ACRE attacks Presidential Emergency Board (P.E.B.) #240 Recommendations. Why?

In the recently released ACRE Newsletter, the company-supported union criticizes the M-N Coalition for moving ahead of the ACRE organization in negotiations for the next contract. The Coalition represents approximately 70% of the agreement employees on Metro-North Railroad. After ACRE's dismal performance in the last round of contract negotiations, the Coalition did not wish to follow the company association again.

Everyone, especially ACRE members, should be thankful the Coalition is going first this round of collective bargaining. The Coalition's rejection of the “historic” ACRE agreement and their progression to a P.E.B. has apparently assured current agreement employees will not have to co-pay health and welfare benefits during the next contract. The Board's recommendation was for new hires to co-pay 1.5% of the first 40 hours of their wages, which is substantially less than the ACRE provision for their new hires. ACRE's “historic” contract provides for a co-payment of 18% of the company's cost of the plan plus all future adjustments, currently $48.26 per week for the Empire Family Plan. If the M-N Coalition had accepted ACRE's deal and not progressed to a P.E.B. Board, everyone would be co-paying for health and welfare benefits in the upcoming contract negotiations. ACRE opened the door for co-payments of health and welfare benefits in the last contract. The Coalition's rejection of the ACRE agreement benefited all new hires and current employees in the medical co-payment area.

Resolution of the Coalition's contract negotiations may not occur for several months. Whatever the result, the outcome will be preferable than allowing ACRE (Tony Bottalico, Mike Doyle and Jack Gaines) to set another pattern. The perfect example is ACRE's perverse version of the LIRR contract. The LIRR went first last contract. The Coalition establishing the bargaining pattern will present a challenge for ACRE perform a similar action this bargaining session.

Why is ACRE reacting to the PEB report in such an aggressive manner? After reading the nonsense and lies contained in ACRE's Winter 2007 Newsletter, questions should surface. The P.E.B.'s initial report appeared somewhat neutral. The Coalition did make progression in several areas, most importantly in the issue of co-payment of health and welfare benefits. Attempting to overcome the MTA's insistence to use ACRE's contract as the bargaining pattern has proven extremely difficult. So, why is ACRE so upset? Simple, ACRE is afraid that the Coalition will receive a better contract by virtue of rejecting the ACRE deal. ACRE's shortcomings would be exposed and ACRE would have no one to blame. By rejecting ACRE's contract and presenting a united effort, the Coalition may prevail in their quest to attain a fair contract for all of their members . If not entirely successful, at least the Coalition attempted to represent their membership properly. ACRE cannot make the same claim.

The Coalitions efforts will ultimately benefit all agreement employees on Metro-North.

                                                       The officers of UTU Local 77