Tri-Rail agreement reached between UTU, SFRTA
Written by jrood
Operations center employees of South Florida Tri-Rail, who are represented by the United Transportation Union, have their first collective bargaining agreement in place. It provides for a signing bonus; an immediate wage increase, plus additional wage increases in 2012 and 2013; a 40-hour weekly guarantee, plus punitive overtime pay; a reduction in the health care insurance premium; a meal period and a scope rule. Additionally, the agreement provides an enhanced vacation entitlement; a path to enter train and engine service with seniority protection; a bid process for assignments; a formal process for grievance and discipline handling; a 401(k) plan with an employer match and work rules and conditions equivalent to those provided by contract for Tri-Rail's train and engine workers represented by the UTU. "Overall, this is an excellent first contract for a newly organized work group," said UTU International Vice President John Previsich, who assisted with negotiations. "It is always very difficult to provide any improvements to the status quo on a new contract as companies are very reluctant to reward employees for choosing to bargain collectively."
