OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has become the second Class I railroad to reach an agreement offering paid sick days to some employees, the railroad has announced.
“Union Pacific remains committed to addressing our employees’ concerns and signed a deal with the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO) and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC),” UP said in a statement. “Effective April 1, employees represented by these two unions will receive access to up to seven paid days to use for sickness. Union Pacific employees currently receive paid personal days off, and we will continue to work with other unions to address paid sick time solutions.”
The National Conference of Firemen and Oilers says on its website that the agreement is prorated at 24 hours of sick time for 2023, while members will accrue 32 hours in 2024. They will be able to use sick time in half-day or full-day increments. The difference between the sick time noted by the union and the paid-day figure cited by the railroad presumably includes the ability to use personal-leave days.
“I applaud Union Pacific for coming to the bargaining table and adjusting this wrong and making it right,” NFCO President Dean Davita said in a press release. “UP’s Maquiling Parkerson [vice president, labor relations] and Terrill L. Maxwell [general director, labor relations] bargained in good faith with the NCFO, and we appreciate their professionalism during the negotiations. … It is time for all the railroads to stop avoiding this issue and follow the lead of Union Pacific and join the NCFO at the bargaining table to do what is right for their employees and the NCFO Members.”
CSX Transportation became the first Class I railroad to reach sick-time agreements with unions when it reached agreement with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division and the Brotherhood of Railway Carment earlier this month [see “CSX, two unions reach agreement …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 7, 2023]. CSX has subsequently reached similar agreements with four other unions.
That’s great but the operating crafts need it just as bad if not more than crafts with regularly scheduled days off……