CSX unions negotiate paid sick leave

This is how it should be done. Not by Congress or a PEB...

Progressive Railroading wrote: CSX yesterday announced it has reached agreements with two unions to provide paid sick leave for 5,000 railroad workers.

The agreements were reached with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED), which represents engineering employees, and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC), which represents mechanical workers, CSX officials said in a press release.

"CSX is committed to listening to our railroaders and working with their representatives to find solutions that improve their quality of life and experience as employees," said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. "These agreements demonstrate that commitment and are a direct result of the collaborative relationship we are working to cultivate with all of the unions that represent CSX employees."

At CSX, the BMWED represents nearly 4,000 workers; the BRC represents more than 1,000.

Under the agreement with the BMWED, effective Jan. 1 and every year after, each CSX maintenance-of-way employee will receive four paid sick days on an annual basis, with the ability to take up to three personal leave days per year for paid sick time off, BMWED officials said in a press release.

BMWED President Tony Cardwell thanked Hinrichs and CSX Chief Operating Officer Jamie Boychuk for reaching the agreement with the union.

Noting the Class Is' "extremely healthy earnings for 2022," Cardwell called on other Class Is to enter into similar agreements for their unionized workers.

Under the BRC agreement, members will receive four days of paid sick leave to be paid at 100% of the employees' rate of pay, BRC officials said in a press release. It also provides members with the opportunity to designate the use of their personal leave days for sick leave.

BRC General President Don Grissom also called on other Class Is to reach similar agreements with their unionized workers.

"This agreement is a significant accomplishment and provides a very important benefit for our members working at CSX," said Grissom. "The other carriers should take note and come to the bargaining table in a similar manner."

This topic was also on the CSX forum, and I reiterate the same response. Over the last 150+ years, there have been hundreds if not thousands of contract negotiations which have taken place. When a negotiation happens, the company has a figure on the cost of the total compensation package per employee. It could be $150K per employee, for the use of a round number. Depending on what is agreed to, it could be $100K wages, and $50k benefits. It could be $130K wages, but only $20K benefits. Traditionally wages were above average. Many runs were based on a two day round trip, then a 1-2 day off cycle, depending on the run mileage. This made it so that if someone wanted a day or trip off, then he just marked off with no questions, except maybe during a peek period, such as midwest grain harvest. The employee had to simply forgo a trip's wages if he marked off.

Now with PSR the employment levels have been cut to the bone. There are few extra employees to fill in if someone marks off. In order to still staff the trains while maintaining smaller rosters, the companies have implemented stricter and stricter attendance policies. This has resulted in crews having to neglect their health. If someone doesn't feel well, too bad. How is it safe for someone who is not unto par to handle a train? Now that each employee is being required to work more, how does one fight the fatigue of having to continuously work differing hours each day? The government seemed in shock that in 2023 railroaders don't have sick time. We are just looking for days off when we need them. Sometimes it doesn't even have to do with health. Sometimes we need a day to catch up on paying bills, or performing neglected household chores. Maybe we need a day to open with a spouse whom we hav not seen in a week because of working all nights.