Mediation Report 5/18
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company at the National Mediation Board in Washington DC on May 11–13 under federal mediation. At the start of the session, the Mediator made it clear that future mediation dates will depend on whether real movement happens. No movement… no reason to continue.
We secured Tentative Agreements on:
- Article 14 – Leaves of Absence
- Article 11 – Holidays
- Article 12 – Vacation
These are not small wins. These are the result of pressure being applied where it matters. We spent the majority of our time on the issues that impact you the most:
- Article 13 – Compensation
- Article 17 – Benefits
And here is the reality: The gap on wages still exists. The bargaining team made a deliberate and strategic effort to move closer. The Company continues to fall back on the same talking points:
- Fuel costs
- “Competitive” wages
- State-by-state wage differences
You’ve heard it all before. We’ve heard it all before. At some point in negotiations, things change. It stops being about exchanging proposals…and starts being about decisions. We are approaching that point. Not because we want to rush it but becausethat’s where the process is taking us and it’s what the members have been asking for. The Bargaining Committee is actively preparing for the next phase of this process. And in that phase, your voice matters more than ever. Not just in what we’ve negotiated but in what happens next.
THIS IS NOT ROUTINE – TAKE ACTION NOW
If you want to be part of that decision, you need to act immediately:
- Confirm your mailing address with your Local Secretary-Treasurer
- Make sure you are a member in good standing
Do not wait. Do not assume you’re good.
Next Mediation Dates
We have been scheduled for:
- June 11–12
The focus will remain:
- Article 13 – Compensation
- Article 17 – Benefits
We’ve pushed. We’ve made movement. We’ve closed gaps where we could. Now we are entering a phase where YOUR voice is needed. Make sure you are ready for it.
