Propelled by a soaring stock market, the median pay package for a CEO rose above eight figures for the first time last year. The head of a typical large public company earned a record $10.5 million, an increase of 8.8 percent from $9.6 million in 2012, according to an Associated Press/Equilar pay study.
Last year was the fourth straight that CEO compensation rose following a decline during the Great Recession. The median CEO pay package climbed more than 50 percent over that stretch. A chief executive now makes about 257 times the average worker’s salary, up sharply from 181 times in 2009.
SMART Transportation Division-represented trainmen and engineers employed by Delray Connecting Railroad have ratified a new five-year agreement by a unanimous vote, according to Vice President David Wier.
The agreement provides for annual wage increases, retroactive to April 1, 2013, with a back-pay lump sum; establishes $5 certification pay for conductors and remote-control operators; improves step-rate provisions with an 80 percent entry rate and 5 percent increases for each qualification of conductor, RCO and engineer, allowing new employees to reach a 95-percent rate within the first year of employment; provides an established rest day for extra board employees; increases carrier-matching contributions to 401(k) accounts to $1,500; provides for carryover of sick days; limits employee health and welfare contributions to 12 percent of plan costs and freezes co-pays and deductibles for the life of the contract; improves working conditions and preserves guaranteed extra boards.
Wier, who assisted with the negotiations, congratulates DCRR Acting General Chairperson Ralph “Bud” Bigelow (Local 1438) and negotiating committee member Rick Garcia for the exceptional effort put forth in bringing the members concerns to the bargaining table and negotiating an agreement with significant improvements in wages and working conditions.
Credentials for the delegates and alternate delegates attending the SMART Transportation Division Convention in San Diego, Calif., beginning June 30, have been mailed to the local delegate of record.
Upon receipt of these credentials by the delegate, action should be taken as soon as possible in obtaining the required signatures of the local president and secretary, affixing the local seal and providing the alternate delegate with his or her credential.
It will be necessary for the delegate or alternate delegate attending the Transportation Division Convention to present the properly executed credential upon arrival at registration in San Diego in order to allow seating of the delegate or alternate delegate.
Crawford Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam May 20 announced the appointment of SMART Transportation Division Tennessee State Legislative Director Roger “Adren” Crawford to the Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education. The TCCTE serves as an independent advocate for quality career and technical education programs and functions as an independent oversight body. It consists of 13 members appointed by the governor to serve in an advisory capacity to the Tennessee Board of Education, Tennessee Board of Regents, the governor and the general assembly. Members of the council are appointed to serve six-year terms. Seven individuals are representatives of the private sector in the state and constitute a majority of the membership. Six individuals are representatives of secondary and post-secondary education, career and technical institutions, career guidance and counseling organizations within the state, and/or individuals who have special knowledge and qualifications with respect to the educational and career development needs of special populations. “I appreciate the commitment of these men and women and want to thank them for their willingness to serve the state,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said. “Tennessee will be well represented on these boards and commissions.” Crawford is a member of Local 339 at Jackson, Tenn., and serves as the local’s chairperson, legislative representative and delegate.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is reminding interstate truck and bus drivers that beginning May 21, all new USDOT physicals must be performed by a qualified health professional listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners.
“Safety is our highest priority and it is vital that every commercial truck and bus driver be qualified, alert, and focused when they are behind the wheel,” said Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Medical examiners equipped with a thorough understanding of DOT fitness standards will be able to ensure that commercial drivers meet the health requirements necessary to operate on our highways and roads, thereby strengthening safety for every traveler.”
The new program, which was required by federal law and addresses four National Transportation Safety Board recommendations, sets baseline training and testing standards for medical professionals who perform commercial driver physicals and for tracking of driver medical certificates.
Today, approximately 22,000 medical professionals have completed the coursework and testing and are listed on the National Registry and another 27,000 have begun the certification process. Current medical certificates held by commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders will continue to be valid until the expiration date that is shown on the card. Only then will the driver need to seek a certified medical examiner to perform their new examination.
“We have certified thousands of health professionals to conduct driver exams – with more being added every day,” said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “The online database is easily searchable so drivers can schedule their medical certification exam with a qualified healthcare professional wherever they might be – coast to coast, including Hawaii and Alaska.”
A USDOT medical exam looks at a range of conditions to assess a driver’s ability to safely operate a commercial vehicle, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory and muscular functions, vision, and hearing.
All interstate commercial truck and bus drivers must pass a USDOT medical examination at least every two years in order to obtain a valid medical certificate, maintain their CDL, and legally operate a commercial motor vehicle.
Medical examiners on the National Registry will also be required to maintain and demonstrate competence through periodic training and recertification testing and those that fail to maintain federal standards will be removed.
FMCSA developed the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners program as part of the agency’s commitment to enhancing the medical oversight of interstate drivers, and preventing commercial vehicle-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. To learn more, visit http://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam May 20 announced the appointment of SMART Transportation Division Tennessee State Legislative Director Roger “Adren” Crawford to the Tennessee Council for Career and Technical Education.
The TCCTE serves as an independent advocate for quality career and technical education programs and functions as an independent oversight body. It consists of 13 members appointed by the governor to serve in an advisory capacity to the Tennessee Board of Education, Tennessee Board of Regents, the governor and the general assembly. Members of the council are appointed to serve six-year terms. Seven individuals are representatives of the private sector in the state and constitute a majority of the membership. Six individuals are representatives of secondary and post-secondary education, career and technical institutions, career guidance and counseling organizations within the state, and/or individuals who have special knowledge and qualifications with respect to the educational and career development needs of special populations. “I appreciate the commitment of these men and women and want to thank them for their willingness to serve the state,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said. “Tennessee will be well represented on these boards and commissions.” Crawford is a member of Local 339 at Jackson, Tenn., and serves as the local’s chairperson, legislative representative and delegate.
The members of the Auxiliary of the UTU Scholarship Fund Board met in North Olmsted, Ohio, April 23-24, 2013. During the meeting, scholarships were drawn from the 53 applications submitted by Auxiliary members for the 2013-2014 school year. The board must “spend” at least 5 percent of our average annual net worth on scholarships to meet our Internal Revenue Service obligations. Through a random drawing, the board awarded eight (8) scholarships this year. These scholarships were drawn by Erika Diehl of the UTU Legal Department and Mary Kay Gubics, office secretary of the Auxiliary, in the presence of the Scholarship Fund Board members. The following are winners of the 2013-2014 Auxiliary Scholarships. Winners are listed in the order the applications were drawn. Congratulations to the scholarship winners! The Auxiliary of the UTU is proud to be able to help in the education of our Auxiliary family members.
2013-2014 Scholarship Winners:
Elisabeth Stansberry Child of Barbara Moore, Lodge 28, of St. Louis, Mo.
Allison Tressler Grandchild of Elaine Tressler, Lodge 565, of Toledo, Ohio
Haley Smith Grandchild of Betty Lively, Lodge 170, of Fort Worth, Texas
Steven David Hatfield Child of Kathy Callahan, Lodge 700, of Peeples Valley, Ariz.
Coltin Grasmick Grandchild of Linda McComas, Lodge 3, of North Olmsted, Ohio
Curtis Mechler Grandchild of Donna English, Lodge 489, of San Antonio, Texas
Drew Madsen Stepchild of Lianna Madsen, Lodge 136, of Salt Lake City, Utah
Christine Hendron Grandchild of Elizabeth Simmons, Lodge 932, of Belleville, Ill.
The members of the Auxiliary of the UTU Scholarship Fund Board met in North Olmsted, Ohio, April 22-24, 2014. During the meeting, scholarships were drawn from the 47 applications submitted by Auxiliary members for the 2014-2015 school year. The board must “spend” at least five percent of our average annual net worth on scholarships to meet our Internal Revenue Service obligations. Through a random drawing, the board awarded ten (10) scholarships this year. These scholarships were drawn by Faith Ann Feltmeyer of the UTU Legal Department, in the presence of the Scholarship Fund Board members. The following are winners of the 2014-2015 Auxiliary Scholarships. Winners are listed in the order the applications were drawn. Congratulations to the scholarship winners! The Auxiliary of the UTU is proud to be able to help in the education of our Auxiliary family members.
2014-2015 Scholarship Winners:
Steven Sax Child of Bonnie Sax, Lodge 28, of St. Louis, Mo.
James Ross Spain Grandchild of Sylvia J. Trimmier, Lodge 170, of Fort Worth, Texas
Hannah Magrum Grandchild of Wilma Kappel, Lodge 933, of Jefferson City, Mo.
Jackson D. Majher Child of David C. Majher, Lodge 5, of Cleveland, Ohio
Mariah Flickinger Child of Barbara Flickinger, Lodge 113, of Winslow, Ariz.
Allison Groves Grandchild of Patricia A. Murphy, Lodge 500, of Indianapolis, Ind.
Ethan Grasmick Grandchild of Linda M. McComas, Lodge 3, of North Olmsted, Ohio
Tyler G. Johnson Grandchild of Karen Prather, Lodge 3, of North Olmsted, Ohio
Amanda F. Majher Child of David C. Majher, Lodge 5, of Cleveland, Ohio
Nathaniel Coons Grandchild of Betty Coons, Lodge 28, of St. Louis, Mo.
Presidential Emergency Board 245 determined May 20 that “the Unions’ final offer is the most reasonable” in the four-year-old bargaining dispute between the International Association of Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and its allied unions and the Long Island Rail Road.
The PEB report sets in motion a final 60-day cooling off period. If no agreement is reached during that time, SMART and the other unions can strike on July 19 under provisions of the Railway Labor Act.
Under the RLA’s special 9A provisions for disputes involving commuter railroads, if the parties do not reach agreement after a first PEB issues its recommendations, a second PEB is convened to decide which side’s final offer is the most reasonable.
On Dec. 21, 2013, PEB 244 recommended a six-year contract with 17.9 percent in compounded wage increases. The board also recommended that employees begin paying health insurance premiums that reduced the net value of the proposed contract to 2.5 percent per year. The board rejected Long Island Rail Road’s proposal for sweeping pension, work rule, and other concessions.
In its report, the board notes that “the lack of notice and bargaining on substantial issues in the Carrier’s final offer is of significant concern … The Unions’ final offer, on the other hand, represents a reasonable balance addressing the priorities of both parties … It is noteworthy that the Unions’ assertion that real wage increases for LIRR employees, absent inflation, have not increased at all since 1991, was not challenged by the Carrier.”
“A strong union requires strong members,” said SMART General President Joseph Nigro. “The courage and fortitude these members exhibited shows that there is nothing stronger than the solidarity that comes when working families are united. They are proof of that.
“SMART will provide all the resources needed to ensure an agreement worthy of ratification by these members is produced. They have fought for and deserve every advance they make and will make in the future.”
“Our members on LIRR, led by General Chairperson Anthony Simon, are to be commended for their resolve in seeking the fair and equitable agreement to which they are entitled,” said SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich. “From the very beginning, SMART advised all concerned that management’s offer of a substandard contract was unacceptable and that we would not hold back in our efforts to obtain a just agreement.
“Throughout negotiations and mediation, our position was firm and consistent and management refused to listen. Now that our position is validated by both Presidential Emergency Board 244 and again with PEB 245, it is time for this issue to be resolved. We will not rest until our members receive the agreement that they deserve.”
SMART, along with its coalition partners Transportation Communications Union, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers-Service Employees International Union, submitted the recommendations of the first board to PEB 245 as its final offer.
MTA, which conducted the bargaining for Long Island Rail Road, rejected PEB 244’s recommendations as a basis for settlement. Instead, MTA proposed as its final offer what it claimed was equivalent value to a deal it reached on April 17, 2014, four days before PEB 245 hearings began, with Transport Workers Union Local 100 representing 35,000 New York City Transit Authority workers. The offer was for 11 percent in wage increases over six years, with a 2 percent employee contribution to health insurance, major pension concessions, and a new, reduced-rate progression for new employees.
PEB 245 decisively ruled for the unions. The three-member panel, comprised of renowned arbitrators Joshua Javits, David Vaughn and Elizabeth Wesman, wrote, “The Unions’ final offer … represents a reasonable balance addressing the priorities of both parties.”
In rejecting MTA’s final offer, the board found that there were no consistencies with any comparisons made by the MTA, and the lack of detail to any comparables did not prove that their final offer was reasonable. As PEB 244 noted, state employee agreements have virtually never constituted valid comparators or patterns for commuter railroads. The labor markets, skills, history, and operations are completely different.
SMART Transportation Division Alternate Vice President and General Chairperson Anthony Simon, spokesman for the SMART, TCU, IAM and NCFO-SEIU coalition, called upon MTA “to accept reality and sign the PEB-recommended contract immediately.”
“Our members and all the hard working men and women on the Long Island Rail Road have waited long enough. We sincerely hope MTA will not stick to its twice-rejected position. We are fully prepared to strike on July 19 if MTA continues to stonewall the process,” Simon said.
To read the complete report of PEB 245, click here.
The full House will take up a $52 billion spending bill that would fund transportation and housing programs in fiscal 2015 as early as this month.
Credentials for the delegates and alternate delegates attending the SMART Transportation Division Convention in San Diego, Calif., beginning June 30, have been mailed to the local delegate of record.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is reminding interstate truck and bus drivers that beginning May 21, all new USDOT physicals must be performed by a qualified health professional listed on the 