|
Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC)
The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition The following organizations representing employees of National Passenger Railroad Corporation and Subsidiaries ("AMTRAK"), the nation's principal passenger rail carrier, hereby form the "Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition" and agree to be bound by the rules, regulations, principles and commitments set forth by agreement. BMWED - Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, a Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference BRS - Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen
Flow chart illustrating the process under the Railway Labor Act PRLBC Statements
PRLBC Exhibits
Amtrak Exhibits
Chronologic EventsJanuary 17, 2014 - Arbiitration hearing concludes January 6, 2014 - Arbitration hearing begins November 18, 2013 - PRLBC's Statement of Position submitted in advance of arbitration hearing. November 15, 2013 - Amtrak's Pre-Hearing Statement of Position. (7.9mb) October 30, 2013 - Arbitration Schedule, January 6th thru 17th, in Washington, DC. October 15, 2013 - Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition's letter updating the status of our Amtrak contract and pending arbitration. September 6, 2013 - The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition has finalized an agreement with Amtrak to arbitrate and settle our contract dispute. View Arbitration Agreement here. July 16th and 17th, 2013 - Mediated negotiations with the NMB and Amtrak. July 15, 2013 - The PRLBC protests and demonstrates Amtrak Board member Albert DiClemente at his home in Hockessin, Delaware. Read More... June 6, 2013 - The PRLBC writes a blistering letter to National Mediation Board member Linda Puchala regarding the cancellation of the June 11th and 12th mediation sessions. View letter here. June 3, 2013 - Ironic that a letter from Amtrak's head of Labor Relations to the PRLBC was received the same day as we protested the office of his boss. Clinging to what Amtrak categorizes as an "internal pattern" Woodcock opines we should grab the lesser deals accepted by the other anemic Amtrak labor unions. View Charlie Woodcock's letter here. June 3, 2013 - The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition picketted the law office of Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia in New Brunswick, NJ. We protested the fact that we have been unable to negotiate a new agreement with Amtrak for more than three years. Amtrak has continually stalled talks and engaged in bad faith bargaining. The PRLBC has asked to be released from government mediation so that the dispute can be resolved. Amtrak opposition to this release is the reason for our protest. View Press Release and Flyer for today's event.
May 3, 2013 - The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition recent letter to the Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors wherein our release from the shackles of mediation is addressed. View letter here. April 17, 2013 - UTU signs agreements superior to the Amtrak "ineternal pattern" agreements accepted by other unions. December 4, 2012 - The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition's status update on contract negotiations and discussion on Amtrak's "internal" pattern. View letter here November 19, 2012 - The National Mediation Board refuses to release the parties from mediation. What a shame. Labor puts Obama in the White House and his NMB keeps Amtrak Rail Workers in the poor house. Mediation at this point is pointless because the parties ain't moving off their positions. We know it, Amtrak knows it, and the NMB knows it. November 16, 2012 - Another fruitless mediated bargaining session, this time in Washington, DC, and at the insistance of the National Mediation Board. October 10, 2012 - In a letter to the National Mediation Board, Amtrak's responds to the PRLBC's request for release from mediation. View letter here. September 10, 2012 - The PRLBC writes the NMB, requesting release from mediation. View letter here. August 7 - 8, 2012 - Mediated negotiation session scheduled. July 17 - 18, 2012 - Mediated negotiation session scheduled. June 5 - 7, 2012 Philadelphia, PA. - National Mediation Board provides the PRLBC and Amtrak with mediation services. At this session, Amtrak advises that 73% of the other unions have signed in this round, leaving only our coalition and the UTU without contracts. Further, Amtrak laments that the cost of applying even the recommendations of PEB 243 are too costly for the corporation, while feigning concern that the 73% might actually be able to enforce their “me too” agreements. Offer’s the PRLBC the same wages under the “bosses’ agreement” accepted by the 73% (IBEW, BLET, IAM, TCU, etc.), with craft specific work rule changes. April 20, 2012 - National (Freight) Agreement ratified. Applying the numbers from this National BMWED agreement to the Amtrak contract would provide a general wage increase of 20.1% over the term, or 3.1% per year, as opposed to Amtrak’s offer of only 14.9% for the term or 2.3% per year, assuming a six-year period. March 15, 2012 - Mediators are assigned by theThe National Mediation Board (NMB) to Case Number A-13638 in the matter of Amtrak & the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC). View assignment notice here. March 13, 2012 - The Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC), on behalf of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), along with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), are making a joint application for the National Mediation Board’s services in mediating outstanding disputes arising from the PRLBC’s Section 6 Notice of April 7, 2010. View our joint Application for Mediation Services here. February 13, 2012 - Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition Negotiations meeting with Amtrak at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA. January 27, 2012 - The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) accept Amtrak's contract. 6 days later, the BMWED announced signing a National Agreement in theme with the recommendations of PEB 243, ultimately providing significant improvements to wages of this BLET agreement. Covering the period until January 1, 2015, the BLET/Amtrak agreement provides the following conservative general wage increases: 7/1/10 1.5% Also included are Healthcare cost-sharing provisions which escalate worker costs to $230 by 2013, as well as providing the popular biweekly mandatory direct deposit. Unprecedented are the changes which fetter workers to the company store, generally providing: "...an employee entering service after the date of this agreement who successfully completes training and voluntarily leaves shall be required to repay Amtrak up to 100% of the costs associated with hiring and training including lodging, meals and travel." July 12, 2011 - The International Brotherhood of Boilmakers and Blacksmiths are released from the PRLBC to pursue their own agreement with Amtrak. January 10, 2011 - Secret ballots counted for the Amtrak Contract Survey. There were 2094 ballots sent to Amtrak workers in 6 BMWED-IBT Systems, Divisions, or Federations, and a 45.5% return of those ballots. 14.5% voted to accept Amtrak’s offer and 85.5% voted to continue to bargain for a better settlement. View Survey results here. December 6, 2010 BMWED – Amtrak Contract Survey Letter and Summary of Agreement between Amtrak and the Settled Unions (IBEW, TCU, lAM, Carmen, ATDA, ARASA, and TWU). A secret ballot has been mailed, giving the membership opportunity to voice their opinion, the results of which will be counted on January 10, 2011. View Survey Letter here. October 11, 2010 TCU/ARASA members ratify Amtrak pacts; NCCC/UTU contract negotiations continue. Read More... October 7, 2010 Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition Negotiations meeting at Amtrak's Union Station, Washington, DC. Amtrak's proposed work rule modifications are discussed. June 20, 2010 Adopted by the delegates of the Second Regular National Division Convention, Resolution 57, goes on record endorsing the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition, demanding wage parity for Amtrak workers, and offering every assistance possible to ensure the success of the PRLBC. June 16, 2010 - IBEW declines joining PRLBC. In a letter to General Chairman Dodd "I Received your e-mail that was sent to Railroad Director Bill Bohne on June 10th. Sorry for the late response, but I was out of town. I appreciate your offer to join PRLBC, but I must respectfully decline your offer based on a couple of reasons. The first and most important reason is that it is against my personal belief to join a coalition that is bound to what the other Organizations do. The second reason is that I don't think that our differences with Amtrak are that far apart, and I feel that reopening these negotiations could be beneficial to both the Carrier and the Organization. Thank you, Mike Giansante" May 27, 2010 - TCU-represented carmen, clerks ratify Amtrak Agreement May 27, 2010 - IBEW, IAM fail to ratify Amtrak Agreement April 7, 2010 - BMWED-IBT Section Six Demands. You will no doubt applaud the collaborative efforts of the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (PRLBC) when remembering our last (2000-08) round of bargaining on the Amtrak property.
BMWED General Chairman Dodd will serve as the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition chairman. * the Amtrak Police accepted an earlier contract which did not provide full back pay. March 15, 2010 - Given the success obtained by the cooperating organizations in the PEB 242 round of bargaining, it has become very evident that settlements of Amtrak wage and rules bargaining disputes will be reached more expeditiously and successfully if the organizations coordinate their bargaining efforts. View the Passenger Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition Agreement (Coalition Agreement) here. January 15, 2010 - BMWED/Amtrak negotiation's meeting in Washington, DC. December 31, 2009 - The BMWED's contract with Amtrak expires at midnight. December 1, 2009 - BMWED's Section 6 notice served Amtrak.
Page Last Updated: Aug 31, 2014 (01:23:59)
|
|
|
|
|
| Member Resources |
BMWED-Amtrak Negotiations for the round beginning January 1, 2010 and ending March 25, 2014
