Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division

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

FRA, OSHA call on Norfolk Southern to review safety practices

Improving communication and training as well as fostering trust between the company and its workers are some of the areas where Norfolk Southern could do better, according to a Wednesday report from the Federal Railroad Administration assessing the eastern U.S. Class I railroad’s safety culture.

FRA’s report comes on the heels of an unrelated announcement Wednesday from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration describing a settlement among OSHA, NS and the Brotherhood of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fra-osha-call-on-norfolk-southern-to-review-safety-practices

Maintenance-of-way union sues BNSF over workforce shortages

The union representing maintenance-of-way (MOW) workers at BNSF is suing the railway for using contractors and not growing the ranks of MOW employees, according to a statement from the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED).

The lawsuit is meant “to combat the carrier’s bad faith in dealing with the Union by its depletion of its Maintenance of Way workforce and its blatant disregard of contractual obligations intended to protect our members and their work,” BMWED said in a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maintenance-of-way-union-sues-bnsf-over-workforce-shortages

Norfolk Southern, maintenance-of-way workers reach deal on sick leave

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Norfolk Southern has reached a sick leave agreement for members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/norfolk-southern-maintenance-of-way-workers-reach-deal-on-sick-leave

Rail union pushes back date for potential strike

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way – Employes Division (BMWED) will not go on strike after Nov. 19, opting instead to hold off on any potential action until early December and saying that the date change will enable the railroads to come up with their best offer without threat of a looming walkout.

The period that BMWED members must maintain the status quo at their respective sites will be  aligned with three other unions that have yet to ratify their labor agreements. Those three unions —...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-union-pushes-back-date-for-potential-strike

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

Railroads, union clash over use of track inspection technology

U.S. freight railroads want to know why the Federal Railroad Administration appears to be halting the use of safety technology that has been successfully piloted among six Class I railroads.

But union members argue that the technology doesn’t cover all the elements of a track inspection. 

The technology is using enhanced track geometry as part of an automated track inspection program to detect defects in the rail track that the human eye can’t see. 

All of the Class I railroads, except Kansas City...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/railroads-union-clash-over-use-of-track-inspection-technology

Class I railroads offer advance payments amid contract negotiations

A photograph of workers inspecting railroad track.

The group representing the Class I railroads in contract negotiations with U.S. rail unions is proposing advance payments, but one union rebuffed the offer, calling the amount inadequate.

The National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) is offering advance payments to members of the rail unions currently participating in the negotiations. 

The advance payments would address impacts that rail employees have encountered from the COVID-19 pandemic. They are being offered because the contract...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/class-i-railroads-offer-advance-payments-amid-contract-negotiations

Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern vaccine lawsuits combined in court

A photograph of a man expecting rail track at a rail yard.

Ongoing lawsuits between railroad unions and two Class I railroads over requiring employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine have been consolidated in federal court.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Nov. 17 combined two proceedings, one involving Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) and the other involving Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC), according to a Monday update from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). Judge John Z. Lee will oversee the proceeding.

BLET,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/union-pacific-norfolk-southern-vaccine-lawsuits-combined-in-court

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