2019 Negotiations

What's Next

Feb 20, 2020

After the second ratification vote was conducted this past week and the membership rejected the package again I'm sure you are all wondering where this goes next.

The company has contacted the Union and is requesting that a Federal Mediator join both parties at the negotiating table before we go much further. We are now working with the Mediator and his schedule and he will not be available before Febuary 28. With that said, when we have a firm date for when both parties will be going back to the table we will communicate that out to the membership. We anticipate the first week of March, but as I said we don't have any dates locked down yet. More to follow.

I would like to take a minute to address the process of how we work through a negotiations. There have been a fair number of questions coming from the membership asking if voting "NO" on a contract means we are going out on strike. The short answer to that question is NO. The Union will not go out on strike until we have taken a "Strike Vote" from the membership and the majority authorize it. A vote on a contract is not a vote to strike. Please pass that along to any concerned members who may be asking.

I would also like to take a moment to speak on the topic of Safety. There have been several accidents and/or incidents that have occured around the system recently. I have no doubt in part because these negotiations have been on everyones mind. But please, please, please stay focused on the work and the task in front of you while you are doing your respective jobs!! While these negotiations are important it's not worth injury, or potentially even death, to anyone. I very much want all of you to go home the same way you all came to work each and every day. So please work safe and stay focused.

As always Union leadership will get information out to to the membership as it becomes available over the next few weeks. 

In Solidarity