BMWED

Maintenance-of-way rail union and Union Pacific tussle over furloughs

Debate about furloughs at Union Pacific and how many employees could be affected continue to play out in the public arena following a recent industry conference where Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman called out Union Pacific leadership.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) sent two letters to the STB: one on Oct. 27 before the RailTrends conference in November hosted by Progressive Railroading and independent Wall Street analyst Tony Hatch and one...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maintenance-of-way-rail-union-and-union-pacific-tussle-over-furloughs

BNSF and maintenance-of-way union reach sick leave agreement

BNSF and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) have struck a sick leave deal for union members. 

The sick leave agreement, which union members must still vote to ratify, calls for four paid sick leave days plus the ability to convert up to three personal leave days as sick leave days.

If union members don’t use all their sick leave, the unused days can be either added to their 401(k) contributions as part of the retirement program or they can be cashed out for straight...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bnsf-and-maintenance-of-way-union-reach-sick-leave-agreement

Ohio rail union blasts Norfolk Southern’s ‘disregard’ for workers’ safety

The Ohio contingent of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) told Gov. Mike DeWine in a letter this week that Norfolk Southern failed to adequately protect workers on the scene of the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine.

“I am writing to share with you the level of disregard that Norfolk Southern has for the safety of the railroad’s Workers, its track structure, and East Palestine and other American communities where NS operates,” wrote J.B. Long, general...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ohio-rail-union-blasts-norfolk-southerns-disregard-for-workers-safety

CSX reaches sick leave agreements with train engineers, mechanical workers

Eastern U.S. railroad CSX has reached agreements with two unions over sick leave.

The agreements with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) are effective Wednesday and affect approximately 5,000 railroad workers.

BMWED represents engineering employees, while BRC represents mechanical workers, according to CSX (NASDAQ: CSX).

“CSX is committed to listening to our railroaders and working with their representatives to find...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/csx-reaches-sick-leave-agreements-with-train-engineers-mechanical-workers

Freight rail carriers bristle at BMWED requests for more concessions

The U.S. freight railroads involved in collective bargaining with the rail labor unions have panned the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division’s counteroffer for a new labor agreement.

“Now is not the time to introduce new demands that rekindle the prospect of a railroad strike,” said the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC), the group representing the freight railroads in contract negotiations, late Wednesday. 

Six other unions have already ratified their agreements, the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freight-rail-carriers-bristle-at-bmwed-requests-for-more-concessions

Court sides with Union Pacific, thwarting potential strikes

A photograph of a Union Pacific train.

Union members affiliated with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) can’t strike against Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) over their concerns about how Union Pacific (UP) has handled the COVID-19 pandemic among its workforce.

In a Thursday decision by Judge Brian C. Buescher of the U.S. District Court in Nebraska, Buescher sided with UP’s request asking for a preliminary injunction that would prevent BMWED from taking actions that would disrupt operations, such as picketing...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/court-sides-with-union-pacific-thwarting-potential-strikes

Court action prevents union from striking against Union Pacific

A photograph of a Union Pacific train hauling intermodal containers across a desert.

A U.S. federal court has temporarily restricted union members from striking against Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) over concerns about the railroad’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic among a category of workers.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska Wednesday sided with Union Pacific’s (UP) petition to prevent members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) from striking against UP. The union had warned last week that it could take action against UP on...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/court-action-prevents-union-from-striking-against-union-pacific

Rail union mulls action against Union Pacific over COVID-19 woes

A photograph of a Union Pacific train at a rail crossing.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) is threatening to take action against Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), saying that the railroad hasn’t done enough to protect workers against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The union, which is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, said it would take action if Union Pacific (UP) didn’t respond to safety demands by Sunday. 

“Hundreds of Union Pacific employees have contracted COVID-19 at work,” with two members dying and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-union-mulls-action-against-union-pacific-over-covid-19-woes

Class I railroads grapple with COVID-19 as unions seek safety assurances

A photograph of a man climbing aboard a Union Pacific locomotive. To the left is a graphic that says "COVID-19."

With coronavirus cases rising sharply in the U.S. and Canada in recent weeks, the Class I railroads have also been grappling with managing increased COVID-19 exposure on their networks.

Meanwhile, some rail union members contend that the railroads have been inconsistent with how safety precautions have been applied throughout the rail network (see below).

A CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) executive recently said his company has been seeing a lot of cases within the U.S. rail network, particularly in the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-grapple-with-covid-19-as-unions-seek-safety-assurances

Stakeholders mixed on new rail inspection technology rule

A photograph of a railcar wheel on a track.

A new rule on rail inspection technology from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is garnering mixed reactions from rail industry stakeholders.

The Final Rule on Rail Integrity Amendments and Track Safety Standards enables the railroads to continue the practice of continuous rail inspection technology without the previous requirement of securing waivers. The rule allows rail testing vehicles to move without stopping along the track, thereby potentially decreasing passenger and freight...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/stakeholders-mixed-on-new-rail-inspection-technology-rule

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