Posted October 26, 2011 16:41:14 CDT

Highlights of Ratified UTU Agreement

by LRC

The UTU is the first of 13 unions to reach final agreement. Some highlights to the contract include:

• Wage increases of 17 percent over 5.5 years
• Health care insurance annual deductible of $200 for an individual and $400 for a family
• Coinsurance of 5 percent with annual out-of-pocket maximums of $1,000 single and $2,000 family
• Reduced pricing of generic drugs for both retail ($10 to $5) and mail-order ($20 to $5)

• A freeze on employee monthly healthcare contributions at $200 until 2016
• Conductor certification pay of $5 per trip
• A $3,000 bonus for employees currently subject to full 5 year entry rates or a $1,200 bonus for employees subject to less than a 5 tiered entry rate progression
• Elimination of the 4th step in the entry rate progression for all new hire UTU represented employees
• Standardization of the new hire probationary period at 60 days from completion of all training
• Those eligible for the entry rate bonus provision of the agreement will have this bonus payment included on the first half in October and receive the payment on the 10/25/2011 pay check. Payments will have a time slip date of 9/15/11
• Back pay will be included on eligible employee’s last half October pay period earnings.  The time slip date will be 9/15/2011 and will be viewable in CMTS by 11/3/2011. Funds will be received on the 11/10/2011 paycheck. 

The UTU agreement represents a fair, above-market settlement that keeps railroad employees among the most highly compensated in U.S. industry. The changes to the healthcare plans allow us to keep the employee monthly contribution low and provide incentives for employees to become better, more informed consumers of health care.

Further information on industry positions and background on rail labor bargaining can be found at www.raillaborfacts.org.