ACRE the miracle Association, does anything they ever state, really, ever add up!!!!

On December 24 th ACRE notifies their membership, with regards to the Transit Strike, “Our office has been made aware that management and other personnel violated our agreement by collecting tickets at outlying points during the TWU strike. Claims have been filed on behalf of our members. Our local chairman will notify the proper claimants”.

On January 9 th from the ACRE Local 9 minutes “800 mishandled claims were submitted for members as a result of the TA strike. If you think you were mishandled and did not receive a claim, contact your local chairman”.

On January 13 th from the ACRE Local 1 minutes “Several hundred claims arising from the transit strike have already been resolved. Thank you for your patience as we resolve any outstanding claims”.

ACRE members are led to believe that over a thousand claims were submitted, approved and processed by ACRE and Metro-North concerning violations to our agreements during the Transit Strike. Supposedly within 24 hours after the strike. Over a thousand claims processed and possibly more on the way. One could only imagine and wonder, how many claims, if any, were filed on behalf of the membership from the other unions working on the LIRR and/or NJT during the strike? Is it possible that these contract violations and claims were only an issue and problem on MTA Metro-North Railroad?

Here is an interesting observation: ACRE Local 1 (Conductors and Trainmen) has about 750 members and has separation of service for their members. ACRE Local 9 (Engineers) has about 340 members without separation of service for their members. Why is it that Local 9 which has half as many members as Local 1, generated, at least, twice as many claims as Local 1 during the transit strike? Something doesn't add up.

Also from the Minutes of ACRE Local 9 “Thanks to all who helped out and worked the holidays. All the jobs were covered”. This is just another example of ACRE promoting the companies' position. Should ACRE members care if all or any of M-N holiday jobs were covered? Has anyone ever seen a statement from Metro-North stating “thanks to all of our train service employees who have worked hard throughout the year and covered all of our jobs. We will ensure all of the ACRE memberships vacation swaps are approved and covered”. Metro-North doesn't care about our lives or how ACRE officers handle their membership. Metro-North only cares about the enforcement of the ACRE contract on their employees with regards to the scheduling and operation of their trains.

If it weren't for New Year's Eve falling on the majority of the memberships rest days, would the New Year's Eve schedules have been so favorable? This is the real reason behind ACRE ‘s and Metro-North's reason for trying to negotiate and reinstate the 100-day vacation waiver? This gives Metro-North the right to change all of our work schedules. It's just another giant giveback and work rule concession for Metro-North of our work rules with secret side bar agreements that we are not allowed to see or vote on.