Just seeing what the rest of you feel about the new contract proposal. I must say I dissaprove. 2.0% wage increases the last 3yrs are grossly under cost of living and inflation. The way fuel and food prices are rising this is not nearly enough. No cap on healthcare premiums. The bonus based on attendence is ok, but it says you qualify for the 10- 15% that doesn’t mean they’ll give it to you (remeber last yr. we were hosed) The scope rule and the utility engineer! Are we selling our futures away for $4700? What about the standing bid arrangement? From what i’m told by fellow engineers on CSX this is a nightmare. As far as i’m concerned the last proposal was better. What happened to the BLET/Teamster merger helping us with better contracts? Why don’t the GC’s ask anyone what they would like to see in the contracts. I can’t speak for the rest of you but i’m voting NO!!
And i cant speak for everyone but your a fool … yes the last agreement was much better but you guys didnt like the way the vacations were set up. if you need that much time off then get another job. im not voting for the sign bonus and if that is the way you feel then your a big fool. the only reason you should sign the contract is for the scope rule. it keeps you a job even if they go remote controll in that a engineer will always be on the job and your protected that all jobs will be at least a engineer on there. oh and the 4700.00 is before taxes. i didnt sell anything im keeping me employed. remeber the other railroads are doing this nationally we are seperate and apart. they have covered the bases and the raised your pay 19% in 4 years not including the cost of living raise. the productivity bonus is a gareentee 5% just like last year and nobody ever said that you are going to get a bonus. dont bank on that if you do your going to be a broke person. the short story is, keep your job forget the raises and keep your job or a majority can go for the money. or lack of it and be out of a job in 10 years or less. will it pass if people have the attitude like yours no but then again most wont even bother to to mail it in in the payed postage envelope. I voted yes
I have heard some people on ns have NKP agreements or wabash agreements etc etc.do these still exist?? Or have they retired because the the employees have retired? Just wondering.
stay safe
joe
Well thats touchy as they was to redo the last contract to get rid of them agreements and have one base contract. i worked under the old southern agreement. this is going to be a touchy subject and frankly most of the guys here are looking for pay increases and not security or health benifits open your eyes and look at the whole picture. forget the big picture just look at the whole one. if the scope dont pass it wont affect me but most of the new guys wont have a job, but if they are smart they will secure thier job and go for more money later
wabash-Thanks for the answer.Hope it works out for you.(and others)
stay safe
joe
This really isn’t the right forum to be talking to fellow railworkers about internal issues anyway. There are several of us here but there are other forums (yardlimits.com) that are dedicated to railworkers where you will find 95% of the members there are railroad employees. Alot of discussions ther regarding contracts and such.
I would be happy with any raise at this point. Since 9/11 my wages have been reduced by 20% (no increases since then either) and the cost of benefits (to me) has increased by 15-25% depending on what it is…you do the math…that doesn’t even begin to figure in inflation which has further degregated my already reduced salary. Oh ya there is that layoff set for August 31st…
Now for the real story, I realize that I have a good job and the pay is still more than many of those at other airlines (let alone other fields) and the cost of benifits to me is way below what it is where my wife works.
So, I don’t complain to much, I know I have it better than so many others.
Last time I checked railroads paid well and had great benefits (just like the airlines)!
Yes I would always take more if it was offered.
I see no differance in this from any of the other topics that come up. if your not interested then go to that yard what ever and stay for all i care, it was asked and i gave my opinoin, and will talk in detail what i like or dislike about this contract. when i want. Geez Now i guess they going to lock the thread now.
I agree Wabash- open forum for discussion whatever you want discuss!
It was to the original poster. Should have added his name apparently. You still don’t have to be a prick when I never directed anything towards you. As for your opinion, calling the guy a fool because his opinion differs from yours, what’s that all about. I don’t care what you talk about, get over yourself. He came in here asking about the contract, I told him a place where he would get more information.
Calling him a fool is only a term meaning he is miss informed and or not with all the facts hence making a bad dissision not a bad thing, but lets be real here. if he really wanted the correct info he would not be on line to get it, he be in front of his local chairman getting the facts right now. I believe it was a statement and he was just blowing off steam as he never read the whole thing. in all contracts there is good mixed with the bad, the good is the scope the bad is the vacation and medical so to cover it up they give a kick back in hopes you will sign it away. there is other things in there but nobody seems to care.
“Fool” is a pretty strong word where I come from. My Dad gave me a long lecture on the subject when I was wee and had called my brother a “fool”. I was an early learner, english-wise, and besides being the spelling bee champion at St. Catherine’s, I picked up a lot of words from the street. The f…k word was learned from a guy in the stable where we worked. Used it at home and got soap de jour. Then my brothers and I were "overseeing " a sewer project by borough guys and “get the hell out of here” got confused with “get the hole out of here”. Just a group lecture for that
I think the contracts belong on another forum, but hey!!! It’s another peek into RR affairs for us fans
RIX
While I don’t have a dog in this fight I can say from the aviation side that scope protection should be your number one concern. One only has to look at what has happened to the jobs at the major airlines when they gave up scope. Regional airlines now cover routes and jobs that pay fractions of what the majors used to pay. Protect scope now and worry about pay later.
Good luck guys.