On December 6, 2016, the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) terminated negotiations with the SMART Mechanical-BMWED Bargaining Coalition and invoked mediation. Within its request for mediation services to the National Mediation Board (NMB), the NCCC alleged that the railroads “***have made every reasonable effort to reach an agreement***” but that it was “*** apparent the parties were far apart with little likelihood of reaching a settlement.”
The SMART Mechanical-BMWED Bargaining Coalition has been bargaining with the NCCC for approximately two years, and from the onset, the NCCC made it clear that drastic cuts to healthcare benefits, at least as much taken from the membership in the last round of National Bargaining, would be required to reach a “voluntary agreement.” The SMART Mechanical-BMWED Coalition presented a cost-saving measure for health insurance that required absolutely no changes to benefit levels, and would provide savings at least equal to the amount obtained by the Carriers through the benefit cuts recommended by Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 243. To this point, the NCCC has stated that they are uninterested in our proposal even though they have conceded its value and continue to insist on slashing healthcare benefits as a way of obtaining “cost savings” and “mainstreaming” your healthcare benefits.
It is very disappointing that the railroads are uninterested in our solution. The railroads verified the savings of our proposal, yet they maintain that the savings are irrelevant to a voluntary settlement. Our proposal does not cost any railroad worker or the railroads any money and saves the National Plan substantial money which is a good thing for both our members and the railroads. The railroads refusal to engage on this issue shows their real interest is in cutting benefits that will take more money from our Brothers’ and Sisters’ pockets when they get sick and are most vulnerable economically. Our members do not need to pay any more. SMART members and other railroad workers already pay enough and they deserve their hard-earned benefits like every other hard-working American.”
The pace of national negotiations will now be subject to the NMB and the availability of the agency’s mediators’ services. No mediation sessions have been scheduled at this time. Updates on the status of national negotiations will be forthcoming as they develop.
Author: paul
Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives passed a pair of anti-union bills this week that make it harder for workers and unions to picket and easier for employers to hire workers to permanently replace striking employees.
One bill would increase fines against picketers to $1,000 per person per day of a picket and $10,000 per day for an organization or union involved in the picket that is deemed to be an illegal mass picket. That bill passed on a mostly party-line vote of 57-50.
The other would repeal a law that requires employers to include information about an ongoing strike when they advertise to hire employees who will replace existing, but striking employees at a company. That bill passed on a vote of 59-48 on a mostly party line vote. Democrats said the bill is an attack on the right to peacefully protest and would allow companies to file complaints about picketers without showing any actual harm was done to their business.
These bills are also now in the hands of the Senate for their approval before being sent to Gov. Rick Snyder to sign into law.
Alarmed by the House Congressional Leadership’s plans to dismantle Medicare, the Alliance for Retired Americans today kicked off a grass roots campaign to block any attempts to cut or convert guaranteed, earned health benefits into a voucher or privatized scheme. Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Tom Price, whom President-elect Trump will nominate to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, both said that they were moving to “reform” Medicare in the next Congress. “Alliance members will use all the tools at our disposal to stop any plan to replace our guaranteed earned Medicare benefits with a system of ‘Coupon-care’ vouchers,” said Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance.
Today the Alliance joined allies in delivering more than one million petitions against the Republican plan to cut and privatize Medicare to House Speaker Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Before delivering the petitions, Fiesta spoke at a Capitol Hill news conference with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Ted Deutch. Representatives from several other advocacy groups also spoke against cuts to Medicare.
Last month, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed PA HB 319 into law which will provide nearly 44,000 additional workers with with insurance in the event they lose their job or are unable to find new work opportunities.
The legislation will ensure that workers, especially those in the construction trades, will have access to the same unemployment funds other workers in year round industries do. Because of the Pennsylvania climate, workers employed in the state’s construction industry are more likely to rely on these funds to make it through the winter months.
The previous rule mandated that 49.5 percent of wages must be earned outside the highest quarter of earning for an individual to receive unemployment insurance. This percentage was prohibitively high and left many in the construction industry without unemployment protection.
The change made in this legislation, lowering that bar to 37 percent of wages earned outside the highest quarter, removes a significant barrier to receiving benefits and will allow Pennsylvania families and workers to receive what they have earned and paid into.
In this informative Q&A that addresses common misconceptions related to mental health concerns during the holidays, Lisa Furst, LMSW, MPH, Assistant Vice President of Training and Quality Improvement at MHA-NYC, makes recommendations and provides supportive resources that will help you and your loved ones remain emotionally healthy this season.
Q: Is it true that people are more at risk for suicidal thinking during the holiday season?
A: We commonly hear that people may be more at risk for suicide during the holidays; however, research does not support this idea. While it’s true that the holiday season may be particularly stressful for some people if they are socially isolated, experiencing conflicts in important relationships, dealing with financial challenges, or experiencing other psychosocial stressors, we do not typically see an increase in suicidal thinking during the holidays. Regardless of the season, anyone experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide should reach out for support by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
Q: I’ve heard that sometimes people feel more depressed in the winter. Can you tell me more about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
A: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depressive disorder in which people with the condition experience the symptoms of major depression, but usually during the times of the year when natural sunlight is diminished, such as in the autumn and winter months. People who are diagnosed with SAD can benefit from antidepressant medications and psychotherapy to alleviate their symptoms; additionally, people experiencing SAD may also benefit from increased exposure to light using a light box during the months of the year when sunlight is weaker. People with SAD often experience a diminishment of their depressive symptoms over time as the seasons change and light gets stronger in the spring and summer months. Anyone experiencing depressive symptoms during any time of the year should visit their primary care doctor or a mental health professional for an evaluation. To get emotional support and/or to find local mental health providers near you, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
Q: What are some ways that I can manage my stress this holiday season?
A: Stress is quite common during the holiday season as people feel pressure to manage multiple pressures, including gift buying, hosting or attending multiple family gatherings, and other social occasions. As a result, many people feel stressed about how to manage the financial aspects of the holidays, handling the expectations of their families and friends and may feel bombarded with obligations during the weeks leading up to the holidays. Some strategies that can help to reduce stress include: making a holiday budget and sticking to it, attending social gatherings that you most want to attend and not attending those that aren’t as important, and taking the time to practice self-care, including eating well, staying physically active, connecting with those people who matter the most to you and taking time out for yourself to relax and decompress as needed.
Q: I’ve noticed that lately my daughter is withdrawn at family gatherings, she doesn’t seem to be enjoying our family holiday events the way that she used to, and her school grades are slipping. I am concerned about her behavior. What should I do?
A: You are noticing some significant behavioral changes in your daughter and it is understandable that you are concerned. Speaking directly with your daughter to express your concern and asking her to tell you more about what she is thinking and feeling will allow your daughter to know that you are there to support her and can help her find a way to discuss any struggles she may be having. Speaking with family members and others who are close to your daughter may also help you understand more about what may be contributing to her difficulties, such as conflicts at school or with friends or family. If she has recently suffered any losses or other difficult experiences, these may also contribute to her withdrawal and other challenges. If these behaviors persist or get worse, it will be important to have your daughter evaluated by her pediatrician, your family doctor, and/or a mental health professional in order to address any unmet mental health needs that may be emerging. To locate mental health providers who work with children and teens, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
Q: How can I be supportive of a friend of mine who is struggling emotionally due to the loss of a loved one and the constant reminder of that loss over the holiday season?
A: The holidays can be a particularly stressful time for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. There are a variety of ways to be supportive, including spending time together, acknowledging that the holiday season may feel especially hard for your friend and that it is understandable if this is the case, and, if you also knew your friend’s loved one, to let them know that you are thinking about that person, too, and are affected by their loss. Be open to talking about your friend’s experience of loss; but also allow yourself to accept it if your friend doesn’t want to discuss it. If your friend is struggling a great deal and reports that the loss is causing difficulties at home, at work, at school, or in important relationships, it is possible that professional help may be needed to aid the healing process. To find grief counselors or other mental health professionals, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK.
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In this election, we worked hard and stayed focused on the issues members said were most important for our union: jobs, growth, pensions and protecting our rights as organized labor.
Both Presidential candidates promised more jobs and a stronger economy. The one we endorsed did not win, and we congratulate President-elect Trump and those who supported him.
Regardless of the outcome, however, our issues remain the same, and we will pursue them with both sides of the aisle wherever we can.
Since Election Day, we followed closely as the new administration and its priorities have started to take shape. We now also know who will lead the Congress, and will work with leaders of both parties to pursue our goals.
In fact, just yesterday, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, SMART and other unions held a call with the staff of Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, building on a relationship established when I and other General Presidents met with the Speaker over the summer. Tuesday’s call covered our specific agenda, and we look forward to working with Speaker Ryan and those who will support the needs of our members and all workers.
There is no doubt that the forces who oppose unions have gained more power. But we have never shied away from a tough job, and we take the long view to represent our Brothers and Sisters. In the months and years ahead, we must be more united and more active than ever as we strive to advance our cause.
All of us hope and expect that this administration will live up to its campaign promises to create jobs and economic growth. We will watch closely and work where we can, with the White House and with Congress, to make sure those promises are kept.
We are as strong as our membership. We continue to advance our core issues—and as a SMART union, we remain engaged and involved in that process in every way.
Fraternally,
Joseph Sellers, Jr.
General President
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $151,600 to $157,800 beginning Jan. 1, 2017.
At the end of 2001, Labor and Management had agreed on various procedures to administer the annual changes in the amount of the lifetime maximum benefit under the ERMA Plan.
In conjunction with the formula established in 2001, a new lifetime maximum was calculated by utilizing the October 2016 consumer price index (CPI) data for Hospital and Related Services and Physician Services. The result is a lifetime maximum for 2017 of $157,800.
For individuals who have reached the lifetime maximum, the incremental maximum available is applied to eligible expenses submitted for dates of service on or after the effective date of the new maximum. For 2017, this amount will be $6,200.
This change will apply to all railroads and crafts participating in ERMA.
A Texas judge issued a preliminary injunction on October 24 against new regulations that require companies disclose labor law violations they committed in the past three years when they bid on a federal contract worth over $500,000.
The regulations stem from a 2014 executive order from President Obama and were set to take effect today. In the court order, the Judge, Marcia A. Crone, sided with business groups that the regulations were unfair to them and their operations.
Almost 50 members are working across northern New Jersey thanks to tenacity from their local and a market-oriented agreement covering light commercial work.Sheet Metal Local 22 (Union, Morris, Somerset and Sussex Counties NJ) originally partnered with Quality Construction on a PLA-covered Embassy Suites jobsite in Elizabeth, NJ in January of 2013. Under the PLA for that site, the company put a crew of four members to work for the next year, at times expanding its site-specific hiring to a 12-person crew.
During this time, SM Local 22 leaders cultivated their newfound relationship with management at Quality Construction, often visiting the jobsite to discuss the benefits of being a union contractor. When that job ended, company owners had gotten their first taste of being a signatory employer and were satisfied with not only the crew but with the Local as well.
In Spring 2015, Quality Construction won another New Jersey hotel. At the same time, SMART Sheet Metal locals in New Jersey were busy piecing together a new light commercial agreement for the state, including infrastructure to support the agreement. Several contractors signed on a to project-only basis, and a nonunion workforce of potential members went to work in the light commercial market.
It took some time, but SM Local 22’s patience paid off. In May of 2016, Quality Construction finally signed on to the light commercial agreement—under which Local 22 has put almost 50 members to work with Quality Construction and four other signatories.
SM Local 22 Business Manager Tom Fischbach said “the light commercial market is a breeding ground for up-and-coming contractors. This agreement will allow us to establish a toehold with emerging contractors and grow with them as they increase their presence in our industry. By growing together, with them, we only add to our collective bargaining power that benefits every member.”