At this time the Company has not agreed to extend the current COVID-19 and Situational Telecommuting Agreement.  We will continue to pursue an extension to the agreement as we believe it is in the best interest of our members. Below you will find the original bargaining demand from April 2020 along with the Company’s backdated original agreement and subsequent extensions.

• Telecommuting Memo
• COVID Request to Bargain
• OPEIU MOU
• extension dated 6/22
• extension dated 9/24
• extension dated 12/9
• extension dated 1/25

The Local 277 bargaining team agreed to terms on a new 3-year agreement securing substantial improvements for the Marketing Specialists working for AIL and NILICO.  Highlights include general wage increases in each year of the contract, no increases to health insurance costs, and a nearly 20% increase to the pension multiplier over the life of the contract.  Improvements were also made to minimum compensation, reimbursements, lead credits for both originals and renewals, holiday bonuses, group life insurance coverage, and the Joint Management and Labor scholarship.   The bargaining team included DeAundra Cephus, Tim O’Connor, David Scalisi, and Tyler Turner.

In a historic vote held Monday, June 28, 2021, the members of Local 277 working for the AIL Home Office in Waco, Texas, overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement.  The bargaining committee secured record general wage increases in each year, no increase to employee insurance costs, and a nearly 20% increase to the pension multiplier over the life of the agreement.  The committee also bargained substantial improvements to shift differentials, bilingual pay, promotion increases, overtime accruals, and the holiday bonus.  Perhaps the most significant non-economic item the union was able to bargain was work-life balance.  Employees may now choose from three different weekly work schedules that best fit their needs and telecommute, where the classification allows.  The Local 277 bargaining committee included DeAundra Cephus, Debbie Engelke, Terry Harrison, LaShun Hawkins, Dave Jones, Tonia Stonum, and Tyler Turner.

The Local 277 bargaining team agreed to terms on a new 3-year agreement covering the Agents and Public Relations Representatives contracted with American Income Life and National Income Life.  Improvements include increases to additional commissions for insurance, increases in group term life coverage, and added flexibility for leaves of absence.  Public Relations Representatives covered under the agreement also won increases to lead credits, lump-sum amounts upon retirement, and percentage matching for retirement savings.   PR Reps also gained additional opportunities to qualify for different contract levels and additional insurance commissions.  The negotiations team included Laurie Gruber (PR Rep for AIL), David Watkins (Agent for NILICO), and Tyler Turner (Business Manager for OPEIU Local 277).

Members covered under this agreement will receive a copy of the new collective bargaining agreement accompanied by a summary of changes once the final versions are proofed and printed. 

Saturday, January 24, 2021, the members of Local 277, working at the iconic Austin landmark, BookPeople, unanimously ratified their first contract.  After winning the NLRB election in November 2018, the members bargained for nearly two years to get a fair contract.  The agreement is highlighted by significant wage improvements and the core protections that only a collective bargaining agreement can provide.  The bargaining committee included Aaron Garcia, Staci Gray, Maya Lamphier, Griffin Mauser, Molly Moore, Will Tangney, Marco, Valoz, and Patrick Watson.  We want to extend a special acknowledgment to Chris Hollingsworth, who happily accepted and occupied multiple roles throughout the fight, most notably as a member of the Contract Action Team.