The Bargaining Committee election results are in. Congratulations to all of the PTI drivers that participated in this election. You are building your union through your participation. Drivers that received the three highest vote counts have been elected to your Bargaining Committee: Lela Jankowski (Dunsmuir, CA Yard), Don White (Roseville CA Yard) & Ed Stephenson (Sparks NV Yard). The two alternate committee members are: Tyler Cabral (Fresno CA Yard) & Tim Cunningham (Bakersfield CA Yard).
The committee will now work to launch the contract survey for all PTI drivers. Our fight for a contract with PTI begins with drivers detailing the things they want to see on the job. The contract survey helps the newly elected Bargaining Committee develop the contract proposals and demands for bargaining with the boss at PTI.
Join the Contract Support Committee and secure a good strong Union Contract with PTI
In addition to the Bargaining Committee, a second committee is formed for the contract campaign: the Contract Support Committee. This group is in each yard and on each road board and they help the Bargaining Committee by making sure drivers are up to date in contract negotiations and drivers are involved during the Contract Campaign. The Contract Support Committee is not an elected position open for all drivers to participate and is a committee for the Contract Campaign. So far, we have a good number of PTI drivers from most of the yards that are part of the Contract Support Committee, but we need more. If you are interested in being part of the Contract Support Committee and help win a good strong Union Contract in PTI, please contact UE Union organizer Fernando Ramirez @ 323-572-4668
NOW Is the Time to fight and win a good strong Union Contract with PTI.
Some of the PTI drivers that came from the Hallcon side understand the importance of having a union contract with guaranteed raises. For example, Hallcon Union drivers already got another year of guaranteed raises under their Union contract with Hallcon. The Hallcon raises for Hallcon Union drivers were in the range of .90 cents per-hour increase for yard drivers and .75 cents per hour increase for road drivers. Where are the raises for PTI drivers that PTI promised when PTI came to California and Nevada? The only way to win guaranteed raises is to organize a strong contract campaign and win a good strong Union contract with PTI that not only includes guaranteed wage increases every year but also has just cause (more job security), better benefits, a fair process for working conditions and a grievance procedure to challenge any unjust disciplines and changes to working conditions PTI does all the time. Join your Union Contract Support Committee today and help your Bargaining Committee secure a fair, strong Union contract with PTI.
Important information to all PTI drivers in California
This past month in September 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed amendments to state bill AB 1867. One of those changes is that now companies with 500 or more overall Employees are legally obligated to provide 80 hours of paid sick time to their employees for days missed from work due to any Covid-19 related health reason. For an example, if you are sick with Covid-19, or have symptoms and need to take a Covid-19 test and need to self-quarantine, or if your Employer ordered you, Railroad or Doctor to self-quarantine, or if you were exposed to someone that may have Covid-19 and you need to quarantine. The temporary sick leave law for Covid-19 runs from September 19-December 31, 2020. This is another good reason why we need a strong Union contract with PTI and PTI drivers can fight to get this benefit in the PTI Union contract, and we don't need to depend on the state all the time to do the right thing. Please enforce this right if you feel you need time away from work because of Covid-19.