Tazewell and Peoria (TZPR), Local 198 (Peoria, Ill.) members unanimously ratified a new five-year agreement June 2, 2017.
The new agreement duration is retroactive to November 1, 2014 and goes through October 31, 2019, and provides five general wage increases totaling 14 percent with full back pay. An hourly increase of 15 percent will also be provided with the contract. Members will enjoy increased paid vacation time and establishes five to eight paid flex days per year for all employees. The agreement also provides for an increase in 401k employer contribution match from 3 to 4 percent. Members will also be enrolled in the Genesee and Wyoming Midwest Region short-term disability program.
“Former General Chairperson Brandt Bechtold, General Chairperson Chad Rossman and Local 198 President Joe Haney did an excellent job of bringing members’ concerns to the table,” said SMART TD Vice President Dave Wier.
Part of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., TZPR operates 24 track miles and interchanges with BNSF, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Keokuk Junction Railway, Illinois & Midland Railroad, Iowa Interstate Railway and the Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway all at Creve Coeur, Ill. Commodities shipped by the railroad include chemicals, coal, construction materials, food and feed products, forest products, steel and scrap.

P&LSMART TD-represented engineers employed by Paducah and Louisville Railway has ratified a new five-year agreement.

The agreement provides for wage increases in each year of the agreement with an initial adjustment of three percent, effective January 1, 2014, and additional adjustments of three percent on January 1, 2015 and every year thereafter through 2018. The total general wage increase over the life of the contract is 15 percent, with a 16 percent cumulative increase.

In addition to the general wage increases, the agreement provides full back-pay, an increase in certification and meal allowance payments, increases in 401K contributions, and a cap to health and welfare contributions at $225.00 for the family plan over the life of the agreement. The agreement also establishes call windows for regular assignments, preserves cost of living adjustments and improves bereavement and personal leave provisions.

“General Committee of Adjustment 436 (CN Illinois Central) General Chairperson Jim Herndon and Local 785 Chairperson Clint Keeling did an outstanding job of bringing the members’ concerns to the table and negotiating an agreement with dramatic improvements in wages and working conditions,” said Vice President Dave Wier. 

Charlotte_CATS_logoWith over 75 percent of the voting membership agreeing, Local 1596 maintenance workers of Charlotte Area Transit System based out of Charlotte, N.C., ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. The new agreement is for three years starting retroactively to June 30, 2015 and going through June 30, 2018.

Leading the way, GCA TMM (Transit Management of Charlotte, Inc.) General Chairperson Craig Patch helped negotiations, asking for contractual language changes, improvements to the pension plan and wage increases. Patch, Local Chairperson Billy Belcher, Vice Chairperson Gary Moore and Secretary Michael Jenkins worked tirelessly on the agreement.

“Brother Patch and I would like to thank Local President James Hinton, Local Vice President Gerald Hudson and S&T Tony Sandle for their hard work on getting this accomplished,” Alternate Vice President Bus-East Alvy Hughes said.