BLE scores big win for post-85 engineers on NS
Setting the tone for the current round of national wage negotiations, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has reached a tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern that will have a positive impact for post-85 engineers. Highlights of the deal, which will be presented to BLE members on NS for ratification within a matter of days, are as follows:
- Article VI, Section 2(b) of Arbitration Award 458 (providing for inferior deadheading payments to post-85 engineers) is eliminated, and all engineers will be covered by the deadheading rules currently in effect for pre-85 engineers.
- The special pay differential of $15/day and $0.15/mile, which is payable to all engineers on NS regardless of hiring date, will be rolled into the daily and overmile rates of pay on January 1, 2003.
- The current five-year wage progression, which begins at 75%, is replaced by a three-year progression, which begins at 85%, measured from date of hire; in addition, all engineers currently in the progression will have their percentage increased by 10%, up to the 100% rate.
- Effective January 1, 2000, wage rates on NS will be increased by approximately 14.4 percent.
- In 2001, 2002 and 2003, engineers will be entitled to bonuses of up to 10% of the previous year's wages, under the NS "Thoroughbred Performance Bonus" plan; in 2004 and subsequent years, engineers will be entitled to bonuses of up to 15% of the previous year's wages, under the formula.
- The following issues were referred to the BLE's National Wage Committee for handling with the National Carriers' Conference Committee: Health & Welfare; retirement and disability; meals and meal allowances; availability; paid leave days; off-track vehicle insurance; and detention time.
The BLE bargaining team was made up of Vice President P.T. Sorrow; General
Chairmen W.E. Knight, S.D. Speagle, and R.C. Wallace; and Vice General Chairmen
L.W. Sykes and W.A. Thompson. Details about the ratification vote will be
provided as they become available.
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers