Labor Still Fighting Cramdown

"Cramdown" is the term used to describe carrier elimination of collective bargaining agreements as a result of mergers approved by the Surface Transportation Board. As this Journal goes to press, the fight around cramdown has intensified. On November 9, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka reached an agreement with the Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ed Hamberger. "We finally have a sensible framework for ending the 'cramdown' as we know it and restoring fairness to a process that for two decades has ravaged rail workers' contracts and rights," said Trumka. "And with this deal, we will end our mobilization to block STB Chairwoman Linda Morgan's Senate confirmation." On November 10 at approximately 3:00 p.m., by a vote of 96 to 3, Linda Morgan was confirmed as chairperson of the Surface Transportation Board. Later that evening on November 10 the railroads reneged on the deal. But the fight is not over. 

2000 Round Begins

On November 1 the BMWE served the carriers with Section 6 Notices outlining the BMWE's demands and officially opening the 2000 round of bargaining. On the same day the BMWE received notice from the National Carriers' Conference Committee representative, Robert Allen, on the railroads demands. An initial meeting between the parties was tentatively scheduled for the second week in December, after this Journal went to press. In October at the AFL-CIO Convention in Los Angeles, the Executive Council adopted a resolution pledging to assist its rail affiliates in the bargaining process "to ensure railroad workers are treated fairly and obtain a timely and just contract settlement." The complete text of the resolution can be found on page 28 of this Journal.

Editor's Note: 55 & 30

In the June/July issue of the BMWE Journal, in the "And The Survey Says" article continued on page 2, the following statement was made: "For one, and probably most important, the BMWE is the only rail union currently pushing for early retirement." This statement is untrue; all other crafts are pushing for earlier retirement. We apologize to our brothers and sisters in the other crafts for misstating their position. We also regret that we could not print our apology sooner but when the matter was pointed out to us, the current issue, October, had already gone to press. The BMWE is, however, the only craft supporting 55 and 30, including paying the increased taxes that would be required to obtain 55 and 30. All other crafts, except the BLE, have stated they oppose 55 and 30 if it requires tax increases to obtain it. The Railroad Retirement Board has estimated that it would take approximately a 7% to 8% increase in Railroad Retirement taxes to provide full benefits at 55 and 30 and an improved survivor benefit.

On Friday, November 19, after this JOURNAL had gone to press, members of the BMWE informationally picketed entrances to major terminals across the country to educate rail co-workers on early retirement. A full story will appear in the January/February issue of the BMWE Journal.

Editor's Note: GL Dues Increase

In the October issue of the BMWE Journal we noted that there was a Grand Lodge dues increase effective January 1, 2000. We are sorry that there apparently was some confusion as to what that dues increase was. To restate, Grand Lodge dues will be increased by 50 cents on January 1 for a total of $19.75 per month. (In addition there is currently a $2.00 assessment being deducted monthly as passed by the 1998 Grand Lodge Convention. $1.00, effective January 1999, is being used exclusively for negotiations expenses and the other $1.00, effective September 1998, is being used exclusively for the state legislative fund.)

Jobs in Jeopardy in West Virginia

We need your help say Rail Labor leaders, including BMWE President Mac A. Fleming, as well as the CEOs of CSX and Norfolk Southern. The rail industry and the jobs it employs face a certain downturn if we do not make our voices heard. A recent ruling declared that mountaintop coal mining in West Virginia violates the Clean Water Act. As a result of this precedent-setting event, mountaintop coal mining in the Mountaineer State, as well as mining and transportation interests across the country could face elimination. This could be far worse for the industry than Coal Slurry Pipeline. A legislative remedy is urgently needed. Over 100,000 jobs including railroad jobs could be affected if the ruling is allowed to stand. The coal we carry out of West Virginia is a significant part of our economic livelihood. It is an efficient supply of energy for the millions of people who rely on it to heat their homes. And they rely on us to transport this coal efficiently throughout the eastern United States. Unfortunately, the situation in West Virginia puts this process and the economy in jeopardy. We strongly urge you to contact President Clinton and Vice President Gore immediately and ask them to intervene in order to save West Virginia's and America's coal industry along with our jobs. Urge them to support a legislative fix to protect coal mining jobs in West Virginia and the rail and related transportation jobs that are dependent upon coal. President Bill Clinton, 202-456-1414, president@whitehouse.gov; Vice President Al Gore, 202-456-2326, vicepresident@whitehouse.gov.

New TTD Rail Labor Division Vice Chairman

BLE International President Edward Dubroski was elected by acclamation to the second-highest position in the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department's Rail Labor Division on November 9. The 12 unions that belong to the TTD's Rail Labor Division besides the BMWE and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers are: Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, Transportation Communications International Union, International Association of Machinists, Boilermakers and Blacksmiths, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, Firemen and Oilers/SEIU, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Transport Workers Union of America, Sheet Metal Workers and American Train Dispatchers Department of the BLE.

Couple Leave $1.9 Million to RRB

The railroad retirement account is $1.9 million richer thanks to the generosity of a long-time railroader and his wife. Frank Bartz, who died in 1993 at age 100 and his wife Mary, who died in 1998 at age 97, left the gift to the Railroad Retirement Board as part of their estate. A WWI veteran, Mr. Bartz enjoyed a forty-year career with the Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad, working as a freight agent and teletype operator at a depot just down the street from his Napoleon, Ohio home. Mrs. Bartz also worked for a while at the depot. The Bartzs had no children or close relatives. While others have left estate gifts to the RRB in the past, this is one of the largest donations ever received.