Month: July 2023

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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