Brothers,
Per the 2003 BLET and 2002 UTU National Agreements, we have a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA) coming January 1, 2007. I am confirming the amount with the ND but have been provided the below message from UP Timekeeping regarding the increase. An increase of $0.15 per hour equates to $1.20 per 8 hour basic day. As noted below, since we are still tied to TCS, the increases in our trip rates will not show up on our payroll information until the last half of December has been closed. At that time adjustments to the rate will be made and should reflect on your computer printouts. All other assignments should show the increase effective Jan 1, 2007. Also be aware, that the increase will not apply to those payments incorporated into the trip rates frozen by the 1986 BLET National Agreement.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year, I remain.
Fraternally,
Gil Gore
From: CLIFFJOHNSON@UP.COM [mailto:CLIFFJOHNSON@UP.COM]
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 9:00 AM
To: All UP General Chairmen
Subject: COLA Rate Increase Effective 1/1/07
The National Agreements provide for a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 15 cents per hour to all UTU, UTU-E, and BLET covered positions effective January 1, 2007. All relevant rate schedules in TCS and CMTS have been updated and will automatically go into effect for crews called on duty after midnight January 1.
For employees who are still being called and paid in the TCS system, "trip rated" increases will not be completed until after the close of the last half December payroll. The same applies for individual fixed amount classes of time that are subject to increases, which are few. The design of the TCS system does not allow us to make these increases prior to closing the December payroll. Once the last half of December closes, we will complete the rate increase process for those fixed classes of time subject to increase, and the trip rates then begin an automated repayment process for all affected trips. We ask individual employees not to call the
For those employees being called/paid in the CMTS system, all applicable increases, including trip rates, guarantees, and fixed classes of time will be effective on January 1 as scheduled. Likewise, any employee being called/paid in TCS who does not work a trip rate job (yards, locals, switchers, etc.) will see the applicable rate increase in effect as scheduled.
Please forward this communique onto your local chairmen with a request that it be posted or distributed to the rank and file members in order to avoid any confusion regarding the timing of the rate increase process. In order for our customer service center to be able to handle their day to day inquires, it is essential they not be bombarded with questions regarding the rate increases in TCS that may not be completed until several days after January 1. If you see any discrepancies with CMTS rates immediately after 1/1/07, do not hesitate to contact myself, Tim Holmes, or Greg Cox.
If you have any questions about the process please do not hesitate to call me and thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Cliff Johnson
Sr. Director - Timekeeping Operations
