On May 1, members of UE Local 610 ratified a new three-year contract that improves wages, maintains the defined benefit pension for eligible employees, preserves the existing health plan with some changes, and makes other improvements. The company had sought to freeze the pension plan for tier 1 employees, and pushed that issue until late in negotiations.
Workers hired since October 2004 on a lower pay scale will receive annual raises of 67 cents an hour in order to reduce the gap in wages. Other members will receive annual hourly raises of 53 cents. All members receive signing bonuses on May 1 of each year in the amounts of $500 in 2013, $250 in 2014 and $250 in 2015. The night shift hourly pay premium is increased from 60 cents to 85 cents. New language will protect the wage rates of post-2004 (MSO) employees with at least five years service in cases if they are involuntarily placed in lower-paid job classifications.
The 80/20 health insurance plan was maintained, but employee’s monthly contributions are increased each year. By the third year the employee contributions will be $70/employee only, $80/employee and child, $105/employee and spouse, and $120/family. A new alternative 70/30 plan will be offered with significantly lower employee contributions. Life insurance coverage is increased in each year of the contract, from the previous level of $34,000 to $42,000 by the third year. Weekly short-term disability pay will increase from $370 to $410 by the third year.
A floating holiday and personal day were converted to sick/emergency days, with one additional paid day off added per year. A language change will better protect workers’ eligibility for holiday pay. The annual allowances for prescription safety glasses and for safety shoes were each increased from $125 to $145.
“It’s interesting, and sad, to see a corporation like Wabtec that’s made record profits every quarter still act like their employees don’t deserve little more,” said Local President Antwon Gibson. “But with what we achieved, we got a lot of positive feedback from the members. We extended the contact for 24 hours so we could present the best possible agreement to the members. It wasn’t all that we needed or wanted, but we got some important language changes, and a decent raise across the board.”
Chief Steward Kris Kovel says, “Our biggest fights were healthcare, wages and the pension. The pension was a fight right down to the last hour. The company wanted to put everyone in the 401(k). We were unwilling to give that up, but I think that’s going to be a continuing fight. But I think we did pretty good.” Kovel credits the members for their active support, which included wearing orange T-shirts, union buttons and rallying at work. “The last day (April 30) everybody wore their orange T-shirts at both plants, and at break times they went out in a peaceful protest, the rubber plant people went out and gathered in the parking lot, and in Wilmerding they walked out to the flagpole, said the pledge of allegiance and then walked back in.”
Local 610’s 285 members manufacture air brake systems for the railroad industry and have been represented by UE for more than 75 years. Their customers include the GE locomotive plant in Erie represented by Local 506.
The bargaining committee consisted of President Antwon Gibson, Chief Steward Kris Kovel, Second Shift Chief Steward Dave Lersch, Vice President Ray Sash, Business Agent Jim Naser, and Salaried Unit Chief Steward Tim Rohad. They were assisted by UE International Representative Marion Washington.