AT&T offers 13.25% wage hike, pension and 401(k) increases to settle strike, but is it enough?

The Communications Workers of America says it has reached a “tentative” five-year contract with AT&T.

It brings to an end – for now — a four-day strike that began last weekend with 20,000 workers walking off the job to protest what they deem as unfair labor practices.

Among the new terms: wage increases of 13.25 percent, pension and 401(k) plan enhancements, improved job security and additional customer service positions.

There will be no increase in the health care cost sharing percentage for the life of the contract, and employees will now have the ability to contribute to a Health Savings Account via payroll deduction.

“This agreement provides substantial improvements for working people at AT&T Southeast,” CWA District 3 Vice President Richard Honeycutt said in a statement.

However, others are less sure.

“I’m taking a ‘wait and see’ approach,” Paul Jones, an employee with the telecom giant for almost 50 years and CWA Local 3611 president.

“Until I get all of it, I’m not going to say it’s good or bad. We’re just looking at the sticker price. Let’s break it down and get the details.”

Jeremy Cleaver, 49, a wire technician based out of the company’s Chapel Hill return center, is also skeptical.

“Myself and a lot of others in my title are unhappy with the low increase in pay. It’s barely even a cost of living increase and doesn’t line up with the added job responsibilities put on us over the last four years,” he told WRAL TechWire, shortly after the announcement.

“I think a lot of wire technicians will be voting not to accept this tentative agreement and send everyone back to the bargaining table. There is also some vague wording about ‘other upgrades’ that a lot of us are wondering about as well.”

Last Saturday, all around the Triangle and across the Southeast, workers took to the streets vowing not to return to work until the telecom giant agreed to negotiate better terms in a new contract.

The old agreement expired on Aug. 3.

The strike lasted four and a half days until a “handshake agreement” led the employees to go back to work on Wednesday while talks continued on the tentative agreement.

Workers will now have a chance to vote on the final proposal in the coming weeks. If it’s not approved, both parties will be forced to go back to the bargaining table.