Road

Brothers and Sisters,

The proposed Tentative Agreement was ratified by the membership and the fully executed System Agreement with Union Pacific is attached for your records. The fully executed agreement has the updated rate tables and a Letter of Understanding attached that addresses vacation pay for employees in year 0 and year 1. The LOU also defines “full-time” as it is used in Article II, Section 2 of the agreement.

Union Pacific provided the following timelines for implementing the rate increases, vacation, and other provisions.

Back Pay and Rate Increase:

New pay rates will go into effect on 1/1/26.

Backpay will be paid around the 15th of January – UP is hopeful they will have backpay done by then, but it may be the third week of January before it’s completed.  

AFHT Meal Allowance:

Change will be made January 1, 2026.

Vacation:

Vacation allocations have been loaded into the system for employees who qualify for an additional week under the new matrix. Please contact CMS or this office if you find any errors during scheduling.

Health and Welfare:

The effective date of benefits will be 12/1. UHC will have all the members moved by Saturday, 12/6. Members can begin calling Railroad Enrollment Services at (800) 753-2692 to request changes on Monday, 12/8 through the end of the month.

Iron Road is reviewing options for the Reduced-Rate Option. This option will be delayed until a plan is designed, or another alternative is adopted by Iron Road. The Executive Board at Iron Road has already met to explore solutions and is working to have those implemented as soon as possible.

Discipline Agreement:

Goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

The date of the Notice of Investigation will determine whether the case is handled under the old agreement or new agreement that is effective January 1, 2026. NOI’s dated January 1, 2026, or later will be handled under the new agreement while NOI”s dated prior to January 1, 2026, will be handled under the old agreement.

Employees must update their email addresses with UP immediately as Notices of Investigation will be sent electronically beginning January 1, 2026.

Time Claim Agreement:

Goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

Little to no change in the current process on our Committee.

Fraternally,

Luke Edington

General Chairperson

SMART TD GO-953

https://d6d0f649-a755-4b9e-a177-2fce53d7a544.usrfiles.com/ugd/5fb130_9770001bcefa4dd389253f1e4a245f9d.pdf