By AP
Atlanta, GA – Bellsouth employees have ratified five year labor contracts that cover 42,360 workers in nine southeastern states including Kentucky.
The six contracts, ratified Tuesday, include a 10.5% increase in base wages over five years for the members of the Communications Workers of America. Workers and retirees still won't pay monthly premiums for health care, but certain co-pays and deductibles will be higher.
The agreements were reached August 7th just hours before the previous contract was to expire. The union had authorized a strike if an agreement had not been reached.
Bellsouth is the dominant local phone provider in Kentucky and eight other states in the southeast.