Attached is the 2025 vacation form. Forms must be mailed to the address listed at the top of the form and must be received by Dec 9th, 2024 to be honored. Forms will not be accepted in the claims box.

See attached for the June 18th update on negotiations on Articles V-VII (Scheduled Days Off/Automated Bid Scheduling/Pools and Extra Boards).

Brothers and Sisters, The negotiations over Articles V-VII (Scheduled Days Off/Automated Bid Scheduling/Pools and Extra Boards) have reached a stalemate with no further meetings scheduled prior to the June 25th deadline for Article V or the July 13th deadline for Articles VI & VII.   

The intent of PEB 250 and Public Law No. 117-216 is for the parties to negotiate improvements to our membership’s quality of life.  The Carrier’s demands at the bargaining table are excessive and would deteriorate our members’ quality of life while creating a tremendous financial windfall for the Carrier.   As General Chairpersons, we have remained unified at the bargaining table and have held firm on improving the quality of life for our membership.  We will not agree to any terms that limit our members’ earnings, penalize them for utilizing contractual time off, or decrease their quality of life.  

 Due to the Carrier’s reluctance to schedule any further meetings prior to the deadlines, the matter will most likely be resolved in arbitration.

The 2024 Vacation Assignment Chart is available for download.

The 2024 vacation request form is available here for download. Requests must be received by Dec 1st, 2023. No requests will be accepted by hand receipt or in the claims box, they must be mailed to the address listed on the form.

The Time Off for Illness and Wellness Agreement has been signed and is in effect as of August 1st.

Time off for Illness and Wellness Agreement

The following is from the General Committee regarding the local chairmen vote on the proposed paid sick leave agreement:

This is in reference to the ballot dated July 11, 2023, concerning the proposed Agreement for Time Off for Illness and Wellness. As you can see from the attached results, an overwhelming majority voted in favor of the proposed Agreement.
The other General Committees on UP have also ratified the proposal, and we are working with Carrier to finalize the Agreement. A fully executed copy will be sent to each of you and posted on the General Committee website as soon as it is received from Carrier.

As a reminder, for the remainder of 2023, members working in the class or craft of trainperson, regardless of assignment in road or yard service (including Hostler/Hostler Helpers and Firemen-in-Training) will be provided three (3) paid sick days. Beginning January 1, 2024, members will be provided five (5) paid sick days, the option to convert three (3) vacation days to paid sick days, broader use of the additional paid leave day, and banking of up to sixty (60) days of any unused personal leave days, paid sick days, and the additional paid leave day.

Fraternally,

Luke Edington

Paid Sick Leave Vote Results

Proposed Paid Sick Leave Agreement

BLET Paid Sick Leave Agreement

BLET UP System Work Rules Agreement

Brothers and Sisters,

Attached for your review and distribution to the membership is the Tentative Paid Sick Leave Agreement with Q&A’s and Side Letters.  Side Letter #1 addresses the process for 2023 on all properties except the UP Eastern District.  Side Letter #2 addresses the UP Easter District in 2023 because Personal Leave days are reset on the fiscal year (August 1) instead of the calendar year.  We are writing up a synopsis of the agreement and will have it released this week.  The President’s office determined voting will be conducted by the Local Chairpersons as this is not craft specific but covers all crafts represented by SMART TD.  Ballots will be sent out to Local Chairpersons this week.  We will schedule conference calls with each territory in the upcoming weeks to answer any questions. 

The agreement provides three (3) paid sick days to all employees, regardless of craft or class of service represented by SMART TD, for the remainder of 2023.  Beginning January 1, 2024, all employees, regardless of craft or class of service represented by SMART TD, will be provided five (5) paid sick days annually with the option of converting three (3) vacation days to paid sick days.  Paid sick days can be taken at any time or day and cannot be denied by CMS.  Also beginning January 1, 2024, the Additional Day is modified so employees can take it at any time or day and CMS cannot deny their request unless it’s the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day.  On those days the Additional Day is subject to supply and demand.     

The agreement also creates a banking system for unused Personal Leave, Paid Sick and the Additional Day.  Employees will be able to cash out days once per year

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