NATIONAL AGREEMENTS

We plan to install links in this area to all of the recent national agreements. Our system agreements on NS are usually patterned after national agreements. Frequently they actually defer to such agreements. This is the case with our most recent settlement which leaves issues such as Vacation, Health/Welfare, Personal Days, Bereavement Leave, etc. to the results of the national negotiations which are still under way.

The trainmen on NS are involved in national handling and have only ‘half’ finalized an agreement. The next step is for “Agreed Upon Questions & Answers” to be negotiated before they send this agreement out for ratification. Since the change in occupants at the White House, this process appears to be stalled.

BLE NATIONAL AGREEMENTS

1996 - Though the BLE and NS negotiated separately in 1996, a “dual track” approach was utilized with many items contain in the National Agreement being applicable to us on NS. The BLE “Core” National Agreement dated May 31, 1996, plus Agreed Upon Questions and Answers are applicable in many respects.

1991 – The BLE engaged in a Nationwide Strike before Congress imposed the settlement. This agreement is widely believed to be the end of the “give backs” that had characterized so much of our bargaining throughout the 1980’s. This agreement is formally known as the Agreed Upon Implementation of Public Law 102-29 dated November 7, 1991. Side Letters are also included.

1986 – The infamous Award of Arbitration Board No. 458 dated May 19, 1986, was probably the most concessionary agreement ever negotiated. I say negotiated because, even though it was imposed by an arbitrator, it was identical to an agreement negotiated but soundly rejected by the general chairman. The arbitrator simply imposed the rejected agreement. Side Letters are also included.

UTU NATIONAL AGREEMENTS

1985 - The UTU National Agreement dated October 15, 1985, set in motion the concept of entry rates (75% to 95% over the first five years). The arbitraries for post-1985 employees were eliminated and reduced deadhead payments were imposed. Several issues in this agreement couldn’t be resolved and were submitted to arbitration. A set of Agreed Upon Questions and Answers were also included.