As my Conductor career winds down, so too will my letters about the contracts on Metro-North Railroad. Let's do a quick review of what has transpired within the MTA. The recent TWU Local 100 Subway contract was for three years and they received a total of 10½ % in wage increases. They also have lifetime medical, receive the Martin L. King Holiday; they got a refund on the money which was overpaid into their pension fund. Lost time for Maternity leave also counts towards your retirement and pension. The Subway workers can also retire at age 55 with 25 years of service.

The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) has a nighttime differential and a twelve-hour spare board. Over 45 people on the LIRR made over $200,000, because of their work rules.

Conductors under ACRE have over 41 jobs in violation of the 30% weekend agreement and two jobs are over ten hours long.

Workers at Metro-North should receive everything the Subway and LIRR has. The only way to get this is to vote NO on the proposed contract. There is always more to be gained when you turn down the MTA's initial contract offer.

I am going to retire next year and if you are leaving after June 15, 2010, your pension might look like this: $65,000. base pay with a 20% cap on overtime would equal $13,000 (even if you made $28,000 in overtime). Your pension would be 60% of $78,000. which would equal $46,800. Then subtract out your Tier II, around $16,000. and you're only left with a $30,800. pension. Subtract out 11% ($3,388.) for your spouse and you're down to $27,412 per year or $2,284. per month. This is what the 20% cap on overtime earnings as a percentage of your base pay looks like. Plus you won't be able to retire at age 55; you will have to work until age 62.

You need to vote NO. The pension you save just may be your own.

Bottalico and Doyle lied about the fact that the benefits in our pension plan were the same as Metro-North managements. We do not receive any dental or vision benefits when we retire. Last but not least, where are our updated agreement books?

Thanks for your time,

Ronald J. Folmsbee