Category: Agreements

Tentative Paid Sick Leave 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 or during an approved medical leave of absence.  We also secured language protecting our members from discipline under Carrier’s attendance policy when they use Paid Sick Days.  This agreement is a big step towards improving the quality of life for our membership.   

Fraternally,

Luke Edington
General Chairman
SMART TD GO-953

Tentative Paid Sick Leave Agreement

Tentative Paid Sick Leave Synopsis

…

Preventative Medical Care Visit Requests

The following message was provided from the general committee on how to request unpaid days off as provided for in the national agreement.

*** ATTENTION MEMBERS OF SMART-TD GO953 ***

Please follow the following process for requesting unpaid days off for preventative medical appointments as allowed under the 2022 National Agreement. When carrier has their computer programming complete to allow for self-service requests, new instructions will be issued.

E-mail the following information at least 35 days in advance of your appointment to:
medical_layoff@utu953.org

Our office will communicate with CMS to arrange for approval of your appointment and then reply to you. Your email must include the following info:

  • Employee Name
  • Employee ID #
  • Date of appointment
  • Additional information regarding any expected preparation or recovery days
Preventative Medical Visit Flier…

Claim for MOW Train

When the MOW train is operating in our area with out a Engineer or A Conductor please put in the following Claim:


CLAIM 8 HOURS PAY FOR RESTRICTION OF SENIORTY. ON (DATE) MAINTENANCE OF WAY (MOW) HAS THE MOW TRAIN UP 958400MW OPERATING ON THE MIDWEST SENIORTY DISTRICT. THERE IS NOT A BULLETIN FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT NOR I WAS NOT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. THE OPERATION OF THIS TRAIN IS EXCLUSIVE WORK OF TE&Y EMPLOYEES AND CAN NOT BE OPERATED BY MOW EMPLOYEES.

As long as the train is operating in our area with out a Engineer or Conductor this Claim can be put in 7 days a week. …