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I am sure by now that many of my fellow union members, of all crafts, have seen the recent update on the so called "talks" between the NCCC and our unions. It is evident that the NCCC doesn't care to discuss anything. For those who might not have received the recent update--February 2006--I will clarify a few items. The NCCC is National Carriers' Conference Committee which represents the Class 1 carriers--ie, BNSF, CSXT, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, etc. Our unions are represented by Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition, the RLBC. The RLBC represents the following unions: American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA); Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET); Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED); Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers (IBB); National Conference of Fireman and Oilers, SEIU (NFCO-SEIU); and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA). For those who think that rail unions are out for every penny possible let me set you straight. It is the large carriers who are making record profits but yet seek to eliminate jobs. Currently the carriers have more customers than they can serve yet they have continually walked away from the table and refused to discuss few proposals. The carriers would not even agree to simple requests such as ground rules for meeting times, mutual requests for information, and like items. Later in the same month (March 2005) the NCCC requested mediation by the NMB. The NMB interceded, and the request was withdrawn. In May 2005, discussions again began only to see the same trick--request for mediation--which was filed in June 2005. The first six months of 2005 were wasted while the carriers sought an advantage over the unions, they showed no desire to have good faith bargaining with the RLBC. Some of the items the RLBC wished to discuss include: sick, vacation, and personal leave time; and employment stability (notice of pending sale or lease of rail lines and employes following the work). "The NCCC rejected these proposals, as they have all other proposals, out of hand, without offering any counter proposals." During the last half of 2005 there were eleven scheduled meetings planned. Most of these meeting either ended early or were outrighted cancelled. Union leaders reported that their good faith bargaining efforts were met with the words, "We're not interested," or "Your going in the wrong direction." The carriers declined to offer any counter-proposals or offer any accommodations. The carriers want to disrupt the bargaining and place their dispute before the PEB. For the record the PEB members include, Vice President Cheney (ex-member of the UP Board of Directors), Treasury Secretary Snow (ex CSX CEO) and President Bush's Chief of Staff, Andrew Card (an ex-UP official). "The carriers are attempting to distort the bargaining process by manipulating and misconstruing the procedure under the Railway Labor Act to obtain a government imposed resolution," said Don Hahs, BLET President. He continues, "The Act is designed to resolve remaining disputes when good faith bargaining has reached impasse. We are far from reaching that point because the carriers have not yet begun to negotiate in good faith to resolve any of the parties' issues." It is the view of rail unions that, ". . . all rail union members are in for the fight of our lives in this round of national bargaining." Buckle up my brothers and sisters, we are in for a rough ride this round.
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