2022 Fall Farm Outlook

2022 Fall Farm Outlook Lincoln Daily News Oct 2022 Page 21 The country sighed a collective sigh of relieve when the impending strike that was supposed to occur on September 23rd was suspended due to intervention at the white house. However, it was not a permanent fix for the issues. This month several of the unions went back into negotiations. There are a total of 12 railroad unions that together represent about 115,000 employees. Six of the 12 unions have ratified their agreements. Five have ratification motions pending to take place in late October and early to mid-November. The 12th has made no motion to ratify and is “maintaining status quo.” All 12 must ratify their contracts to avert a strike. So what are the issues? While more money is always going to be a talking point, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division that have rejected the latest offers are looking for more than just money. They are saying that the Railroad doesn’t do enough to make for good A rail workers strike is still on the horizon if agreements are not reached by late November. working conditions for employees and are shortchanging workers on paid time off. Taken from BARGAINING STATUS FAQ – OCTOBER 2022 - NRLC ( raillaborfacts.org) : Q: What is in the new agreements? A: All of the new agreements increase wages by 24 percent during the five-year period from 2020 through 2024, with a 14.1 wage percent increase effective immediately. The agreements also include five $1,000 annual lump sum payments, adjustments to health care premiums, and health benefit enhancements, and an additional personal leave day for all employees. A portion of the wage increases and lump sum payments are retroactive, resulting in more than $11,000 on average in immediate payouts to employees. The wage increases in the new agreements are the most substantial in decades – with average rail worker wages reaching about $110,000 CONTINUED --