Local 537 Secures Contract with American Water
Under a long-standing agreement by the parties, the National UWUA and other unions negotiate most benefits with American Water as part of a National Benefits Agreement. Negotiations for wages, hours, and working conditions are done separately by local unions.
Local 537 members in Brownsville, PA, ratified a new 5-year contract with American Water covering wages, hours, and working conditions. The September agreement brings wage increases every year, an improved sick leave policy, an increase in the number of employees eligible to be off on the first day of buck season, a better clothing and boot policy, a new prescription glasses benefit of $150, and a provision where employees receiving shift differentials will have the differential pay included in their hourly wage.
Letter:
To all my Union Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to say that I was honored to have the opportunity to represent Local 537 in the recent negotiation of the American Water National Benefits Agreement. I have never held a union position in the 36 years of being a union member.
I was quite impressed by the National Union’s negotiating team. Their knowledge, effort and hard work resulted in a contract with the better benefits that the workers well deserve. This is not an easy task to accomplish in the corporate America of today.
I was inspired by the cooperation and unity of all the locals coming together to address the concerns, ideas, and needs of their members. I believe when all union members in the house of labor come together, it makes for a more profitable and safer working environment.
Special thanks to all the union members who were involved in making this contract possible and moved us forward, together.
Thank You
Edward M. Kastreva
Local 537
Steward and Bargaining Committee Member
Wilkes Barre / Scranton