Cingular, CWA reach tentative agreement

Cingular Wireless has reached a tentative four-year agreement with the Communications Workers of America that would result in an 11% raise for 5300 Cingular workers.

According to a prepared statement from the CWA, the agreement improves base compensation for Cingular?s retail sales force by more than 25% in addition to addressing quota relief and job duties for employees of the carrier?s call centers and retail outlets. The agreement also promises to strengthen employment security issues that emerged in the wake of Cingular?s 2004 merger with AT&T Wireless, the CWA said.

Negotiations between Cingular and the CWA began in the carrier?s native Atlanta on Jan. 12. The previous contract covering the 5300 workers in question officially expired on Feb. 5, but was extended as discussions continued.

A majority of its bargaining committee members have suggested ratification of the deal, the CWA said. The organization said it would soon set a ratification date.