SBC, phone provider reach tentative deal after 4-day strike

Tuesday, May 25th 2004, 5:35 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- After a four-day strike, about 2,500 Oklahoma SBC Communications employees have a tentative agreement providing higher pay and a five-year guarantee of no layoffs.

Oklahoma members of the Communications Workers of America are mostly cheering for the deal. They expect union members to ratify it in the coming weeks.

CWA Local 6012 President David Ratcliff of Tulsa says morale is high and employees are excited to be back at work.

SBC and union negotiators reached the agreement early Tuesday morning. It guarantees 100,000 union workers will have jobs.

The agreement also includes base wage increases and new access to jobs in the growth areas. It protects health security for both active employees and retirees, and improves pensions.