UE Locals 506 and 618 Postpone Strike Deadline by 24 Hours
June 10, 2023
UE Locals 506 and 618 have postponed their strike deadline by 24 hours. Negotiations with Wabtec, assisted by a federal mediator, will resume at 10am on Saturday, June 10.
Wabtec Negotiations 2023
UE members at Wabtec authorize leaders to 'Take whatever actions is necessary'
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Source:
GoErie
Time is running short and the distance separating Wabtec Corp. and its union workforce in Erie seems to be substantial.
The divide is big enough that members of locals 506 and 618, which represent more than 1,400 workers at Erie's Wabtec plants, have gone so far as to authorize a strike if negotiations fail.
Unions Representing Wabtec Workers from Four Continents Send Solidarity to UE Locals 506 and 618
June 9, 2023
Five unions representing Wabtec workers from across the globe have written letters to Wabtec CEO Rafael Santana expressing their solidarity with the members of UE Locals 506 and 618, and demanding that the company settle a fair contract at its locomotive plant in Erie, PA.
The War Over No Strike Clauses Has a New Front Line
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Source:
In These Times
“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains,” philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau said in the 18th century. Likewise, the right to strike is the fundamental source of a union’s power, and everywhere they have signed that right away. “No strike clauses,” which ban workers from striking during the course of a union contract, have been ubiquitous for decades — the price, companies argue, of having a contract at all. Breaking out of this power-sucking bargain is a vital task for the labor movement, if it ever wants to be able to stand up to corporate America in a meaningful way.
The good news is that at least one union is actively trying.
Flight Attendants President, Faith Leader Join UE to Defend Right to Strike
June 2, 2023
“The idea that you can come to work under terms that you did not agree to should have gone out with the 13th Amendment,” AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson, one of the most well-known labor leaders in the U.S. told attendees at two UE-sponsored virtual events on Wednesday, May 31. (The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude.)
In a virtual press conference and a webinar, the Association of Flight Attendants president and Rev. Richard Freeman, the president of the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, joined leaders of UE Local 506 to make the case that workers having the right to strike over grievances mid-contract is the best way to resolve workplace disputes swiftly and fairly.
Union and Wabtec remain far apart on wage issues as contract talks enter final phase
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Source:
GoErie
But Slawson, whose union agreed to forgo a cost-of-living increase in its last four-year contract, said the union’s proposal is designed in part to make up for earning power that has been lost due to historic inflation.
“Inflation has compounded exponentially since 2019 to the point where we have lost about 19 cents on every dollar,” Slawson said.
“When you haven’t had a pay raise in four years and no cost-of-living (increase), your buying power goes down. The whole community suffers from that,” Slawson said.
May 26, 2023
On Wednesday, May 31, Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson, and Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network President Rev. Richard Freeman joined leaders from UE Local 506 and the national UE for a webinar to discuss why the right to strike over grievances is important to resolving disputes swiftly and fairly.
Talks between Wabtec and union inch ahead as memories of 2019 strike linger
Friday, May 12, 2023
Source:
GoErie
In reference to public comments made by Rafael Santana, CEO of Wabtec, [UE Local 506 President Scott] Slawson said, “Your CEO has publicly stated that employees are your No. 1 asset. Employees need to be treated like your No. 1 asset.”
He also expressed frustration with the company's rejection of union proposals concerning matters such as work rules and temporary transfers. Disagreements over how to interpret the current four-year contract have led to an unprecedented number of grievances and arbitration cases, he said.
“They don't seem to be listening,” Slawson said. “So far, the union has not proposed anything other than avenues to alleviate the conflicts we have had over the last four years.”
Both Wabtec and UE 506 Report Slow and Frustrating Progress on Contract Talks
Wednesday, May 10, 2023
Source:
Erie News Now
“Every time we turn around the language seems to get interpreted different and it leads to a lot of conflict,” [UE Local 506 President Scott] Slawson said. “So our primary goal is obviously to open communication and reduce conflict and it just seems to be something the company's not interested in at this moment.
“It's frustrating you know when you read about things like $750-million in stock buy backs, increased dividends and the company turns around and offers you a 2% pay raise over the life of a contract.”
Eastern Region Celebrates, Prepares for Aggressive Struggle
May 8, 2023
Standing at the podium in the UE Local 506 hall in Erie, PA, behind a large blow-up map of the Wabtec plant where Local 506 members work, its gates marked to facilitate plans for picket duty, UE Eastern Region President George Waksmunski welcomed delegates to the Eastern Region council meeting here on Saturday, April 29.
Local 506’s contract with Wabtec expires on June 9, along with the contract of their sister Local 618. In the words of Local 506 delegate Mike Giles, who gave part of his local’s shop report, “We’re in for a hell of a fight.”