” he said.He said negotiations also produced pension supplemental improvements and special retirement periods in 2016 and 2018 that could “provide more job opportunities.”