WAF Wrote:
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> And your opinion of it is is?

Well, since you asked . . .

Although I've read the various synopsis, I haven't gone through and thoroughly studied the language, since it doesn't affect me. But based on what I've read and from what others who are far more knowledgeable about it have said, I would've voted No. The 17% wage increase that's achieved at the end of the 6-year contract period sounds better than it actually is. If it had been an immediate 17% increase, now that would've been different. My understanding is that many of the exisiting aribitrairies are frozen and won't be included in the 17%. And it appears that there will be increases in the co-pay amounts employees will pay for many medical services and such stuff, although the current $200 H&W that the carriers collect each month from our earnings is frozen until the next contact in 2015. Also note that according to the figures included on the web page, it wasn't approved by an overwhelming landslide.

It'll be interesting to see if the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (which represents the crafts that are not part of the UTU Nation Agreement) can come up with something better.