(ATLANTA) - Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have ratified a new three-year agreement with AT&T that covers 35,000 CWA-represented workers at AT&T Southeast, Union officials have announced.

The settlement was ratified by a 65% vote, CWA representatives said.  Among improvements, the agreement provides for a compounded nine-percent wage increase over the contract term, plus additional increases for workers covered by progression scales.  Pension bands will increase by two-percent in June of each contract year and the lump sum pay-out option was retained.

CWA District 3 Vice President Judy Dennis said the contract reflected the Union bargaining committee's hard work and determination to negotiate a contract that addressed CWA Members' key issues for wages, benefits and other conditions.

"In these very tough economic times, our bargaining team did an exceptional job in improving wages and benefits and making real gains for workers in job security, including new transfer rights and other job rights covering customer service and sales workers," Ms. Dennis said.