Over Memorial Day weekend, Wabtec put an ad in the Erie Times-News newspaper urging union leaders to come to the table with their proposals. Wabtec forwarded a statement to Trains, which the company says it has shared with union leaders and the Erie community at-large.
“Throughout discussions, we’ve continually shared sobering facts with the Union that labor costs at the Erie site are the highest among all plants owned and operated by Wabtec, and stand firm in our belief that a competitive market-based wage structure is the best strategy for preserving production jobs and bringing new work and employment to the Erie plant.” Wabtec says that they are committed to the Erie Plant but want to see the labor situation there stabilize.
Wabtec’s proposals include: An average wage of approximately $35 per hour for all current employees; new hire wage rates in excess of $22 per hour; no mandatory overtime; and overtime premium pay after eight hours and double-time after 12 hours above a standard Monday to Friday work week.
Wabtec officials also say they’ve proposed boosting health and welfare benefits as well as a 3% retirement (401K) company and matching contribution. This was proposed in a 5-year contract.
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America Locals 506 and 618, whose members work at Wabtec, are opposed to the two-tier wage system that Wabtec proposed for their plant. They have indicated that those recalled from layoffs would be forced to come back at a lower wage.
Fifteen other proposals by Wabtec were also being resisted, ranging from increased managerial oversite, hiring of temporary labor and contractors without union involvement, to safety officer installment through competitive bidding. Union members pointed out that it is much more than just two-tier wages involved with the proposals.
In their eyes, these changes would harm the quality of work they perform and the safety culture in the plant. Some members themselves have voiced their concerns over social media that these concessions will do little to preserve the plant and its future in Erie.
Wabtec indicated that work would be sent to other facilities during the last strike making these moves ominous as to what is to come. Union leaders say that if Wabtec is willing, negotiations could extend past the June 3 deadline.
Union leaders have organized an informational picket at the gates of the plant to support their side of the bargaining on May 29.
