February 2022

Congratulations to all UE Local 1077 PTI drivers in California (CA) and Nevada (NV). January 15 through January 20, PTI drivers successfully ratified their first union contract with the Company. Drivers made history with the first Union contract with PTI in these states. During the contract ratification process, PTI drivers had Zoom meetings to review the tentative agreement. Drivers voted online with a majority vote to ratify the new three-year union contract with PTI.

The new 3-year union contract has improved benefits, wages and includes more job security protections. PTI already implemented the first round of wage increases guaranteed under the contract. Your Union Bargaining Committee composed of drivers Lela Jankowski (driver from Dunsmuir, CA) and Ed Stephenson (driver from Sparks, NV) did an amazing job, and along with dozens of drivers that were part of the Contract Support Committee, PTI drivers showed unity and strength during these very tough negotiations.

The Next Steps:
UE Union is a rank and file union which means the union members, the drivers, run the union. The drivers elect their leadership from their co-workers, decisions are made democratically by member voting. Under a rank and file union, the members manage and set their dues system. There are open nominations and elections for UE Local 1077 Union Executive Board (E-Board). Notices of nominations were mailed to all drivers. We encourage PTI drivers to nominate co-workers.

We also need to build and recruit co-workers to be Shop Stewards and build a Shop Steward council. Shop Stewards are the first line of defense of the contract Shop Stewards help enforce the contract, file grievances, and represent co-workers. Shop Stewards and E-Board members also help set Labor-Management meetings with PTI management to address issues further. To become a steward, a driver must have their co-workers fill out a petition for stewardship, the potential steward must sign the Pledge of 1077 and agree to participate in training.

In the next coming weeks, there will be a series of union yard meetings taking place in all PTI yards in CA and NV for drivers to start nominating Shop Stewards and go over any workplace issues that we can enforce the contract. Drivers are encouraged to sign the union membership card to be a member in good standing. Under the contract and CA Labor Law, PTI drivers will have the option of being members of the union in good standing, or if drivers don’t join the union, their other option would be to be an agency fee payer. The best choice is to join the union that your co-workers and drivers like you build and make your union of PTI drivers strong. The Union is as strong as its members are.

Please contact UE Field Organizer Fernando Ramirez @ 323-572-4668 or fernando.ramirez@ueunion.org if you wish to nominate a co-worker for any of the Union Executive Board open positions or want to become a Union Shop Steward or want to nominate a co-worker for Union Shop Steward.

Thursday January 13, 2022, the UE and PTI bargaining committees reached a tentative agreement for a complete contract. The agreement includes many provisions including wage increases, vacation, a grievance procedure, safety protections and more. The UE Bargaining Committee is recommending a yes vote. Of course, each member will decide for themselves how they vote. Please see the attached TA’s for the complete contract.

No contract provisions will go into effect until the members vote. Drivers can only vote if they join the Union by going here: https://railcrew.ueunion.org/pti/ and signing up.

Now it is time for the members to learn, debate and vote on the package. Attached below is the full draft contract, please read it.

We will hold 3 zoom sessions that you are invited to join, and discuss with your co-workers:

Zoom session #1 Saturday 15, 2022 03:00 PM PACIFIC Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link https://ueunion.zoom.us/j/85346369501?pwd=NXZ0OUdKOERYMi9meWZTR3ZIVGlDZz09

Or call in at: (669) 900-6833 add meeting ID 853 4636 9501, enter password: 948494

Zoom session #2 Sunday Jan 16, 2022 10:00 AM PACIFIC Time, use link and phone number above.

Zoom session #3 Sunday Jan 16, 2022 03:00 PM PACIFIC Time use link and phone number above.

The vote on the contract offer will be run through the website Election Buddy. Once you sign a membership card, again, go here: https://railcrew.ueunion.org/pti/ to join, you will be texted a ballot to vote for or against the contract offer on Monday January 17, 2022. The results of the vote will be announced via text Tuesday am.

If you have any questions about the offer, please call the UE Bargaining committee Lela Jankowski @ 530-859-2683 – Ed Stephenson @ 775-742-2242 or UE Staff Fernando Ramirez @ 323-572-4668 or J Burger @773-263-4341

Ed Stepheson, Lela Jankowski and J Burger from UE met with Jake Fulcher (attorney), Steve Kessler and Chris Bernfield from PTI met for 3 days in Reno Nevada at the beginning of November. We made progress in getting contract language settled with some items remaining, but the dollars and cents from the boss are not there.

What are we still fighting for?
The Union proposed 29 new sections for the contract: everything from road board rules to yard job bidding, seniority to safety. Five or so non-economic items remain open and the Union is fighting to keep strong protections for drivers.

We have not agreed to language on subcontracting, which PTI wants. The Union is demanding protections for when PTI sends out of town drivers to a different area. We are holding the line that the regular drivers works first and when out of hours, then the out of towner gets behind the wheel.

Drivers want more money in wages, more vacation, shift differential and cell phone payments, the Union began with 17 economic proposals. Many of the proposals remain open and we have no agreement as of yet.

As you are reading this flier, the bosses at PTI are offering a lousy 1.25% wage increase or $.010 over minimum wage for 2021 and 1.5% for 2022. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH! The Union bargaining committee continues the fight for retroactive wages to March 5th, 2020 for drivers that came over from Hallcon and over $1.00/hour for all drivers in 2021 and 2022. We have not agreed to the length of the contract. We are holding out for call-in/report-in pay of 2 hours minimum for safety meetings and drug testing, they want to pay you just the time spent.

PTI is proposing less vacation days than they give us now. The Union has stated that drivers are not interested, at all. We are fighting to get the right to take vacation because many drivers report they are being denied requests.

We are proposing that drivers get money in a Health Savings Account (HAS), just like the corporate employees get. Drivers could use that HSA money to offset copays, deductibles and pharmacy costs.

The Union still fights on for shift differential and for payment for use of our cell phones.

The Union bargaining committee knows PTI is not offering enough. We may have one more meeting with the Company officials before they try to cram substandard wages down our throat. To fight this, the bargaining committee has to know that they are fighting for something YOU will fight for. Now we need you to join the fight.

Next steps in the fight for a FAIR CONTRACT.
1. Share this leaflet with your coworker. Discuss it with them, and

2. Find out who your contract support committee (CSC) in your area. Tell them what you are willing to do to fight for a Fair Contract. Call UE Field Organizer Fernando Ramirez @ (323) 572-4668 to find out their name and number, and

3. Get copies of the RailCrew Supports PTI Driver Fight for a Fair Contract. Please ask every crew member to read and sign the card and return it to you. Return the cards ASAP by texting a picture to Lela Jankowski at (530) 859 2683.

If PTI management does not significantly increase its wage and economic offer, the Union will begin circulating a Strike Petition to gauge drivers willingness to fight for more.

Below is the September 2021 UE Railcrew newsletter that contains updates from around the country.