FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Members of the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, which represents 2,400 workers, have ratified their tentative contract agreement with the U.S. Class I railroads.
The vote was passed with a 58.7% margin in favor of the contract recommendations made by the Presidential Emergency Board, the union announced on Thursday.
“The agreement includes the highest wage increase in 48 years, five annual service recognition payments, an additional paid day off, and enhanced Autism healthcare benefits, something we have been fighting for over 25 years,” union President Dean Devita said in a statement.
Members will receive a 22% wage increase and receive retroactive pay within 60 days.
Devita said he shared many members’ disappointment that the agreement did not fully address quality of life issues.
The union is the sixth to ratify a contract with the railroads. Tentative agreements with five other labor organizations remain subject to ratification, while the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees will head back to the negotiating table after its members rejected the tentative agreement this week.
The two largest rail labor unions – the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART-TD union – will tally votes in mid-November.
Enough with the Quality of Life issues…you signed up for the job knowing the conditions. What’s with the enhanced Autism healthcare benefits…it’s not like you’re the only people that have to deal with those diagnosed on the spectrum, at the rate we’re going, 75% of the country will fall somewhere on the Autism spectrum(nothing against those with, but only the most severe cases need special healthcare)..
When many employees hired on, the RR’s were NOT so draconian on allowing for family needs. Supervision was not as nit picky as it is now. I sense a scrooge like attitude on your part.
He’s an armchair warrior. It’s a lot easier to comment on the internet than actually work a railroad job.