Author: NCFO

The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers 32BJ, SEIU reached a tentative agreement with BNSF Railroad. The tentative agreement is a five (5) year term which provides 17.5% in General Wage increases, improves vacation agreement entitlements, secures improvements in health and welfare benefits while maintaining the current 15% monthly contributions.

This agreement will be in place prior to the current agreement expiring, this is unheard of in the railroad industry. This agreement was not reached from traditional rail bargaining with all the Freight Railroads at the same time. The NCFO engaged directly with BNSF to reach this tentative agreement.

NCFO President Michael Pistone stated “Establishing a new agreement before the current one expires provides significant economic benefits for all NCFO members and their families. The financial advantages play a crucial role in our decision to present this new agreement to the members currently.” Pistone continued, “The value of this entire package on day one of the new term, vacation improvements and locking healthcare contributions at 15%, is a better value than requesting mediation and getting lost under the terms of the Railway Labor Act and a few years later the possibility of bargaining through a bull horn in the streets of our Nation.”

The NCFO will prepare a ratification package and explanation of the terms. The ratification process will take place when our documents are finalized.

The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers 32BJ, SEIU reached a tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern Railroad. The tentative agreement is a five (5) year term which provides 17.5% in General Wage increases, improves vacation agreement entitlements, secures improvements in health and welfare benefits while maintaining the current 15% monthly contributions.

This agreement will be in place prior to the current agreement expiring, this is unheard of in the railroad industry. This agreement was not reached from traditional rail bargaining with all the Freight Railroads at the same time. The NCFO engaged directly with Norfolk Southern to reach this tentative agreement.

NCFO President Michael Pistone stated “Establishing a new agreement before the current one expires provides significant economic benefits for all NCFO members and their families. The financial advantages play a crucial role in our decision to present this new agreement to the members currently.” Pistone continued, “The value of this entire package on day one of the new term,  vacation improvements and locking healthcare contributions at 15%, is a better value than requesting mediation and getting lost under the terms of the Railway Labor Act and a few years later the possibility of bargaining through a bull horn on the streets of Atlanta.”

The NCFO will prepare a ratification package and explanation of the terms. The ratification process will take place when our documents are finalized.

New York, NY – The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU 32BJ (NCFO), announced today a Tentative Agreement with the MTA- Metro North Railroad, has been reached.

Pursuant to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the NCFO served formal notices for changes in current rates of pay, rules and working conditions.

NCFO President Dean Devita stated, “This agreement, provides solid wage increases during a National Emergency Pandemic for the NCFO members and all Metro-North employees who have continued to provide professional service to Metro-North during this crisis.

Congratulations to Assistant to the President Mike Pistone and General Chairman Vincent Ruffolo for finalizing this agreement. The NCFO also congratulates our Union Partners for all their work in securing this agreement for their members.”

“Because of the pandemic, never in the history of Metro-North railroad have the NCFO members needed a wage increase more and this increase is well deserved. The NCFO members must be treated with dignity and respect for their action during this National Emergency.” added NCFO Assistant to the President Mike Pistone.

General Chairman Vincent Ruffolo stated, “During a pandemic when so many people are out of work, we are fortunate not only to avoid furloughs, but gain a well-deserved wage increase.”

We look forward to presenting the Tentative Agreement to the NCFO membership for their consideration.

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New York, NY – The National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU 32BJ (NCFO), announced today a Tentative Agreement with the (MTA) – Long Island Railroad, has been reached.

On November 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the NCFO served formal notices for changes in current rates of pay, rules and working conditions.

NCFO President Dean Devita stated, “This agreement, provides solid wage increases during a National Emergency Pandemic for the NCFO members and all LIRR employees who have continued to provide professional service to the LIRR during this crisis.

Congratulations to Assistant to the President Mike Pistone and General Chairman Vincent Ruffolo for finalizing this agreement. The NCFO also congratulates our Union Partners SMART TD General Chairman Anthony Simon, TCU National Representative Nick Peluso and SMART MD General Chairman John McCloskey for all their work in securing this agreement for their members.”

“Because of the pandemic, never in the history of the LIRR have the NCFO members needed a wage increase more and this increase is well deserved. The NCFO members must be treated with dignity and respect for their action during this National Emergency.” added NCFO Assistant to the President Mike Pistone.

We look forward to presenting the Tentative Agreement to the NCFO membership for their consideration.

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NCFO President Dean Devita issued the following statement on the House passage of the American Rescue Plan:

“The last year has been the worst health and economic crisis that our Nation has ever faced. This past year, NCFO members have sacrificed more than any other time in our history. Every single member of the NCFO has done their part during this national emergency, we are grateful for the sacrifice that each NCFO member has made.”

“NCFO along with our Union Partners are proud that we took part to make sure that the American Rescue Plan would benefit all working Americans. Throughout all of my career, the American Rescue Plan will do more for Union Workers, than any bill that has been passed.”

Highlights of The Bill:

*$30.5 billion in emergency relief for transit agencies and their frontline workers

*The bill is providing $1.7 billion for Amtrak, which will allow Amtrak to fully restore long distance service

* The bill is providing funding to Amtrak to start recalling approximately 1,200      furloughed employees

*$28 million for the Railroad Retirement Board

*This bill delivers aid for our restaurants

* States and Cities will finally receive aid to restart their economies

*Financial assistance to multi union employer pension plans

“The American Rescue Plan provides much-needed relief for working families. This package addresses many of the health, safety and economic security needs currently faced by workers and their families, and will go a long way toward crushing the virus.”

“After a year where over 500,000 people have died from COVID-19, this legislation finally delivers desperately needed help for the American workforce and the essential services they provide for our cities, towns, counties and states.”

“In the last year, poverty has increased more than any other time in history and more Americans go to sleep hungry than since the depression era. In the past, the United States has bailed out banks, corporations and provided tax cuts to the rich. Finally, this legislation will provide aid to Union Members.”

“I want to thank President Joe “Amtrak Joe” Biden for his leadership. Finally, after decades, the United States is providing assistance to Union Workers. It has been a long time since Union Workers have seen a bill that provides strong legislation on behalf of Union Members”

“I also want to thank all of our partners from all of the unions, the Transportation Trades Division (TTD) and SEIU, 32BJ for their support to make this bill a reality.”

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The NCFO is an affiliate of 32BJ SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which has 2.1 million members dedicated to raising industry standards, making life better for working families and our communities, and building a fair economy.

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January 26, 2021 – Rail and Aviation Unions call on President Biden to appoint a new National Mediation Board. Click here to read the full letter.

The Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC),
negotiating together in the current round of National Negotiations, have issued the following statement:

The CBC and the nation’s Rail Carriers first met concerning the November 1, 2019 Section 6 Notices in January 2020. Although the COVID 19 Pandemic has made meetings for groups of this size challenging, the parties continued to meet virtually to make presentations concerning their proposals throughout 2020. Additional meetings have now been scheduled for early 2021.

While CBC and the Rail Carriers continue to share and discuss all aspects of what would be necessary to reach a voluntary agreement, the Rail Carriers have not made any proposals worthy of consideration by the membership of the CBC Unions. The parties will continue to meet in good faith as we move into 2021, fully cognizant that it is our members who must ratify any voluntary agreement.

The unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition are: the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA); the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / Teamsters Rail Conference (BLET); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); the International Association of Machinists (IAM); the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB); the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/SEIU (NCFO); the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); the Transportation Communications Union / IAM (TCU), including TCU’s Brotherhood Railway Carmen Division (BRC); and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART–TD).

Collectively, the CBC unions represent more than 105,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements, and comprise over 80% of the workforce who will be impacted by this round of negotiations.

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January 15, 2021 Washington, DC — Twenty-two transportation labor leaders issue this statement calling on prioritizing safety in advance of the Presidential Inauguration:

“As the elected leaders of transportation unions that collectively represent millions of frontline employees, we are calling on every arm of federal, state, and local government to protect American workers and the public, ensure the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and safeguard our democracy during the inauguration. While we stand firmly by the rights of every American to have and to share differing points of view, to peaceably assemble in support of those points of view, and to petition the government in hopes of affecting the direction of our country and its policies, these rights do not allow for violent attacks on our fellow Americans or our democratic institutions by domestic terrorists.

“The January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol threatened our democracy and thousands of American lives. The actions taken by the individuals who attacked our Capitol, the right-wing militants who led them in doing so, and the elected government officials who enabled and even encouraged them, run counter to the very spirit of democracy and civil society. As a nation, it is incumbent upon each of us to take a firm stand against lawless mob rule by those who seek to upend the American values we hold so very sacred.

“Unfortunately, transportation workers and our passengers—as is too often the case—were placed squarely in harm’s way during, before, and after this repulsive assault on American democracy. We witnessed airline, transit, and rail workers diverted from their public safety duties, threatened and harassed for doing their jobs, and assaulted in the line of duty. These essential workers—already under tremendous strain from the impacts of the ongoing pandemic—have sacrificed in service to our country during this time of our greatest need and it is all of our responsibility to ensure their safety and security. Amid ongoing threats of future violence—including Inauguration Day calls to arms by right-wing militants—frontline transportation workers are left wondering how they can protect themselves, their passengers, and our country going forward. This has gone too far, and it must stop.

“When it comes to our aviation, passenger rail, and transit systems, the working people who maintain and operate them, and the passengers who rely on them, safety must be the priority. There can be no exceptions. We are calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation, as well as their constituent agencies—in concert with transportation operators and federal, state, and local law enforcement—to use the full weight of the law to ensure safety onboard planes, trains, and buses, and pursue the strongest penalties against passengers who seek to sow chaos or incite violence.

“We stand in solidarity with all transportation workers across America as they continue to place their own well-being on the line in service to our country. We condemn the actions of President Trump, those in Congress who fanned the flames of hate and lawlessness, and every individual whose own actions that day and in the future undermine the rule of law in our democracy.”

Jerry C. Boles President Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen	James T. Callahan General President International Union of Operating Engineers	Joe DePete President Air Line Pilots Association, International
Dean Devita President National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU	Jeremy R. Ferguson President International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division	Newton B. Jones International President International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Everett Kelley National President American Federation of Government Employees	Arthur Maratea National President Transportation Communications Union/IAM	Donald Marcus International President International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots
F. Leo McCann President American Train Dispatchers Association	Sara Nelson International President Association of Flight Attendants-CWA	Sito Pantoja General Vice President, Transportation International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
Mike Perrone National President Professional Aviation Safety Specialists	Greg Regan Secretary-Treasurer Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO	Paul Rinaldi President National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Fredric V. Rolando National President National Association of Letter Carriers	John Samuelsen International President Transport Workers Union of America	Joseph Sellers, Jr. General President International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers
Christopher M. Shelton President Communications Workers of America	Lonnie R. Stephenson International President International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers	D. Taylor President UNITE HERE International Union
Randi Weingarten President American Federation of Teachers

“The NCFO abhors the actions taken by those who invaded the U.S. Capitol on January 6. We had no knowledge of this individual’s participation in the events of that day, and we are disappointed that anyone would engage in that type of conduct. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the new Congress, and specifically to working with both branches of government for positive pro-worker policies and advancement of transportation and infrastructure projects.”