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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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