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IAM District 19 and the IAM Rail Division have reached three additional agreements to provide paid sick leave for approximately 1,700 more IAM District 19 members. The IAM reached two agreements with Union Pacific Railroad (UP) covering all our members in the mechanical and engineering departments and one at Canadian National Railroad (CN).
“I commend General Chairmen Juan Estrada and Heath Jacobs on achieving these needed agreements for our members,” said IAM District 19 Assistant Directing General Chair Andrew Sandberg.
The UP agreements provide for 32 hours of paid sick time annually and the ability to convert up to an additional three personal days into sick time for a potential of seven paid sick days. Unused paid sick time will be contributed to the employees’ 401(k) account or can be paid out at the end of each calendar year.
The CN agreement provides for four days paid sick annually and the ability to convert up to three personal days into sick time. CN members will also be able to contribute unused paid sick time into their 401(k) account or have it paid out at the end of the year.
“Our freight rail members are standing strong while fighting to achieve paid sick leave victories at more freight railroads,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We’re going to continue to wage this battle across the industry to win this critical benefit for all freight rail workers.”
IAM District 19 continues to pursue paid sick leave for all freight rail workers.
“Our strength and solidarity have made the case to the carriers, policymakers, and the general public that we deserve paid sick leave,” said Josh Hartford, IAM Special Assistant to the International President for the IAM Rail Division. “We are now seeing the results of years of advocacy by our union and many others on this critical issue.”
The IAM and the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) have also reached paid sick leave agreements with Union Pacific and CSX.
“These new agreements will make a great difference in the lives of IAM District 19 CN and UP members,” said Sandberg. “Our members will be able to make better plans regarding their health and welfare with this needed time off.”
