After 128 days of negotiations, the UE bargaining committee of UE Locals 506 and 618 have reached a tentative agreement on a four-year contract with Wabtec. This tentative agreement is being recommended by the Bargaining Committee to our Board and the 1,700 members of UE Local 506 and 618 for ratification.
On Tuesday, June 11, we will hold three special membership meetings at the Bayfront Convention Center at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 3:30 p.m. to explain all of the details of the agreement. Ratification votes will take place at the Union Hall from 5:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12. Please make plans to attend, as your voice matters.
The tentative contract reaches an agreement on terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, and health and safety policies. The contract agreement includes the following:
- Maintain current wage rates for existing Wabtec employees.
- Ten-year progression to full wage rates for new hire employees.
- A commitment for new work equivalent to 100 full-time employees by the end of the contract.
- Continuation of voluntary overtime.
- Five-year recall rights.
- Former GE Transportation employees who were on the recall list will receive preferential placement for
- new hire employment with the restoration of seniority.
- Overtime premium pay after eight hours / double-time after 12 hours.
- Standard Monday-Friday work week.
- Up to six weeks of paid vacation, based upon years of service.
- Up to 5 paid personal days, based on service.
- Twelve paid holidays.
- Improved health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits.
- Retirement (401K) plan with a 3% Company contribution plus an additional 3% matching contribution.
- Maintained Income Extension Aid (IEA).
- Protected benefits for 26-weeks.
- Four-year agreement.
As you all know, we area rank-and-file-union whose members set the policies of the union and make all of the decisions of importance in a democratic and collective manner. Your ratification of this tentative contract is an important step in the process, as we all stand should-to-shoulder with our union brothers and sisters.
We are proud of this union’s resolve to stand up for the entire community and the next generation of highly skilled workers who will continue to support the middle-class economy of the Erie Region.