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Negotiations continued with a target towards a new collective bargaining agreement for UTU members on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad. The UTU Negotiating Team met in Jacksonville, Florida, with officers and representatives of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh for another round of negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 19th and 20th. Members of the UTU Negotiating Team are General Chairperson John Lesniewski, Vice General Chairperson Steve Mavity and Local Chairperson (377) Harry Mahaffey. Representing the Buffalo and Pittsburgh are Raymond A. Goss, Senior VP, Jason C. Fuller, Manager, and G. J. Allard of Railway Labor Associates.
Rule 40.2 of the current Schedule Agreement between the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. and the United Transportation Union states as follows:
“40.2 The parties signatory hereto shall not serve nor progress prior to January 1, 2010 (not to become effective prior to July 1, 2010) any notice or proposal for changing any provisions contained herein.”
Between now and January 1, 2010, the General Committee office will be constructing our Section 6 Notice under the Railway Labor Act to be served upon the B&P Carrier proposing changes in the B&P Collective Bargaining Agreement. While the General Committee will be conducting our own extensive search for more favorable, yet attainable, agreement provisions to be sought in the next round of negotiations, we also value input and suggestions from the membership. Consequently, in a letter dated September 23, 2009 addressed to each member, General Chairperson Lesniewski requested that Local 377 (B&P) members forward any suggestions they may have for items to be included in the upcoming Section 6 Notice to Local Chairperson H. R. Mahaffey on or before November 15, 2009. Local Chairperson Mahaffey will, in turn, consolidate and coordinate those suggestions and work with General Chairperson Lesniewski’s office to perfect our Section 6 Notice to be served upon the Buffalo and Pittsburgh RR Carrier.
Printable pay rate tables flowing from the recently ratified Buffalo and Pittsburgh March 31, 2009 Schedule Agreement are now available under the "Rates Of Pay" tab on this website.
Pay rate tables that became effective July 1, 2007 (with increases rolled into each B&P employee's retroactive pay) can also be found by clicking here.
Pay rate tables that became effective July 1, 2008 can also be found by clicking here.
Pay rate tables that wil become effective July 1, 2009 can also be found by clicking here.
With a remarkable 95% of eligible UTU Local 377 voters participating, the UTU – Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Company tentative agreement has been ratified by a resounding 97% (for) – 3% (against) margin! The Agreement is now in the process of being signed, and is expected to be fully executed and placed into effect on March 31, 2009. As stated in Rule 33.3 of the newly ratified pact, retroactive pay dating from July 1, 2007 for active and retired employees will be paid within 45 days of the March 31st signing date.
The final vote tally, by craft, when balloting was closed on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 12 noon, was as follows:
The General Committee wishes to thank the members of Local 377 for taking the time to vote their concerns and exhibit an interest in their future. We would also like to express our appreciation once again for the patience these members demonstrated while waiting for an Agreement worthy of ratification.
Finally General Chairperson Lesniewski would personally like to thank International President Futhey for his support during negotiations, as well as the members of his negotiating team for their assistance, encouragement and contributions during negotiations. The UTU negotiating team consisted of General Chairperson J. E. Lesniewski (Chairman), Vice General Chairperson S. C. Mavity, Local Chairman H. R. Mahaffey (377) and International Vice President C. A. Iannone.
B&P members received a copy of the new March 31, 2009 Agreement with their ballot, labeled as a “tentative” Agreement. That “tentative” tag no longer applies. A fully executed copy (which includes the effective date and signatures) is now available by clicking here or at any time by clicking "UTU Agreements" on this website.
Posted by jel on Friday, March 06 Eastern Standard Time (838 reads)
The tentative Agreement between the United Transportation Union and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad Company is out for ratification! The tentative Agreement, a synopsis of the major modifications from the previous Agreement, and a ballot were mailed to all members of Local 377 on Monday, March 2, 2009. Ballots must be returned to the General Committee office to be received no later than 12 noon on Friday, March 27, 2009.
A copy of the tentative Agreement, along with the synopsis of modifications and a cover letter from General Chairperson Lesniewski may be reviewed by clicking here.
Posted by jel on Monday, February 09 Eastern Standard Time (812 reads)
During a mediation session conducted at the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C. on February 3-5, 2009 under the watchful eye of mediator John Livingood the UTU negotiating team reached a tentative agreement in principle for its B&P members with the Carrier regarding a Wage and Rules Agreement retroactive to July 1, 2007. Terminology of the tentative pact is currently being worked out between the parties, and a finished product is expected to be distributed to the B&P membership (Local 377) for a ratification vote within the next couple of weeks. Details regarding the tentative agreement are being withheld pending notification of the members affected.
General Chairperson Lesniewski would like to thank his negotiating team of Local Chairperson H. R. Mahaffey (377), Vice General Chairperson S. C. Mavity and UTU International Vice President Tony Iannone for their valuable assistance and support during this round of negotiations. He would also like to thank the members of Local 377 for their patience and support during the nearly two years of negotiation, and eventually mediation, it required to secure a fair and equitable agreement from Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. (a Genesee & Wyoming Company).
Posted by jel on Thursday, December 06 Eastern Standard Time (1125 reads)
On December 4, 2007 talks between the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc., a division of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI), and the UTU Negotiating Committee stalled when the Carrier failed to monetarily recognize the contributions of its train and engine service workers to the overall profitability of the company. Despite the fact GWI has realized record setting revenues and net profits since the last contract was signed on May 14, 2004, the Carrier steadfastly refused to proffer its train and engine service employees even the equivalent of General Wage Increases enjoyed in the last round of negotiations, let alone an increase in their standard of living reflecting the Carrier’s profitability. Consequently, despite the fact that most other aspects of the parties' Section 6 Notices have been hammered out with negligible adverse impact on either party, negotiations broke down and the UTU Negotiating Committee comprised of General Chairperson J. E. Lesniewski, Vice General Chairperson S. C. Mavity, Local Chairperson H. R. Mahaffey (377) and UTU Vice President Tony Iannone was left with no choice but to seek the services of the National Mediation Board in pursuit of a fair settlement. General Chairperson Lesniewski advised the appropriate paperwork will be served within the next week.
Posted by jel on Thursday, November 29 Eastern Standard Time (915 reads)
Negotiations on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh system agreement continue in Rochester, NY, next Monday, December 3, 2007 through Thursday, December 7, 2007. A previously scheduled Jacksonville, FL, negotiating session for November had been postponed at the Carrier's request because of scheduling conflicts.
Posted by JEL on Monday, September 17 (1208 reads)
Negotiations on the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad contract continued during the week of September 10th through 13th, 2007 in Rochester, NY. Under the moratorium provisions of the current B&P contract Section 6 notices could not be served before November 1, 2006, and changes thereto could not become effective prior to July 1, 2007. Both the UTU and Carrier served Section 6 notices in early November, 2006, and negotiations have been progressing since that time. At the September 2007 session, the UTU Negotiating Team of General Chairperson John Lesniewski, VP Tony Iannone, Vice General Chairperson Steve Mavity and Local Chairperson Harry Mahaffey were joined by Local 377 Vice Local Chairperson Brad Espositio.
The details of negotiations are never released during the course of those negotiations, because what is on the table today may not be there tomorrow. Nevertheless, the negotiators were quite pleased that positive movement is being realized. While several very important items remain outstanding, General Chairperson Lesniewski opined "... reasonable offers are finally being exchanged between the parties bringing us that much closer to a final agreement." The next negotiating session is currently scheduled for November 14 - 16, 2007 at the General Committee offices in Jacksonville, Florida. While this General Committee would have preferred it be sooner, coordinating the schedules of negotiators on both sides of the table can prove to be quite difficult.
Negotiations of the General Committee with representatives of the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. (GWI Industries) continued with a negotiating session in Jacksonville, Florida on May 21-23, 2007. Representing the UTU was General Chairperson J. E. Lesniewski, along with Vice General Chairperson S. C. Mavity, Local Chairperson H. R. Mahaffey (377), and UTU Vice President Tony Iannone. Specific details regarding the status of negotiations are never released prior to reaching a completed tentative agreement because items may change as negotiations continue. However, General Chairperson Lesniewski reports progress has been made on several issues, mostly related to non-economic matters at this point.
The parties have agreed to meet again, and are presently in the process of coordinating calendars to arrange another negotiating session.
