When CSX Railroad served notice to outsource the rebuilding of hundreds of locomotives, IAM Local 104 members in Hungtington, WV, where CSX is one of the largest employers, knew they had to do something to save these jobs.
A new Machinists News Network video, “Thinking Outside the Locomotive,” chronicles how the Machinists Union and CSX worked together to not only keep jobs in house, but ensure 20 years of work with a no-furlough clause for IAM members.
The solution was put into motion when IAM District 19 President and Directing General Chairman Jeff Doerr approached the company with a model for a more efficient shop. CSX was on board, and now the IAM has ratified deals in Chicago and Cincinnati using the same model.
“The carrier and I call it a win-win-win deal,” said Doerr. “The carrier won because they have a more efficient product, and we’re building locomotives that have value to them – locomotives they could not get anywhere else. Secondly, it was a win for our members because they are getting paid more money to do their work.”
Local 104 member Norman “Bud” Cyr, a railroader’s son, is confident the innovative agreement will keep rail work running through Huntington’s veins for generations to come, just as it has for hundreds of years.
“We’re hiring every day, basically,” said Cyr. “And the company is winning too; not only are we winning, they’re winning, and that’s what we want, both entities to win. Because that will keep it going. They get their product, we keep our jobs.”
View the original article on the GoIAM website here.