Progress Through Unity

Archives for October 5, 2017

General Chairman Burkert’s Weekly”HOT TOPICS” News

October 5, 2017 By

In an effort to better communicate information as quickly as possible to the Membership here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) I attended our monthly Local 60 Union meeting this past Sunday. I gave a full report on my activities for the past month to the Members assembled. I would encourage more members to attend our monthly meetings. I congratulate the Members who were nominated and then won positions as Union Officers by acclamation. The treasurer position is the only position so far going out to the members to vote.

B) Anyone attending BOR or RECERT class, please be prepared to go out into the yard for instructions, This includes the proper footwear, if you wear sneakers to class you will be sent home without pay.

C) I, along with some fellow officers attended Chief Trucillo’s SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF OUTING. I had the opportunity to discuss Member issues with some of the Carriers other employees and try to find some solutions. The cost to attend was my own not the Local’s or GO-610. It was a great day and very satisfying to spend helping others in need. I look forward to next year and a return visit.

D) I attended a seminar this week at NJT HQ on Asbestos remediation. This was a direct result of the Carrier working on the MU cars and I requested what safeguards were in place for our Members.

E) I had multiple meetings with the Carrier on various issues that are affecting Members. FMLA is being looked at more closely so please be cognizant of exactly what are the parameters set forth by your doctor for you to be excused from work.

 

Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

 

Filed Under: Local 60 News

National Negotiations Update: Coordinated Bargaining Group Unions Reach Tentative National Contract Agreement

October 5, 2017 By
Independence, Ohio, October 5 — Rail Unions making up the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) announced today that they have reached a Tentative National Agreement with the Nation’s Freight Rail Carriers. The CBG is comprised of six unions: the American Train Dispatchers Association; the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers; the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers / SEIU; and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART TD).

On Wednesday, October 4th, the CBG’s full Negotiating Team met in Independence, Ohio for a review of the terms of the proposed voluntary agreement. Following that review, each of the CBG Unions’ Negotiating Teams unanimously endorsed the Tentative Agreement. On Thursday, October 5th, the involved General Chairpersons of SMART TD, BRS and BLET met as well and those groups also unanimously endorsed the Tentative Agreement for consideration by the respective membership of each Union.

The Tentative Agreement, which will be submitted to the memberships of each involved Union in the coming weeks, includes an immediate wage increase of 4%, with an additional 2.5% six months later on July 1, 2018 and an additional 3% one year later on July 1, 2019. In addition, wage increases of 2% effective July 1, 2016 and another 2% effective July 1, 2017 will be fully retroactive through implementation, for a compounded increase of 9.84% over an 18-month period and 13.14% over the 5-year contract term (this includes the First General Wage Increase of 3% implemented on January 1, 2015).

All benefits existing under the Health and Welfare Plan will remain in effect unchanged and there are no disruptions to the existing healthcare networks. While some employee participation costs are increased, the tentative agreement maintains reasonable maximum out-of-pocket protections for our members. The TA also adds several new benefits to the Health and Welfare Plan for the members of the involved unions and, importantly, it requires that the Rail Carriers will, on average, continue to pay 90% of all of our members’ point of service costs.

On a matter of critical importance, the employees’ monthly premium contribution is frozen at the current rate of $228.89. The frozen rate can only be increased by mutual agreement at the conclusion of negotiations in the next round of bargaining that begins on 1/1/2020.

In addition, the CBG steadfastly refused to accept the carriers’ demands for changes to work rules that would have imposed significant negative impacts on every one of our members. As a result of that rejection, the Tentative Agreement provides for absolutely no changes in work rules for any of the involved unions.

“This Tentative Agreement provides real wage increases over and above inflation, health care cost increases far below what the carriers were demanding, freezes our monthly health plan cost contribution at the current level, provides significant retroactive pay and imposes no changes to any of our work rules,” said the CBG Union Presidents. “This is a very positive outcome for a very difficult round of negotiations. We look forward to presenting the Tentative Agreement to our respective memberships for their consideration.”

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Collectively, the CBG unions represent more than 85,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements, and comprise over 58% of the workforce that will be impacted by the outcome of the current bargaining round.
Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News