ONLINE VERSION	VOLUME 106 - NUMBER 9 - OCTOBER 1997

Grand Lodge Dues Increase

$19.00 Month Effective January 1, 1998 Article XIX, Section 3, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Grand Lodge Constitution and By-Laws reads as follows: " ... Effective with the payment of dues for the month of November 1991 Grand Lodge dues shall be adjusted to reflect one and five one hundredths (1.05) of the average straight time hourly rate of pay, effective with the payment of dues for the month of November 1992 and January of each succeeding year Grand Lodge dues shall be adjusted to reflect one and two tenths (1.2) of the average straight time hourly rate of pay. The average straight time hourly rate of pay will be based on the information reflected in Interstate Commerce Commission Statement No. A-300 for Maintenance of Way Employes for calendar year 1989 and each successive year. Said amount shall be rounded to the nearest 25 cents, which additional sum shall be taken into consideration when calculating any dues increase for the following year. In the event that the Interstate Commerce Commission ceases to publish Statement No. A-300 on an annual basis, or alters it materially, the annual statement published by the National Railway Labor Conference will be used as an alternative equivalent formula. In the event that the National Railway Labor Conference ceases to publish the annual statement or alters it materially, an alternative equivalent formula shall be adopted so as to accurately reflect increases in rates-of-pay provided for under National Agreements during the appropriate measurement period." Based upon the annual statement published by the National Railway Labor Conference, it has been determined that the average straight-time hourly rate-of-pay for Maintenance of Way employees during 1996 was $15.75. One and two tenths (1.2) of this amount added to the current Grand Lodge dues equals $18.90, which rounded to the nearest 25 cents, results in Grand Lodge dues being increased to $19.00 per month effective January 1, 1998.