UTU May Finally Become SMART!

As you might know, the honeymoon is apparently over between the UTU and BLET as they appear to be resuming their long and sad animosity. The following was recently received regarding the potential elimination of the once proud moniker known as the UTU. The UTU in it's new format would be known as SMART (we kid you not :>) We can't wait to see the few UTU'ers on our property wearing their new hats adorned with the acronym "SMART" across their foreheads.

excerpt from a UTU posting:

MERGER!

A merger endorsed by the AFL-CIO would bring together the United Transportation Union (UTU) and Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA) to form the 230,000-member International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART).

The UTU board of directors voted unanimously June 11 to put the merger before the UTU membership for ratification. If ratified, the merger would become effective Jan. 1, 2008. Details of the membership-ratification process have not been finalized, but it is contemplated that ballots will be sent to UTU members by the end of June.

In a joint statement following its vote, the UTU board said, "This is the right merger at the right time. We have examined the merger document carefully, questioned SMWIA officials extensively and discussed the merger and its implications at length. We are of the unanimous opinion that the SMWIA is a good fit for the UTU and we enthusiastically recommend a 'yes' vote by members."

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While on the subject of mergers.....

We try to refrain from writing correspondence regarding our former union as we are aware that our union and it's members have more pressing issues than rehashing old news. In addition, UTU minions on our property have no means to stay relevant and at times it seems it is only through the misinterpretation of our communications that they manage to strew their hateful venom.

However, the excerpt that follows is from a May 2007 letter written by UTU "General Chairman" Kevin O'Shea which has been posted on our property and seeks to instill fear in the few folks who still read their propaganda. Disinformation is unfair to our members and at times it must be addressed. In this case it is addressed by LIRR President Helena Williams and MTA Executive Director Lee Sander.

excerpt written by K. O'Shea:

THE MERGER

ACRE has told the membership that there's no merger despite evidence to the contrary. A bill for the merger has been in the N.Y.Assembly since May 2006, Gary Delaverson who created ACRE and who has arranged the MTA payments to ACRE officers, is the MTAs Chief Financial officer in charge of the merger and CDOT is posturing as if they're going to take over operations on the shoreline and the New Haven Line if and when the merger happens.

Despite the Assembly Bill and ACREs' patriarch being the CFO for the merger, ACREs leaders say there's no merger. I believe they mean “at this moment”, and are hoping the membership translates that as “forever”. A little word game that cannot be called lying, is an ACRE hallmark.

ACRE states that the merger is UTU – BLET rhetoric. Did the UTU sponsor the bill before the NY Assembly? Did the BLET appoint Mr. Dellaverson to be the CFO in charge of the merger? ACRE apparently wants the merger to be a surprise for you.

If and when the merger happens – the Harlem and Hudson lines will be combined with the LIRR to form a new railroad – the MTA can start from scratch with our work rules and benefits. Mr. Delaverson, who just starved the Coalition without a contract for 4 and ½ years, will be in a position to “cherry pick” the cheapest benefits from the LIRR and Metro-North contracts. If we have Tier 5 on the property, we're in real danger of getting it forced on all of us.

OK, if that sounds extreme, then all members who have 10 or more years to have 55 years of age with 30 years service are virtually guaranteed to be in tier 5.

How? There are only two ways to change our pension, Legislatively or Collective Bargaining You figure “What's the chances?” well ACRE overpaid for tier 4 in the first place, then introduced tier 5 at the collective bargaining table THE VERY NEXT CONTRACT! ACRE is “batting 1,000” in this regard. If you have 10 years of people hiring out and working for a tier 5 pension, then how long will it be before they get to the bargaining table? They'll agree to EVERYONE going into tier 5 for an extra percentage point on a raise. If you vote yes for this contract, you'll be voting for yourself to go into tier 5, work till you're 62 and go into a needlessly inferior pension. When new hires get to the collective bargaining table, they will be glad to “repay” you for your consideration to them at this contract. You MUST keep tier 5 off the property!

ACRE says “There's no tier 5” Briefly; there's no tier 4 either! We are in a MTA pension that “mirrors” the NY State pension tier 4 benefit. We are not in a NY State pension. We have a “mirror Tier 4” MTA pension. The new pension is a “mirror Tier 5”. When ACRE says, “There is no Tier 5 in the contract” they are technically correct, but hoping that if you don't have a name for it – it doesn't exsist. Another one of those word games. The ACRE membership has yet to receive an informational meeting about their “mirror Tier 4” pension. Like your non-existent Agreement Books, ACRE is hoping you won't miss what you don't know or understand when it's GONE! That's why the membership is going to vote this contract down.

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regarding the above.......

The following is an excerpt from a June 2007 interview with newly appointed LIRR President Helena Williams in which she and MTA Executive Director Lee Sander debunk Mr. O'Shea's claims. We won't insult our member's intelligence by responding to the lunatic comments made by K. O'Shea regarding Gary Delaverson. However, if you cared to read through his letter, you may have noticed he mentioned our "non-existent Agreement Books". It doesn't take a "SMART" member to realize our Agreement Books exist. ACRE members can pick up a copy of their Agreement Book in our union office or view their Agreement on-line at www.GoACRE.com

Excerpt from interview:

With a new governor, a new MTA executive director and a new president at the helm of the LIRR, at least one proposal from the former regime is history.

MTA Executive Director Lee Sander has said that the authority will not pursue merging its two commuter rails -- the LIRR and Metro-North -- into one entity, a project announced nearly five years ago by MTA Chairman Peter Kalikow and the former executive director, Katie Lapp.

"I believe it is important to have a separate service identity for Metro-North and for Long Island Rail Road," Sander said last week, agreeing with detractors of the merger proposal who have argued that Long Island needs an agency that can respond to its unique needs.

The plan to consolidate the two railroads into a company called MTA Rail was lauded as a way to save millions and involved a streamlining of all MTA agencies. But the corporate-style reorganization never moved forward, facing opposition from several Long Island leaders who feared losing local control and representation.

"Each community deserves their own railroad," said MTA board member Mitch Pally, Suffolk County's representative. "You would need to have separate leadership with people who know what is going on in that area."

Though Sander will not move to merge the commuter rails, he said he will look to combine some support services of both the LIRR and Metro-North.

The merger proposal's demise may be just one political shift when it comes to the LIRR, but transportation advocates say the eyes of Albany will be on the railroad as it moves forward under Williams.

The entire article may be read here: www.GoACRE.com/Merger_LIRR.htm

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