ONLINE VERSION	VOLUME 106 - NUMBER 10 - NOVEMBER 1997

Bargaining Update

Bargaining Reaches Critical Stage on Amtrak At press time, the BMWE's dispute with Amtrak had reached a critical level. Despite the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 234, Amtrak remained steadfast in demanding BMWE members accept an agreement which provides half of the increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) into the indefinite future, meaning that our Amtrak members would suffer real wage loss. PEB 234 recommended that BMWE receive the same increases that our members involved in the national round of bargaining received--inflation-maintenance increases. Amtrak claims it cannot afford inflation-maintenance raises even though 2.3 billion dollars has been appropriated for Amtrak in the event certain unspecified reforms are legislated. PEB 234 also recommended that BMWE health and welfare benefits and rule change requests go to binding arbitration. Although BMWE was not happy with the binding arbitration recommendations in the proposal, BMWE stated that the recommendations of PEB 234 were an acceptable basis upon which to negotiate an agreement. The cooling off period expires on October 22, 1997 which leaves the parties free to resort to self-help if no agreement is reached. In other Amtrak developments, attempts to remove statutory protections for Amtrak workers were underway--led by the leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and by Congressman Jack Quinn, a Buffalo Republican who had been, until now, a friend of rail labor. The proposed legislation could also lower labor protections provided railroad workers on the freight railroads when mergers occur, including some who are already receiving protections and on the commuter railroads. Two bi-partisan amendments will be introduced to dilute some of the negative impact of the proposed legislation. On the Grand Trunk, continuous negotiations at the end of September went nowhere, as the GTW management attempts to force the BMWE to accept a sub-standard agreement. It appears that GTW simply wishes to protract bargaining. BMWE is asking the NMB for a proffer of arbitration. On the D&H, negotiations were scheduled for the end of October. On the CC&P, negotiations are scheduled for the beginning of December.