A new study done by the Keystone Research Center found that if Wabtec produced more green locomotives at their Erie plant, it could bring thousands of more jobs to the area.


Scott Slawson, the President of the U.E. Local 506 explained, "It was a report we had commissioned and what we wanted to see was if we increase locomotive production, what that would look like for the Erie facility. And, you know, as we move forward, everybody is looking towards cleaner and greener forms of energy and locomotives play a big portion in that."


According to the report, producing 1,000 green locomotives a year would create between 2,600 and 4,300 new jobs at the Erie plant. This comes as demand for skilled workers increases. "There's a high demand for skill labor and what we've seen over the past several years is that that generations, the newer generations have not necessarily learned those skills. So it's important to us, number one, that they get passed down to teach the upcoming generation. But beyond that, give them the opportunity to let them know there are other avenues out there and heavy industrial manufacturing like we do here on mass scale, could be a good fit for them", said Slawson.


Slawson said not only could these locomotives be beneficial to the planet but they could benefit the Erie community too. While, this is just a report, Slawson said if this were to happen it would take work from the company and the government to see it through, but it would be helpful to the plant and community.


According to Slawson, "The community has always first and foremost in our heart and good family sustaining wage jobs are extremely important to the Erie area. We've lost a lot of manufacturing ability here over the last several years, and we would love to see that come back."


Erie News Now reached out to Wabtec for a comment and they said they would look at the report. This report comes just days before contract negotiations are set to begin between Wabtec and the U.E. Local 506. These negotiations happen every four years and Slawson said this time around there are a lot of familiar faces with the union but there are new faces with Wabtec.


Slawson said in these types of situations experience helps but it never gets easier especially when it can be a long process. "Negotiations is something that comes up every four years for us. Obviously, this past round was a brand new contract with a brand new employer. You know, we used to be GE Transportation. We had an 87 year bargaining history with them. We've got four years with Wabtec. So I think there's going to have to be some give and take on both sides. I think that that the company is going to have some things that they want to throw at the union. And obviously the union is looking for some changes, you know, from the last four years."

Contract negotiations between Wabtec and the Union begin on Thursday, their contract expires on June 9 at midnight.