Rail contract still pending
CLEVELAND -- UTU general chairpersons have submitted their questions regarding the proper interpretation of the proposed national wage and rule settlement to the UTU National Negotiating Committee, and the committee members have answered those questions, according to their understanding of the pending agreement, as this edition of UTU News reached deadline.

Those questions have also been submitted to the carriers for their review, and it was anticipated the carriers would respond with their answers during the week of November 20.

"We will review the carriers' answers, and hope to come to an agreement with them shortly thereafter," said UTU National Negotiating Team Chairperson Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr. "If not, we will work to ensure the spirit and intent of the negotiations are maintained.

"Until we have reached an agreement on the questions and answers, a definite schedule for voting cannot be determined. We will keep you advised," Boyd said.

"The proposed national agreement is now being widely circulated. Given this widespread circulation, we have received reports of many concerns about the agreement, most of which are based on false rumors or lack of understanding," International President Charles Little said. "I should also point out that many of those rumors are being initiated by those who are not UTU members, and would like nothing better than to see this proposal fail for the betterment of their own organizational or personal political agenda."

Rumors that the UTU has "sold" arbitraries and penalty payments for a "flat" rate of pay are "dead wrong," Little said.

Members are encouraged to check the UTU's website at <http://www.utu.org> for developments as they occur.

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