Bargaining trends: gains in 1984; prospects for 1985

AFL-CIO American Federationist, The, March 30, 1985 by Neil Gladstein

Voluntary Political Action Committee checkoffs of contributions are being negotiated by many unions. Examples include the Painters with the Painting & Decorating Contractors Association (MASS.), Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers at Gulf Oil, Teachers in Chicago, AFSCME at Shelby County, Tenn., Hospital Authority, and Machinists at Allied Corporation's Bendix Electronic Central Division.

The rights of part-time employees are getting increasing attention under collective bargaining. For instance, SEIU members employed by Health Employers, Inc. (Minn.) are now paid double-time for any of seven holidays on which they work. UFCW members got a guarantee of at least 16 hours of work per week from the Food Employers Council which represents 1,334 stores in 12 grocery chains in California. The SEIU negotiated with six commercial cleaning companies in Hartford, Conn., to raise part-time wage rates to the level for full-time workers. And AFSCME members who work part-time for Little Rock, Ark., now get vacation and sick leave benefits.

New settlements also improved commission rates for many workers in retail trade and insurance. For example:

* UFCW and Frederick's Department Stores in the state of Washington increased clothing sales commissions to 7 percent and shoe sales commissions to 10 percent.

* At Metropolitan Life Insurance, the UFCW won an increase to 15 percent for first-year commissions on home owners' policies, up from 10 percent.

* UFCW members working for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance now get a 55-percent first-year commission on policies, up from 52.5 percent.

Safety and health is another critical area of collective bargaining. For instance, in negotiations with Ford and General Motors the UAW made gains that include the establishment of joint management-union committees to review new plant layouts, changes in manufacturing equipment and major processes where worker health and safety may be affected, review of job design to decrease stress, review and access to management's information on the chemical hazards, and worker training on safety and health.

The use of video display terminals (VDTs) is being regulated under many contracts. The SEIU at Equitable Life for example, bargained for VDT safeguards including rest breaks, glare reduction, detachable keyboards, adjustable chairs, redesigning of work stations, and guarantees of proper maintenance.

Legal service plans were established in many new contracts. Among them are agreements negotiated by the UAW with Ford and International Harvester, by SEIU with the Realty Advisory Board and the Apartment Owners Advisory Council in New York, and by HERE with the Bellevue Stratford Hotel and the Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia.

Child care for the children of employees is getting increasing attention in collective bargaining. For example, the SEIU and the state of California negotiated a $1 million fund which will be jointly administered by a worker-management day care committee. And the New York State Nurses Association won an agreement from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital to build a new day care facility.