UTU members ratify pacts on two terminal railroads

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART)-represented trainmen, engineers and yardmasters employed by Lake Terminal Railroad have ratified a new six-year agreement by a unanimous vote.

 

The agreement provides for six annual wage increases, beginning July 1, 2013, and rolls in previous cost-of-living adjustment increases, resulting in an 18.7 percent cumulative wage increase over the life of the contract.

It also includes lump sum back pay, establishes a $5 certification pay for conductors, engineers and remote control operators, increases carrier-matching contributions to 401(k) accounts to $1,300 and establishes an additional retirement account for new hires with a $75 monthly carrier contribution. There will be limits on employee health and welfare contributions to 12 percent of the plan costs and a freeze on co-pays and deductibles for the life of the contract.

Additionally, UTU-SMART-represented trainmen and yardmasters employed by the Terminal Railroad Alabama State Docks have ratified a new six-year agreement by an overwhelming majority.

The new agreement provides for six, three percent annual general wage increases retroactive to April 1, 2012, with the final three percent general wage increase on April 1, 2017, resulting in a cumulative wage increase of 19.1 percent over the life of the agreement, with full back pay.

The agreement establishes a $5 certification pay for yard foreman, increases meal periods to thirty minutes with a one hour meal payment on certain assignments, provides a 30 minute training payment for yard foreman, helpers and yardmasters and reduces the vacation qualifying years to 12 years for four weeks of vacation and 23 years for five weeks vacation.

The agreement provides for calculating paid military leave days as a start for five-day work weeks and allows employees to bank up to 60 personal leave days.

 

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