Large rail union SMART-TD votes to reject labor deal as national strike moves closer

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Mon Nov 21, 2022, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: CNBC

SMART-TD, one of the largest railroad labor unions, voted down a tentative agreement with rail management, raising the likelihood of a strike in December. The BLET, the other largest union, voted to ratify the labor deal but said it will honor the picket line.

“It’s now back to the bargaining table for our operating craft members,” said Jeremy Ferguson, president of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division. “This can all be settled through negotiations and without a strike. A settlement would be in the best interests of the workers, the railroads, shippers and the American people.”

“We stood shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in SMART-TD and others in rail labor throughout this process and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them as we approach the finish line in this round of negotiations,” said Dennis Pierce, president of BLET, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

The BMWED, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, is scheduled to strike Dec. 5 with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, or BRS. But BMWED announced it would extend its cooling-off period if one of the larger unions voted not to ratify the tentative labor deal. The BRS has not indicated whether it will extend its deadline for talks. SMART-TD, BMWED and BRS represent more than 50% of all rail labor.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/smart-td-votes-down-labor-deal-as-rails-move-closer-to-national-strike.html

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Article updated.

Original article -

SMART-TD, one of the largest railroad labor unions, voted down the tentative agreement with rail management, raising the likelihood of a strike in December. The BLET, the other largest union which represents engineers, voted to ratify the labor deal but said it will honor the picket line.

“We stood shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in SMART-TD and others in rail labor throughout this process and we will continue to stand in solidarity with them as we approach the finish line in this round of negotiations,” said BLET President Dennis Pierce.

The BMWED, which represents the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, is scheduled to strike on December 5 with The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS). But BMWED announced it would extend its cooling-off period if one of the larger unions voted not to ratify the tentative labor deal. The BRS has not indicated whether it will extend its deadline for talks.

SMART-TD, BMWED, AND BRS represent more than 50% of all rail labor. BMWED AND BRS have another round of talks with railroad carriers Monday afternoon on federal sick pay.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Railroad Unions Split Over Labor Contract

One of the biggest U.S. railroad unions rejected a new wage deal, splitting with another union and moving closer to a strike that could disrupt supply chains

wsj.com
Railroad Unions Split Over Labor Contract
Members of the conductors union narrowly voted to reject a new wage deal brokered by the White House, while the engineers union narrowly ratified the deal.

Link to tweet

[DEbluedude]

2. Unbelievable.

This is the best contract offer the rank and file has had in 40 years. Significant increases in pay. Retroactive back pay, which is huge. Limited increase in HC premiums over the life of the Agreement. Agreement language that addresses sick leave, which is unprecedented. NO GIVEBACKS, NONE!

My belief is that if the Agreement is not ratified and the strike ensues, the railroads will have an injunction in their hands within 24 hours and the workers will be forced back to work. I don't think that the railroads would consider a lockout in these economic times. Congress will impose recommendations from PEB 250 without additional negotiated provisions such as the sick leave language. It will be a loss for rail labor.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. The problem seems to keep coming back to sick time off

I know in contrast with private industry, the federal government has employees "earn" 4 hours of sick leave each pay period (a pay period is 2 weeks) so it comes out to 1 day a month and about 13 days per calendar year. The sick time can carry over from year to year (as opposed to vacation time where there is a max of 240 hours that can be carried over year to year with some exceptions for managers).

[DEbluedude]

5. That is a huge issue.

The railroads have dismissed far too many people for violations of their draconian attendance policies. There are no paid sick days on the railroad. Any time off, paid or otherwise, including negotiated rest days is virtually impossible with the manpower shortage. That coupled with FRA regulations mandating certain rest time makes it extremely hard to have any quality time off.

You are expected to utilize personal days for doctors appointments and such, which is not unreasonable. However, getting a personal day is like pulling teeth. You request it weeks, sometimes months in advance, and the supervisors don't approve or deny the request. They ignore it. Said employee takes off that day for his personal business without authorization and bingo, they're disciplined. Actual hospitalizations due to emergencies have resulted in employees being disciplined and at times, dismissed.

The recent contract had language that would address absences regarding medical issues. Any absence requiring any hospitalization of an employee for any reason, on or off duty, would not subject that employee to discipline. That is huge in this contract. Historical really, as it is the first time the issue has been addressed on the National level. ITS A START.

This was a win. It's frustrating to see it go away.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. I know back in my early work days

I was a Union steward, then VP, then President of my Local and I know with negotiations, right when you think that if something is outright rejected, the whole thing goes, that's not always the case, and some finagling can happen behind the scenes to salvage some good benefits.

IMHO it seems that the issue of a chronic "worker shortage" points to where and how they are recruiting. Some of these companies (and even the unions) were so insular that they essentially refused to consider diversifying their work force and start recruiting and training more women and minorities, and not just as porters or loaders or administrative staff.

[DEbluedude]

7. The railroads have diversified quite a bit over the last twenty years.

The "worker shortage" is self-inflicted in their case. Cut to the bone to please Wall Street. Extreme discipline resulting in dismissals. And in reality, the job is not what it was back in the day. The workplace is so toxic. I worked in the industry for over 45 years and things started going downhill in the mid-eighties. Not sure many people nowadays want to put up with the bullshit.

I was active in the union movement for over 30 years also. Served in many capacities. At retirement, I was the #2 person in the organization. I had a behind the scene job involving arbitration issues. Never a dull moment. That is one reason why it frustrates me to see this contract shot down. If it eventually is, the recommendations of PEB 250 will be imposed on the workers. And it does not contain the language regarding sick time.

Solidarity Brother!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Rail union rejects contract as strike threatens U.S. economy before holidays

Threat of rail strike in two weeks triggered after union votes down White House-brokered deal

washingtonpost.com
Rail union rejects contract as strike threatens U.S. economy before holidays
Rail unions rejected a deal brokered by the White House, threatening a new rail strike in two weeks. Attendance and sick

Unless Congress intervenes, or the unions and carriers reach a new agreement, workers would be allowed to strike and companies would be able to impose a lockout right after midnight Dec. 5.

washingtonpost.com
Rail union rejects contract as strike threatens U.S. economy before holidays
Rail unions rejected a deal brokered by the White House, threatening a new rail strike in two weeks. Attendance and sick leave policies have

Link to tweet