Communications Workers of America members in the western United States have given the thumbs-up to a new three-year contract from AT&T, ratifying it by a 3-to-1 margin.

The deal covers 22,000 CWA workers in California, Hawaii and Nevada.

“This agreement achieves members’ key goals: It maintains our members’ standard of living, safeguards quality health care for workers and retirees, and enhances employment security,” said CWA District 9 Vice President Jim Weitkamp. “Considering we are in the worst recession in history, this agreement reflects real gains and positive accomplishments for workers,” he said.

The deal raises pay by 9 percent over the next three years and provides pension band hikes of 2 percent in each year, also with cost-of-living adjustments.

The health care plan provides for fully funded preventive care and company-funded health reimbursement accounts that can be used toward any eligible health care expense, and a majority of workers won`t see any cost changes at all in their health care coverage. The new agreement also includes new transfer rights for workers and provides additional employment security improvements.

Negotiations are still going for another 65,000 workers in other parts of the country.