Guild, BNA Reach Tentative Three-Year Agreement

(March 1, 2010)  Guild and BNA bargainers reached tentative agreement on a three-year contract after a marathon bargaining session that began Sunday, Feb. 28, and ended just past midnight.

Among the highlights of the agreement are 2010 pay raises (Bands A to D) of 1.9 percent, 1.7 percent, 1.5 percent, and 1 percent, plus a $1,000 ratification bonus for each employee; 2011 pay raises of 3.5 percent, 3.25 percent, 3 percent, and 2 percent; and 2012 pay raises of 4.5 percent, 4.25 percent, 4 percent, and 3 percent.

For those covered by the Aetna insurance plan, there will be no premiums until 2012. Starting next year (Jan. 1, 2011), there will be a 10 percent co-insurance payment, with a maximum out-of-pocket of 2 percent of base salary for employee-only coverage; 3 percent for employee-plus-one plans; and 4 percent for family plans. For an employee making $50,000 annually, the maximum in co-insurance would be $1,000 for individual coverage; for employee-plus-one coverage it would be $1,500; and for family coverage, $2,000.

A membership meeting will be held by March 5 to go over the agreement; BNA bargainers said they expect to hold a ratification vote before March 12.

If ratified, the new agreement would run to Feb. 28, 2013. The previous contract, a four-year deal expired at midnight Feb.28.