The United Steelworkers on Friday announced that the union has reached a tentative agreement on a first contract with engineering and IT contractor HCL America Inc., on behalf of about 65 Pittsburgh-based Google contingents.
USW International President Tom Conway said the tentative agreement represents the hope of a bright future for workers seeking to organize unions to negotiate for better pay, benefits and working conditions, no matter what industry or occupation.
The announcement comes almost two years after employees of HCL Technologies voted to unionize, saying that even though they worked alongside Google employees, they didn’t receive the same benefits. Google’s contractor workforce has grown significantly over the past several years, to the point it’s nearly as large as its full-time workforce, MSN reported.
Amanda Parks, a member of the USW bargaining committee who works for HCL, said that over its three-year term, the proposed contract addresses pay parity and includes “meaningful” wage increases. It also provides additional paid time off and includes contract language safeguards to provide job security.
A ratification vote for the membership is scheduled for July 30. If ratified, the proposed contract would take effect immediately.