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Our BLET General Committee meeting convened on May 19, 2008, in Asheville, North Carolina. This was a meeting of the Southern committee of Norfolk Southern. General Chairman Ray Wallace and our committee's Local Chairmen were in attendance. Elections were held for officers of the General Committee. Amendments to our General Committee by-laws were decided. Issues relevant to particular districts were raised and discussed.
May 19, 2008: Monday, NS faxed 3 different contract proposals to General Chairman Wallace for a new NS/BLET Agreement. Those 3 proposals were presented to us on Tuesday, May 20. Be aware that the 3 proposals from NS are just proposals. Negotiations will continue from that point, as we found none of the 3 to be acceptable in their entirety. Link to the agreement that we voted down, for reference purposes
The following items are common in all 3 NS proposals: for more details, please refer to the agreement that we voted down Effective January 1, 2010 - weekend/holiday pay (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and contractually recognized holidays) increased to $45 thru frt and $21 other than thru frt, establish 6 EP Days (Extra Pay Days) Article III - Differentials from agreement that we voted down. Effective January 1, 2010 - meal allowance increased to $12/$24 Effective January 1, 2010 - 401(k) employers match increased from 20% to 30% of an engineer's contribution Effective July 1, 2008 - Designated Supervisor of Locomotive Engineers (DSLE) pay increased to $275 Effective January 1, 2010 - detention time will be paid after 14 hours at the away from home terminal Effective July 1, 2008 - engineers co-pay for the disability policy will be $13.68 per month, instead of the current $40 plus per month Scope Rule - same as in the agreement we voted down Utility Engineers - same as in the agreement we voted down Effective January 1, 2010 - Trainer (Coach) Allowance increased to $20 Article XIII - Standing Bid Effective January 1, 2010 - reduction adjustments to guaranteed extra boards limited to no more than 3 times per month Side Letter 1 - Opt-out provision (contained in agreement we voted down, as reference) Side Letter 2 - Scope Rule with examples (contained in agreement we voted down, as reference) Applicable Questions and Answers section from the agreement that we voted down, as reference Link to the agreement that we voted down, for reference purposes From the above list, the provisions under Article XIII, Standing Bid Arrangement will hopefully be removed from the table. That same arrangement on CSXT has already proven to be an unworkable nightmare. With the exception of that Article XIII, the rest, from the above list, may be acceptable to us. recent email: The following 3 items, from the carrier's proposals, appear to be our General Chairmen's negotiating task at hand: Thoroughbred Bonus: Proposal 1 - payable in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 A 10% bonus opportunity with 235 work starts and an additional 5% bonus opportunity with 260 work starts
Proposal 2 - payable in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 2009 - 15% bonus opportunity with 235 work starts. 2010 thru 2014 a 10% bonus opportunity with 235 work starts and an additional 5% bonus with 260 work starts
Proposal 3 - same as Proposal 2 above
Signing Bonus: Proposal 1 - $1200 Proposal 2 - $2500 Proposal 3 - $3000
Wages: Proposal 1 - 5% January 1, 2009 3% July 1, 2009 5% July1, 2010 3% July1, 2014 (16%, with nothing in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013) Proposal 2 - 5% January 1, 2009 4% July 1, 2010 5% July 1, 2011 4% July 1, 2014 (18%, with nothing in 2008, 2012, 2013) Proposal 3 - 5% January 1, 2009 3% July 1, 2009 5% July 1, 2011 3% July 1, 2014 (16%, with nothing in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013) my note: There are no wage increases proposed by NS for 2008 in any of their proposals. That is the same year that the signing bonuses of $1200 to $3000 are proposed. by the carrier. That amounts to an approximate payment of between 2% and 5% (depending on your earnings for 2008). The downside is that it is a one-time payment, just for 2008. Look at it like this: In 2008 you get the signing bonus, in lieu of a wage increase for that year. That's fine, for 2008. But, you'll lose in the long run. That provision provides no earnings increase for any year beyond 2008. A 2008 wage 5% wage increase will provide a lot more money than a $3000 signing bonus. We do not need a signing bonus for 2008, unless a wage increase is also included for July 1, 2008. General Committee of Adjustment election results: General Chairman - Ray Wallace 1st Vice General Chairman - Bill Overton 2nd Vice General Chairman - Billy Thompson 3rd Vice General Chairman - Mark Wallace 4th Vice General Chairman - Ty Thompson 5th Vice General Chairman - Jerry Sturdavant Alternate Vice General Chairman - Fred Cox
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