/TRAINMEN/TRAINMEN
and the
(SP WEST)
In Finance Docket No. 32760, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) approved
the merger of Union Pacific Railroad Company/Missouri Pacific Railroad Company
(Union Pacific or UP) with the Southern Pacific Transportation Company, the
SPCSL Corp., the SSW Railway and the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad
Company (SP). In approving this transaction, the STB imposed the New York Dock
Labor Protective Conditions.
The parties understand that this document is the result of voluntary
negotiations outside of merger negotiations and that the provisions entered into
below are separate and apart from merger notices. Complete negotiations
beginning with the service of notice under New York Dock conditions must still
be handled for each merger area and those requirements are not waived by this
Agreement. However, in order to reach a mutually satisfactory understanding for
the handling of future UP/UTU SP West negotiations with regards to the
collective bargaining agreement that will be selected by the Carrier and to
equalize many of the pay and work rules on the UP system,
IT IS AGREED:
I. MUTUAL COMMITMENT
A. Union Pacific agrees that the SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement
(CBA), as amended by this Agreement, will be the governing collective bargaining
agreement for the following territory: Starting either with the Portland Hub (as
defined in the applicable merger implementing agreement/award) and The Dalles or
one crew change point south out of Portland and The Dalles; to Elko, Nevada; to
Yermo, California, and ending either one crew change point west out of El Paso
or one crew change point northeast, east and southeast out of El Paso.
NOTE: The trackage between Barstow, California and Mojave, California will be
joint trackage for both SP and UP South employees until that area is under a
single collective bargaining agreement.
B. SP-West UTU agrees the collective bargaining provisions set forth below, in
Sections II- XI and attachments (A-E) will constitute agreed-upon changes to the
SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement.
II. PROTECTION
A. All- SP West trainmen/switchmen (not including UP borrow outs on the SP) with
a seniority date prior to June 1, 1997, working under the provisions of the
SP-West UTU CBA as amended, will receive one test period average (TPA) composed
of two parts - one part based on the employee's wages for calendar year 1996 and
one part based on the employee's productivity fund payments earned in the
productivity fund year 1996, if any. The wages part of the TPA shall be computed
in accordance with the provisions of New York Dock. The total amount,
wages plus productivity fund payments will be divided by twelve (12) to achieve
a monthly TPA.
NOTE 1: In accordance with New York Dock, an employee's TPA will not include
certain taxable and non- taxable items such as but not limited to relocation,
lump sums, lump sum claims settlements, protection payments and away-from-home
meal allowances. It will include the $12.50 for in lieu meal allowances.
NOTE 2: Without prejudice to either party's position, the 1996 TPAs will include
claim settlements paid in that year, including penalty payments, whether
attributable to that test period or not. During the protective period, similar
payments will be used as an offset to the monthly protection. This does not
include lump sum claim settlements such as, but not limited to, the electric
switch settlement nor the other items referred to in the Agreement and the
letter included as Attachment "F" hereto.
B. Each employee who receives a TPA under Section II(A), above, will be automatically certified as a protected employee at the time of implementation of this amendment to the SP-West UTU Collective Bargaining Agreement. This protection shall be known as "Interim protection" and shall apply until the employee is covered by a New York Dock implementing agreement/award. Interim protection shall apply to all employees regardless of whether pre-July 9, 1990 crew consist protected or not. (See Paragraph F, below, for protection coverage after the employee's New York Dock protective period expires.) Any protection afforded because of this section and which occurs prior to the beginning of an employee's New York Dock protective period under a separate New York Dock implementing agreement/award, will be separate and apart from that protection and will not be used as an offset against the employee's New York Dock protective period.
EXAMPLE
Emp A*@ Emp B*@ Emp C# Emp D*@
Date of Hire 5/20/78 6/13/62 4/10/94 7/7/67
Eff. Date of Agmt 11/1/97 11/1/97 11/1/97 11/1/97
Date of Interim Prot 11/1/97 11/1/97 11/1/97 11/1/97
Date of Mer Imp Agmt 12/1/97 1/1/98 4/1/98 8/1/98
Merger Protection NYDock NYDock NYDock NYDock
Exp of NY Dock 12/1/03 1/1/04 4/1/02 8/1/04
Crew Consist Prot Yes Yes No Yes
*Crew Consist Protected employee
@NYDock protection for 6 years (based on length of service with a maximum of 6 years of service)
#NYDock protection for 4 years (based on length of service with 4 years of
service)
The purpose of this example is to show that the interim protection is not offset
against the number of years entitled under New York Dock.
C. Employees now covered by a protective arrangement may elect to continue
coverage under that arrangement consistent with the New York Dock labor
protective conditions.
Note : In accordance with Paragraph C, above, employees eligible for Peninsula
Commute Service (PCS) or Siskiyou labor protection may elect to retain that
coverage and convert to the protection afforded by this agreement upon
expiration of the PCS or Siskiyou protection. (Employees who elect that
protection shall remember that productivity funds have been converted to
protection under this agreement and are not available under PCS and Siskiyou
protection).
D. Each SP-West employee who worked a minimum of 150 yard shifts in 1996 as a
regularly assigned yard employee will have that portion of his/her TPA
that is based on calendar year 1996 wages increased by 14.82%. This is a
one-time adjustment to equalize SP yard rates with National yard rates and will
only apply to those SP-West employees who meet the requirements set forth in
this Paragraph D. This increase will not apply to that portion of the TPAs based
upon productivity fund payments.
E. Each SP-West UTU certified employee's TPA (wages plus productivity fund) will
be subject to change based on future wage and COLA adjustments. The time period
for computing such changes will begin with the implementation of this Agreement
and shall run for the length of the employee's New York Dock protection. If this
Agreement is initialed prior to August 14, 1997, then the July 1, 1997 National
Increase shall apply if this Agreement is subsequently approved.
F. After expiration of the employee's New York Dock protective period, each
pre-July 9, 1990 crew consist protected SP-West UTU employee will continue as a
Crew Consist Protection protected employee for the employee's remaining
employment in the craft of trainman/switchman subject to the following: the
employee's TPA will be at the amount of the employee's final protection rate
established in accordance with Paragraph E, above, and shall not be subject to
future increases. The handling of crew consist protection payments and offsets
will continue to be handled in the same manner as under New York Dock as
detailed in this Agreement.
G. The TPAs for full-time and part time union officers will be based on the
officer's own TPA or a TPA average derived from the two employees directly above
and the two employees directly below the official, working at the official's
normal work location and on the official's seniority roster. In calculating such
an average, UP will "de-select" any employees with unusually low or
high earnings. Full time and part time union officers are defined as General
Committee and Local Committee officers.
H. All protection afforded and referenced in this Article II will be income
(wage plus productivity fund where applicable) protection only. There will be no
hours computation/hours protection for any afforded/referenced protection.
Protection offsets are set forth in the Q&A's.
I. Employees will be eligible for the interim protection upon implementation
of this Agreement. They shall become eligible for New York Dock and Crew Consist
Protection only upon implementation or imposition of the negotiated merger
proposal for each Hub, and if the SP-West agreement is applicable in that Hub
after the merger. The parties agree to use best efforts to achieve a negotiated
settlement.
III. NATIONAL WAGES AND RULES
A. SP-West UTU wage rates will now equal the national wage rates. (A copy of
those wage rates is attached as Attachment E.) Previous lump sum payments
provided for in the November 11, 1991 and May 8, 1996 National Agreements will
not be made; however, future lump sum payments will be made in accordance with
national agreements.
B. All provisions of the November 11, 1991 and May 8, 1996 National
Agreements will apply to territory governed by the SP-West UTU collective
bargaining agreement unless specifically provided for in this Agreement.
Agreement provisions which will apply include, but are not limited to, the
following: Promotion to Conductor, Expenses Away from Home, Road/Yard Work,
Special Relief-Customer Service-Yard Crews, Interdivisional Service and Basic
Day.
C. The current SP-West UTU eating rule will apply for local and road switcher
service. Yard service will be governed by the national standard for eating in
yard service. The Carrier will continue to pay the $12.50 in lieu of allowance
for pool freight runs until an area has been finalized in the merger with an
agreement or award. Once an area has been incorporated in a merger Hub, then the
national $1.50 in lieu of allowance will be paid on all pool freight runs.
D. All current employees (employees working in train/yard service at the time of
implementation of this agreement) will have the entry rate provisions waived and
will be paid at 100% of the National wage rate.
E. All new hires after the date of implementation will be subject to the
following: entry rates will start at 85% of the national rate provided for in
Section III(A), above, for first-year employees; at 90% for second-year
employees; at 95% for third- year employees; and, at 100% for fourth year
employees. These employees will be entitled to the 5% bump for promotion as
provided for in Article VIII of the May 8, 1996, UTU National Agreement.
Employees promoted to another craft will not restart their protection.
F. Current employees will retain the 100% entry rate of pay percentage at the
time of promotion to another craft.
G. The SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement will be subject to the
National Moratorium set forth in the May 8, 1996, National Agreement, and all
local notices and re-opener provisions in conflict with that Moratorium are null
and void.
IV. CREW CONSIST
A. Because of the extended protection for crew consist protected employees provided for in Section II, above, all SP-West UTU special allowances and productivity fund payments will cease with the implementation of this Agreement.
B. (1) The standard crew for all through freight and for all hours-of-service
relief will be one (1) conductor. There will be no car count or train length
limitations in the operation of crews with one (1) conductor. There will be no
car count, train length or work event restrictions of any type in the operation
of crews with one (1) conductor/foreman and (1) brakeman/helper
(2) Trains operated with a crew of one (1) conductor will be restricted to no
more than three work events en route between the initial and final terminals,
subject to the following:
a. A work event is considered to be a straight pick-up or set-out.
b. Picking-up, setting-out or exchanging one or more locomotives and setting-out a bad order car shall not be considered a work event.
c. Work performed in the initial and/or final terminal will be governed by applicable rules, including all national rules.
d. Should a conductor be required to exceed three work events en route
between terminals, the conductor shall also be paid the missing brakeman's
wages. Only one such payment will be made regardless of the number of excess
work events performed.
(3) The standard crew for local and road switcher service will be one (1)
conductor and one (1) brakeman.
(4) The standard crew for yard service shall be determined according to the
following:
a. The Carrier may operate the same percentage of yard jobs foreman-only in a
merged hub as it was entitled to operate foreman-only on May 19, 1997.
EXAMPLE: In the merged Los Angeles Hub, prior to merger UP had
30 switch engines and under the agreement was entitled to operate all 30
foreman-only. In the same merged hub, prior to the merger SP had 60 switch
engines. In the merged Los Angeles Hub, the carrier may operate one-third of the
switch engines foreman-only.
b. The Carrier may establish utility positions in accordance with Attachment
"A" to this agreement which may assist any number of both road and
yard assignments at any location within a hub.
(5) The standard crew for non-revenue (including work train) service will be one
(1) conductor/foreman. If the local chairman for the territory involved believes
the assignment warrants a crew of one (1) conductor/foreman and (1)
brakeman/helper, the local chairman and the local carrier officer responsible
for that territory will conduct a joint check of the assignment to determine if
a brakeman/helper is needed. If unable to agree, the criteria shall be that a
brakeman/helper shall be needed if the assignment works four (4) or more hours
on the ground or riding the outside of the equipment.
V. DISABILITY/LIFE INSURANCE/MEDICAL
A. All current SP-West UTU employees and subsequent new-hire employees who will
work under the SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement will be covered for
medical benefits by the applicable National Plan (health, dental and, as of
1/1/99, vision).
B. Current SP-West UTU employees will continue to receive the disability and
life insurance coverage now afforded them under the UTU SP-West collective
bargaining agreement, if any, subject to Section C, below, for six years from
January 1, 1998, whether a merger implementing agreement is or is not reached
for each hub. Those former SP-West trainmen (Salt Lake - East) who transferred
to the Salt lake City Hub will continue their disability for the same period so
the group benefit ends on the same day. After the end of the six year protective
period, the disability and life insurance policies will be eliminated from the
SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement, unless otherwise provided. It is
understood this Agreement is made without prejudice to the positions of either
party regarding whether or not such benefits are subject to preservation under
New York Dock. This Agreement will not be cited by any party in any other
negotiations or proceedings.
C. The SP-West UTU agreement covering disability premium payments will be
upgraded to $63.10 This is not a guarantee for benefit levels; it is only a
guarantee for the amount of premium paid by the carrier per employee. Such
payments will cease in accordance with Section V(B), above.
D. The UTU Committee may discuss joining the Union Pacific Employees Health
Systems (UPEHS). The Carrier agrees that is a matter between the UTU and UPEHS.
VI. EXTRA BOARDS
A. The seniority extra board and no-bid vacancy rules will be amended as
follows:
1. All seniority extra boards will become rotary extra boards working first-in,
first-out.
2. Whenever a vacancy goes no-bid, the Carrier may fill that vacancy from the
reserve board if available, or then the senior furloughed employee. If none
available, then the junior employee on the extra board covering that position
will be assigned. Vacancies on the extra board will be filled from the reserve
board or the senior furloughed employee.
B. Extra Board types, guarantee rates and rules shall be as set forth in
Attachment "B" to this agreement.
VII. ROTARY POOL FREIGHT SERVICE
A. All through freight service will be rotary pool freight service with blue
print board provisions for placing employees in the proper order at the home
terminal and at the far terminal. Blue Print provisions are attached hereto as
Attachment "C" and will be applicable as each merger Hub is
implemented. Employees are not runaround if used on the train for which called.
B. Assigned pool freight conductors will be allowed to trade pool turn
positions with other conductors in the same pool subject to the following
conditions:
1. The UTU Local Chairman or their designated representative shall submit the
request to Carrier's CMS on behalf of the conductors wishing to exchange pool
turns.
2. Both conductors shall be at their home terminal when the request is made in
order to avoid any disruptions to the operation of the pool. However, an
exchange may be made where one conductor is on vacation provided the vacation
turn is vacant or concurrence is reached with the conductor temporarily
assigned.
3. A trade may be made at any time up to call time provided the conductor who
must accept the call is rested and available. A conductor may initiate only two
trades per year.
4. No time claims involving runarounds or other penalties arising out of the
trading/exchanging of turns under these provisions shall be progressed by or in
behalf of any employee.
5. It is the intent of the parties that conductors will limit the use of
these provisions to those situations in which they would otherwise have no
choice and would be required to miss their turn.
VIII. CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
A. All time claims and grievances of record (a time claim or grievance of
record is a time claim or grievance that has been denied by the carrier at any
level, including Timekeeping; any claims involving the GRIDPAD arbitration and
any claims involving gainsharing) submitted by either an employee or by the UTU
as of December 31, 1996, will be settled and resolved by the payment of $3700.00
to each SP-West UTU employee who performed service as a trainman/switchman
between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1996, and who is still in active
service with the Carrier or who retired in 1997.
NOTE: It is possible time claim and grievance settlements will be reached with
other organizations. Should any individual be entitled to a time claim and
grievance settlement payment under this Agreement and under any other agreement,
the maximum amount due such an individual will be $3700.00.
B. This settlement does not cover outstanding discipline, medical and
non-monetary (such as seniority disputes) cases but covers all other time claims
and grievances and gainsharing claims, including those cases which have been
docketed for arbitration but not argued and those cases argued at arbitration
but where no decision has been rendered.
C. This settlement is final and binding and is made with prejudice regarding the
GRIDPAD and gainsharing claims and hereinafter the organization shall not file
nor progress any GRIDPAD or gainsharing claims. This settlement is without
prejudice or precedent to either party's position with regard to the subject
matter of all other time claims and grievances and will not be cited by either
party in any future claims conferences, arbitration or negotiation.
D. Since the settlement of all time claims and grievances of record will
create a new environment for the grievance process, the following will apply:
1. Formal local conferences are eliminated, however, local chairpersons are
encouraged to handle claims and other issues directly with the Carrier's
designated Labor Relations managers, assistant managers and labor relations
officers; and,
2. The Carrier will no longer reimburse local chairpersons/union officials or
employees for attending time claim/grievance conferences.
3. The SP local chairpersons will have access to Carrier records in a manner
consistent with UP local chairpersons. Access will be available from home if the
Local Chairperson owns sufficient technology, or at the on-duty point.
IX. REGION/SYSTEM AND RESERVE BOARDS
A. All current SP-West UTU train/yard service employees will retain "no
furlough" status. Employees transferred to SP-West UTU collective
bargaining agreement control as a result of a UP/SP merger implementing
agreement and all new hires will not have such status. The Region/System Board
Agreement will continue until an agreement or award is reached for each separate
merger Hub and then a reserve board agreement will apply to that Hub using the
provisions found in Attachment "D" to this agreement. Those
provisions will include reserve board eligibility for SP-West UTU employees now
entitled to "no furlough" status.
X. 401K PLAN
The current SP-West UTU 401K Plan will no longer be available for future
deposits for monies paid after the close of business December 31, 1997. The
current UP 401K Plan applicable to train service employees (road and yard) will
apply to SP-West UTU train service employees (road and yard) after that date.
The parties are negotiating agreements merging the 401K plans.
XI. MORATORIUM
Articles II-Protection and IV-Crew Consist and Attachment (D) are covered by a
separate moratorium than the one described in III (F). Since they are in part,
crew consist related, the provisions of these two articles and attachment are
not subject to change through the Railway Labor Act Section 6 process prior to
the attrition of all crew consist protected employees. This does not prevent the
parties from voluntarily entering into agreements to modify these provisions.
XII. IMPLEMENTATION
This agreement will be effective in two parts. Article I - Mutual Commitment,
Article II - Protection, Article III - National Wages and Rules, Article IV -
Crew Consist, Article V - Disability/Life Insurance/Medical, Article VIII -
Claims Settlement and Article XI - Moratorium shall become effective on the
first day of the first month following notification from the UTU this Agreement
has been approved so long as ten (10) days' notice is given the Carrier. The
Carrier will begin processing the claim settlement checks as soon as possible.
In order to give Timekeeping and CMS sufficient time to make the necessary
programming changes, the remaining articles shall be effective on the first day
of the first payroll period following a ten (10) days' notice by the Carrier to
the UTU.
XIII. SAVINGS CLAUSE
Should any portion of this Agreement including attachments or any of the
attached Questions and Answers conflict with the SP-West UTU collective
bargaining agreement, this Agreement shall govern.
Signed at San Francisco, California, this _________ day of October, 1997.
FOR THE ORGANIZATION: FOR THE CARRIER:
_________________________ ___________________________
General Chairman UTU AVP Employee Relations
____________________________ ____________________________
Vice-President UTU General Director Labor Relations
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q1. Will Article XXVI (Plant Rationalization) and Article XXVII (Scope Rule)
remain as part of the UTU SP-West collective bargaining agreement?
A1. No. Both of those articles will be eliminated with the implementation of
this Agreement.
Q2. When an employee is force-assigned to a no-bid position under Article VI(A)(2),
how long will the employee be required to stay on that assignment?
A2. The employee will remain on the assignment in accordance with existing
agreement provisions.
Q3. Under Article VIII(A) (Claims Settlement), what constitutes "active
service with the Carrier ?"
A3. An employee who is working for Union Pacific Railroad Company or who is
on a bona fide leave of absence or who is dismissed and later reinstated.
Q4. Under Article IX (Region/System and Reserve Boards), what is a "current
SP-West train service employee" for purposes of the "no furlough"
status?
A4. A current employee for "no furlough" status is an employee
holding seniority on the SP-West trainman/switchman roster prior to the
effective date of this agreement. The "no furlough" status will only
be applicable when working in train/yard service and not in other crafts or
non-agreement assignments.
Q5. Under Article III(D) (National Wages and Rules), will employees on bona fide
leaves of absence, dismissed and later reinstated, etc. receive 100% of the
National Wage Rate as provided for in that section?
A5. Such employees, upon return to service, will be compensated at 100% of
the National Wage Rate.
Q6. Will all SP-West trainmen-switchmen (not including UP borrow outs on the SP)
with a seniority date prior to June 1, 1997, working under the provisions of the
SP-West UTU collective bargaining agreement who are on a bona fide leave of
absence or dismissed and later reinstated be eligible for protection under this
agreement upon return to active service ?
A6. Yes. The TPAs for such employees will be calculated in accordance with
the procedure set forth in Paragraph G of Article II.
Q7. In Article V, will employees on a bona fide leave of absence or dismissed
and later reinstated be considered "current SP-West employees" who are
now eligible for the disability and life insurance coverage provided for in that
paragraph?
A7. Yes, upon return to service if previously eligible and entitled to those
benefits.
Q8. How will the TPA be calculated for an employee who has less than 12 months
compensated service in 1996.
A8. Standard New York Dock conditions will apply. If the employee has more
than twelve months service but was off for an entire month then the next
previous month with earnings is used, if an employee only had nine months total
service then the total is divided by nine.
Q9. Is compensation referred to as "in lieu of" vacation for employees
assigned to Region/System Boards excluded from an employees' TPA?
A9. No. Such compensation is not a double payment and will be included in an
employee's TPA.
Q10. How will reductions from protection be calculated?
A10. In an effort to minimize uncertainty concerning the amount of reductions
and simplify this process, the parties have agreed to handle reductions from
Interim, New York Dock and Crew Consist Protection as follows:
1. Pool freight assignments - 1/15 of the monthly test period average will be
reduced for each unpaid absence of up to 48 hours or part thereof. Absences
beyond 48 hours will result in another 1/15 reduction for each additional 48
hour period or part thereof.
2. Five day assignments - 1/22 of the monthly test period average will be
reduced for each unpaid absence of up to 24 hours or part thereof. Absences
beyond 24 hours will result in another 1/22 reduction for each additional 24
hour period or part thereof.
3. Six and Seven day assignments - The same process as above except 1/26 for a
six day assignment and 1/30 for a seven day assignment.
NOTE: Assigned rest days for five and six day assignments and Region/System
Boards will not be used to offset protection payments.
4. Extra board assignments - 1/30 of the monthly test period average will be
reduced for each unpaid absence of up to 24 hours or part thereof. Absences
beyond 24 hours will result in another 1/30 reduction for each additional 24
hour period or part thereof. Absences on the extra board shall be calculated
from the time of unavailability (layoff, missed call, etc) until the next time
called for service. For example: If an employee lays off on Monday at noon,
marks up the next day Tuesday and does not work until 2AM on Wednesday then they
shall be off for protection purposes for thirty-eight (38) hours and
shall be deducted 2/30 of their protection.
Q11. Due to the claim settlement in Article VIII(A), how will TPAs be calculated?
A11. The lump sum claim settlement will not be part of the TPA nor the electric switch lump sum settlement. However, claims paid in the normal claim handling of 1996 will be included if applicable.
Q12. When implemented what happens to Productivity Funds on deposit?
A12. They shall be paid out in the normal manner.
Q13. Upon implementation or imposition of the negotiated merger proposal for
each Hub what protection options will an SP-West trainman/switchmen have?
A13. An SP-West trainman/switchmen will have to elect between the protection
provided in the negotiated merger proposal and what is negotiated in this
Agreement with respect to wage protection. Any relocation protection will be
covered in the merger proposal.
Q14. How will post October 31, 1985 trainmen/yardmen who are forced or who make
application to engine service after the effective date of this agreement be
treated for protection?
A14. They will be treated as holding the highest rated position available
when holding the highest rated position in engine service they can hold.
Q15. How will pre-October 31, 1985 trainmen/yardmen be treated for protection
when they make a voluntary application and work in engine service?
A15. They will not be treated as holding the highest rated position when
working in engine service unless the engine service position is higher paying
than any train service position they could have held.
ATTACHMENT A
UTILITY POSITIONS
Utility positions may be established under the following conditions:
A. Utility positions may be established in any yard or at any outside point
where a regular assignment may be established.
B. Utility positions may assist both road and yard crews in the performance of
their duties. It is not intended that the Utility position will perform the
conductor's or foreman's paperwork. It is not the intent of this agreement to
create engineer only positions and have the utility assignment perform the
groundwork for that engineer. The Utility position is to assist both assignments
with ground crews assigned and single assignments permitted by current rules.
C. Utility positions will be paid the applicable foreman's rate of pay.
D. If a Utility position is called extra at the same yard or outside point and
in the same starting time bracket for the yard and within one and one-half hours
for outside points for four (4) consecutive days, the position shall be
bulletined as a regular utility assignment.
E. Utility positions established in yards shall be governed by yard starting
time rules, where applicable. Utility positions established at outside points
shall be governed by starting time rules governing locals or road switchers, if
any. The five (5) day work week provisions shall apply to assignments
established in yards and assignments established at road points may be
established for 5,6 or 7 days with the days being consecutive.
F. Utility positions established in yards will be restricted to the road/yard
service zone limits established by applicable National Agreements, currently 25
miles. Utility positions established at outside points will be governed by road
limits of 25 miles in all directions. Employees assigned to Utility positions
will not be required to drive their own vehicles within these limits while
performing their duties.
G. If an employee assigned to or working a Utility position is assigned to a
crew because a conductor/foreman or brakeman/helper has failed to show for work
or has gone home sick, the Utility person shall remain with the crew for the
remainder of the shift. The Utility person shall be paid the rate of the
position worked or of the utility position whichever is greater.
Questions and Answers for Attachment A Utility Positions
Q 1. What facilities must be at the location of the utility assignment?
A 1. The same facilities that are required for a yard crew or local/road
switcher.
Q 2. Must the Utility position have the same on and off duty point?
A 2. Yes.
Q 3. Can this assignment work alone?
A 3. The purpose of this assignment is to expedite traffic by assisting other
crews. In performing those duties, the Utility assignment is intended to be
attached to or work in concert with another crew. The Utility assignment shall
be assigned to only one crew at a time and shall be in personal, radio, signal
or other contact with the crew it is assisting prior to performing duties for or
in conjunction with that crew.
Q 4. Can you give some examples to answer 3?
A 4. A Utility person may be required to do whatever a brakeman/helper could
do when instructed to do so by the conductor/foreman.
Q 5. What impact does the utility person have on the calculation of work events?
A 5. None.
Q 6. May a Utility person assist crews from more than one seniority district?
A 6. Yes. In some locations crews from different seniority districts will
perform work. A Utility person who holds seniority at such a location may assist
any crew that operates into, out of and/or through that location.
Q 7. If a Utility person is attached to a crew and the crew is entitled to an
arbitrary payment will the Utility person also receive the arbitrary?
A 7. Yes, if their seniority date would have qualified them for the payment
if they had been a regular assigned member of the crew.
Q 8. May a Utility person be used off of their seniority district?
A 8. Yes, if current agreements permit the crew he/she is working with to be
so used. For example, a yard crew may be used within the road/yard zone in
accordance with the National Agreement even if it is outside their seniority
district and a Utility person working with that crew may also be used in the
same manner as part of that crew.
Q 9. If a Utility person is assigned in accordance with paragraph (G), does
he/she lose the Utility person designation?
A 9. Yes, the Utility person would then be part of another crew and could no
longer act as a Utility person.
Q 10. Is the answer to Question 9 intended to apply to road assignments?
A 10. No the provisions are not intended to supersede or circumvent
applicable vacancy procedures for road assignments. The provisions are not
intended to have Utility positions go beyond the mileage or road/yard zone
limitations.
Q 11. If a conductor/foreman fails to show or has gone home sick and a
brakeman/helper is assigned to the job and the Utility person is assigned who
becomes the conductor/foreman?
A 11. The brakeman/helper if qualified; otherwise, the utility person.
Q 12. Is the Carrier required to assign the utility person as a permanent member
of a crew in the above situation?
A 12. No.
Q 13. How will a Utility person know whether they are assigned to a crew or just
assisting a crew in that situation?
A 13. They will be so instructed by a supervisor. Should any doubt arise the utility person should specifically ask. If so instructed he/she should contact CMS at the first opportunity and advise that they have been made part of the crew and should so indicate on their time record when tying-up.
Q 14. If an assignment is bulletined or called with a crew comprised of a conductor and one brakeman or a foreman and one helper may the Carrier operate this assignment as two assignments?
A 14. No.
Q 15. Does the presence and/or attachment of a Utility position affect the
answer to Question 14?
A 15. No.
Q 16. What assignments may be assisted by a road Utility position and/or a yard
Utility position?
A 16. The road and/or yard Utility positions may assist both road and yard
assignments.
Q 17. What seniority will be used for filling Utility assignments?
A 17. Yardman's seniority in a yard and brakeman's seniority for road
assignments.
Q 18. May relief Utility positions be established?
A 18. Yes, at the same location on the road unless mutually agreed otherwise
or in the same terminal.
Q 19. When will road or yard Utility positions qualify for overtime?
A 19. In accordance with applicable yard overtime agreement provisions.
ATTACHMENT B
GUARANTEED EXTRA BOARDS
I. Conductor, brakemen and yardmen extra boards that currently exist shall
continue to exist during the interim period; however, they shall be subject to
the provisions of Articles II-VIII of this Attachment B.
Note: Extra Board coverage, consolidations and locations shall be further
handled in each of the merger Hub negotiations, however, the types of extra
boards, pay and layoff provisions shall be as provided in this Agreement.
II. The guarantee on these extra boards shall be as follows:
A. Combination brakeman/switchman
or separate brakeman
1925 miles per pay period at the brakeman's basic local freight rate of pay for the 1-80 car bracket.or Conductor/brakeman/switchman
1925 miles per pay period at the conductor's basic local freight rate of pay for the 1-80 car bracket.These rates of pay are subject to all subsequent adjustments in wages and
COLA.
III. Payment of the guarantee will be made in the payroll half following the
payroll half in which the guarantee payment was incurred.
IV. The Reserve Board, as provided for in Article IX of this Agreement, will not
be used to supplement the guaranteed extra boards.
V. All guaranteed extra boards (GXB) will be regulated by the Carrier subject to
the obligation of the Carrier to keep a sufficient number of employees on such
boards to permit reasonable absence privileges (including personal leave and
vacation). In that regard, Carrier agrees to maintain a minimum number of extra
board employees equal to twenty percent (20%) of the assignments (positions)
protected by such board.
VI. Employees shall take promotion to conductor as follows:
A. All employees must take promotion to conductor subject to the following: A
pre-October 31, 1985 employee who can hold any job other than a conductor's
position will not be obligated to take the conductor's examination. If, however,
the employee is later unable to hold such a position, the employee will be given
thirty (30) days in which to take promotion. Failure to do so will disqualify
the employee from holding a position. When conditions exist that require an
employee to take the conductor's examination, such employee will also be subject
to any penalties that may be imposed through the National Agreement. Employees
cannot use this provision to allege that lack of promotion keeps them from
holding a higher paying position for purposes of protection. For example, a
brakeman cannot pass up promotion and if unable to hold any position claim a
dismissal allowance. The employee would be treated as holding a conductor's
position. All post-October 31, 1985 employees must take promotion to conductor
at the earliest opportunity.
B. The Carrier will hold promotion classes on a regular basis to provide the
opportunity for non-promoted trainmen to qualify. Mileage and/or time limits as
a brakeman/yardman that may have existed previous to the 1991 National
Implementing Agreement governing promotion are no longer applicable.
VII. A. All earnings received by an employee assigned to a guaranteed extra
board will be used in computing the employee's guarantee. Time claim payments
for periods of time when not assigned to a guaranteed extra board will be paid
in addition to guarantee payments made to an employee. Penalty claim payments
due employees assigned to a guaranteed extra board will be paid in addition to
the earnings received as a guaranteed extra board employee. Such computations
will not include non-taxable income such as meal, lodging and personal auto
mileage payments. Protection payments are not considered earnings for computing
extra board guarantee. All guarantee payments will be calculated and paid prior
to protection being calculated and paid.
B. A GXB employee standing first out who lays off, lays off on call, misses call
or is not available for call will have the guarantee reduced by the amount he
would have earned had he not laid off on call, missed call or not been available
for call with a minimum reduction of one guaranteed day.
C. An employee who lays off when other than first out will have his guarantee
reduced by one (1) day for each 24-hour period or portion thereof.
D. An employee assigned to a GXB who is unavailable for more than two (2)
occurrences per pay period or who is unavailable for more than eighty-four (84)
combined hours per pay period, will forfeit his guarantee for that pay period.
Elected union representatives who are unavailable because of union work will not
be subject to this Section (D) but will be covered by Section (E) of this
Article VII of Attachment B.
E. An employee who misses a call as a result of another GXB employee laying off
on call, missing call or not available for call when that other GXB employee is
first out will have his guarantee reduced by one (1) day for each 24- hour
period or portion thereof.
F. The guarantee reductions shall not apply for absences due to Bereavement
Leave, Personal Leave Days, Vacations, Rules Classes, Jury Duty, Physical
Examinations or other instances where the employee is held at the instruction of
the Carrier.
VIII. A. An employee added to a GXB will be paid a guarantee for the day added
provided the employee meets the availability requirements of this Agreement. All
earnings made on the day added will be included in the computation of the
guarantee. Guarantee will not be paid to an employee on the day reduced from a
GXB if notified by 1:30 P.M. If an employee is reduced from a GXB but is not
notified by 1:30 P.M., then the employee will be paid the guarantee for that day
unless the employee voluntarily bid off the GXB.
B. All guarantee compensation paid to employees will be considered as service
rendered for vacation pay and qualification purposes.
ATTACHMENT C
BLUEPRINT POOL PROVISIONS
The following shall govern pool freight crews:
I. Pool freight crews who are run around by other pool freight crews in the home
terminal, or en route between the home terminal and far terminal will, upon
arrival at the far terminal be given the same relative position on the list that
they held prior to leaving the home terminal, except that crews who become first
out before having required rest shall stand first out after rest period, and
upon return to home terminal shall be given the same relative position on board
as was held prior to leaving the home terminal on the last trip.
II. Pool freight crews who are run around by other pool freight crews in the far
terminal, or en route between the far terminal and the home terminal, will upon
arrival at the home terminal be given the same relative position on the list at
the home terminal that they held prior to leaving the far terminal except as
provided in I, above.
III. Crews requesting extra rest in accordance with the rest rule will retain
their position on the blue print board. In the event the crew is run around
during the rest period, they will be placed first out at the expiration of their
rest period.
IV. At the time of pool adjustments, crews added to the pool in accordance with
schedule rules will not be considered as run around when other pool crews
arriving at the home terminal are placed ahead of them under the provisions of
this Agreement.
V. Upon arrival at the home or far terminal, trainmen who have been run around
as indicated in paragraphs I and II, will notify proper officer as to their
standing on the list at those points. The Carrier will not be subjected to
penalty payments because trainmen fail to furnish information or furnish
incorrect information. This does not, however, estop the Carrier from taking
disciplinary action when it is developed the employees have furnished incorrect
information. In addition no runarounds will be claimed because crews were not
called or depart in accordance with the agreement because of that incorrect
information.
VI. Merger implementing agreements/awards will handle mark up provisions for
pools with multiple destinations.
ATTACHMENT D
RESERVE BOARDS
I. The Carrier shall establish two levels of Reserve Boards for eligible
employees working under the SP-West UTU Agreement. These Reserve Boards will be
known as regular and ready reserve boards.
II. To be eligible to occupy either of these two reserve boards, an employee
must have a seniority date on the SP-West pre-merger roster prior to June 1,
1997 and must be working in train/yard service at the time application is placed
for one of the reserve boards. Employees who are on the roster but not working
in train/yard service must, upon returning to train/yard service, work a minimum
of sixty (60) days in train/yard service prior to becoming eligible for a
reserve board position.
III. Reserve Board positions are not available to employees hired subsequent to
June 1, 1997. If employees currently working under another UP agreement come
under the provisions of the SP-West UTU Agreement as a result of a merger
agreement and they were eligible to hold a reserve board under their prior
agreement, they shall be entitled to hold a reserve board position, seniority
permitting under this Agreement. No employee may hold a reserve board position
(ready or regular) if an employee not eligible to hold a reserve board is
working in the trainman/switchman craft within the Hub. All non-eligible
employees must be displaced prior to reserve boards slots becoming available.
IV. A regular reserve board shall be established for each seniority district
created under the SP-West agreement as a result of the merger. An employee on a
regular reserve board shall be paid 70 % of the wage portion of their TPA as set
forth in Article II (A) of the agreement.
V. A ready reserve board shall be established at each location where an extra
board exists. An employee on a ready reserve board shall be paid 85% of the wage
portion of their TPA as set forth in Article II (A) of the agreement. The ready
reserve board shall be governed by the following:
A. An employee on a ready reserve board that protects road vacancies must be
conductor qualified.
B. An employee on a ready reserve board is subject to recall upon 48 hours'
notice. Notice shall include telephone notice or attempted notice by telephone.
The 48 hours shall begin at the first attempt to notify an employee. A
reasonable telephone recall shall be a minimum of three(3) telephone attempts in
each eight (8) hours for forty-eight hours.
C. Employees who fail to mark up within the 48-hour period shall have their
pay stopped at the end of the 48-hour period and may be subject to discipline.
D. Employees on the ready reserve board retain the right to layoff, use personal
leave, and take scheduled vacations as provided for in current agreement rules.
Employees laying off for other than a paid absence will have their reserve board
pay reduced on a day for day basis.
E. Employees on the ready reserve board for a minimum of 30 consecutive days may
request to be released from the board, seniority permitting. Such employee may
move to the regular reserve board but must remain on the ready reserve board
until their replacement is marked up on the ready reserve board. Nothing in this
paragraph restricts the right of an employee to make application to working
assignments, regular or extra.
F. Employees on the ready reserve board shall be recalled in junior order to
extra boards (road, yard or combination) to provide temporary support when
additional forces are needed on either a short term or long term basis. If the
need is long term, the regular recall provisions from the other reserve board
shall continue to apply, and when sufficient forces from the other reserve board
have marked up, the ready reserve board employees shall be released back to the
ready reserve board, seniority permitting.
Note: If the ready reserve employee is recalled under the regular recall
provisions to a permanent vacancy, they will not be released but their reserve
board position shall then be available for assignment.
G. The number of ready reserve board positions shall not be less than fifteen
(15) percent of total extra board positions at each location. If surplus
eligible manpower is available the ready reserve board shall be filled prior to
filling any regular reserve board positions.
H. The Organization may elect to have a supplemental extra board in lieu of a
ready reserve board. The supplemental extra board shall be paid at 85% of the
regular extra board rate and shall be used when the regular extra board is
exhausted. The employee first out at noon of each day shall be rotated to the
bottom of the board. The Carrier shall determine the number of employees to have
on the supplemental board but not less than 15% of the number of extra board
positions if sufficient manpower is available. Employees hired subsequent to the
June 1, 1997 shall not have rights to hold the supplemental extra board unless
permitted by the Carrier.
VI. An employee placed on a reserve board shall remain in that status until:
A. The employee is displaced by another employee through the exercise of
seniority.
B. The employee resigns from the Carrier's employment.
C. The employee is recalled to active service. Such recall shall be in junior
order.
D. The employee exercises seniority in accordance with applicable rules.
E. The employee is discharged from employment by the Carrier in accordance with
the applicable discipline rules.
VII. Employees on reserve boards must maintain their work proficiencies while in
such status by successfully completing any retraining or refresher programs
required of active employees to maintain those proficiencies which may include
the passing of tests or examinations (including physical examinations)
administered for purposes of determining whether such proficiencies have been
maintained. Employees on a reserve board are "in-service employees"
and hence subject to the same physical and rules examinations as other
employees. The company's requirement that employees who have been out of service
for six months or more must take physical and rules exams does not apply to
reserve board employees.
VIII. Employees to be examined while in reserve board status will be notified by
certified mail sent to their home address. Employees who fail to respond or fail
to pass the exams will have their reserve pay stopped until such time as they do
pass the applicable exam. Employees who fail to respond within sixty (60) days
of a second notice may be subject to disciplinary action.
IX. Employees on the regular reserve board must hold themselves available for
return to service upon thirty (30) days notice (reserve board pay shall continue
for only seven (7) days) and must return to service in compliance with such
thirty days' notice. Failure to comply with any of these requirements could
result in forfeiture of all seniority rights in accordance with applicable
discipline rules. Calculation of the seven (7) and thirty (30) day time periods
shall begin with written notification (postmark date on the envelope) by
certified mail from CMS to the employee. Efforts will first be made to contact
the employee by telephone.
X. An employee who returns to service within the first seven days of the thirty
day recall period will receive reserve board pay until the end of the seventh
day in addition to all other earnings.
Note: Employees on the reserve board are paid as if holding a five-day
assignment. The seven-day period would include five days of pay and two
"rest days".
XI. Other employment while on the regular reserve board is permissible and there
shall be no offset for outside earnings. Other employment includes all
employment except that employment which would conflict with the best interests
of Union Pacific. If an employee is concerned whether employment conflicts with
the best interests of Union Pacific, the General Director of Labor Relations
should be contacted.
Note: Employees on the regular reserve board shall be eligible to accept
"borrow out" status at other locations on Union Pacific. Borrow out
status shall last no longer than six months without renewing the borrowed out
status with CMS and the General Chairman.
XII. Vacation pay received while on a reserve board will offset reserve board
pay. Time spent in reserve status will not count toward determining whether the
employee is eligible for vacation in succeeding years, but will be counted as
compensation earned towards vacation pay. It will count in determining the
length of vacation to which an employee, otherwise eligible, is entitled.
XIII. Employees on the reserve board are not eligible for Holiday pay,
Bereavement Leave, Jury Pay and all other similar allowances except employees on
the ready reserve board will be eligible for personal leave.
XIV. Employees in reserve status are covered by Health and Welfare Plans, Union
Shop, dues check off, discipline rules and the grievance procedures that are
applicable to employees in active service.
XV. It is understood that the reserve boards (both ready and regular) will not
operate when all eligible employees on the appropriate seniority roster on the
date of this agreement are placed on either a guaranteed extra board position or
a regular assignment.
August 6, 1997
Side Letter No. 1
Gentlemen:
This refers to our negotiations modifying the SP-West UTU collective bargaining
agreement and that portion dealing with protection offsets when not working.
These offsets were set forth in the Questions and Answers. During our
discussions the UTU pointed out that current agreements permit Local
Chairpersons to layoff of pool turns and the extra board to handle union
business and to hold their turns and if they move to first out they are held
first out until they mark up again. It was the UTU's position that the offsets
for pool layoffs and extra board layoffs should not be the same for those Local
Chairpersons who hold their turn as compared to regular employees who are not
governed by these same conditions.
In recognition of the difference it was agreed that Local Chairpersons who lay
off Union Business would be deducted 1/30 for each 24 hour period or part
thereof laid off until marked back up when holding pool or extra board
assignments and they hold their turns. If they do not hold their turn then the
regular offset provisions will apply.
Should the above properly reflect our understanding please sign below.
Yours truly,
W.S. Hinckley
General Director Labor Relations
Agreed:
_________________________
General Chairman UTU
_________________________
Vice President UTU
August 6, 1997
Side Letter No. 2
Gentlemen:
In our SP-West UTU Collective Bargaining Agreement modifications we created a
new form of wage protection called "Crew Consist Protection" in
Article II (F). The question arose in negotiations concerning the status of this
protection since most protection is regulatory, i.e. New York Dock, Mendicino,
Oregon Short Line, etc or National, i.e. Article IX Interdivisional Protection.
We agreed that the "Crew Consist Protection" carries the same force
and affect as the other types of protection. We emphasized this in Question and
Answer No. 13 which allows an employee to select "Crew Consist
Protection" over New York Dock protection in merger areas. The same would
be true in the future if a transaction provided some type of protection, such as
Mendicino, an employee covered under "Crew Consist Protection" would
have to elect between keeping this protection or accepting the protection under
the new transaction.
Should the above properly reflect our understanding please sign below.
Yours truly,
W.S. Hinckley
General Director Labor Relations
Agreed:
______________________
General Chairman UTU
______________________
Vice President UTU
August 6, 1997
Side Letter No. 3
Mr. Kevin Klein
General Chairman, UTU
1860 El Camino Real, Suite 201
Burlingame, California 94010
Dear Sir:
This refers to Article II (G) of the SP-West UTU modification agreement. During
our discussions you raised the issue of three legislative representatives and
one international officer. It was your position that all four of these
individuals should be covered under that section of the agreement should they
return to active service with the carrier.
It was agreed that the matter would be settled in a manner consistent with your
position and without prejudice to either parties' respective position regarding
the status of legislative representatives and international officers.
Yours truly,
W. S. Hinckley
General Director Labor Relations
Agreed:
_______________________