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BARGAINING UPDATE: BMWED/SMART-MD DISPUTE CARRIERS' CLAIMS IN LATEST
NATIONAL BARGAINING MEETING
The BMWED/SMART-MD National Bargaining Coalition received a work rules
presentation from the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) and
presented an economic analysis of freight rail industry to railroad
officials Oct. 27 via teleconference.

The railroads seek a host of work rule changes under the guise of an
alleged need for "modernization." They claim these rule changes are
necessary in order for rail to remain competitive against other modes
of transportation (trucking) and also claim BMWED members desire more
flexibility in their work schedules (to work more on weekends and
outside regular hours). But some of the railroads' work rules changes
are directed at illusory problems and others are just plain offensive.
For example, the railroads' want to eliminate the 40-hour workweek and
8-hour workday along with premium pay for work outside those limits.
The railroads also want unilateral management selection for certain
positions, rather than seniority. And the railroads want to eliminate
employee protection benefits ("Feb. 7") because employee protections
allegedly ice any railroad's intentions to hire new employee. These
types of proposals are asinine and do nothing to improve the lives of
railroad workers, and only further pad the railroads' and shareholders
bank accounts...


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