Issues for Consideration In The Agreement Providing for the Takeover of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees (BMWE) by the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB) 

S = Section
A = Article
Agr = Agreement for IBB to Takeover the BMWE
C&BLs = Constitution and By-Laws

  

BMWE Becomes A Division of the IBB Union

S4 of the Agr

20 Million Dollars in BMWE Grand Lodge Assets Become Property of the IBB

S20(a) of the Agr

Only Written Terms of Takeover Agreement Applies

S2 of the Agr

Constitution of the IBB Is the Supreme Law and Would Govern the BMWE Division, except as modified by Takeover Agreement

S3 of the Agr

International President of the IBB interprets the IBB C&BLs, and the C&BLs of all subordinate organizations, subject to an appeal to an Executive Council of 10 International Vice Presidents from which there is no further appeal

Part 7.2 of the IBB C&BLs

Two International Vice Presidents (One Executive Vice President at Large and One International Vice President at Large) shall govern the BMWE Division Subject to the International President of the IBB

S4(c) of the Agr

BMWE International Vice Presidents Shall Be Elected At Large By IBB.  This Means a Majority of Non-BMWE Members Will Select BMWE Leadership

S5(f) of the Agr

President of IBB Union Has All Power and All International Vice Presidents Report to Him as opposed to the checks and balances of current BMWE Organization where power is shared between the President, Executive Board, Grand Lodge Officers, System Federations and Local Lodges

A7 and A8 of IBB C&BLs

All BMWE Local Lodges will become chartered, subordinate affiliates of the IBB and may be governed by Article 23 of the current BMWE Grand Lodge C&BLs except where this language conflicts with the IBB C&BLs

S8 and S8(f) of the Agr

Local Lodges of less than 35 members are subject to being automatically disbanded and all assets of the Local Lodge shall become the property of the IBB

Part 5.6 of the IBB C&BLs

IBB will pay for Local Lodge to Send Delegate to International Conventions

S16 of the Agr and A2.6 of the IBB C&BLs

Grand Lodge President and Secretary Treasurer Guarantee Themselves Jobs, have Interim Election Next Year and then  Establish Five Year Terms for Themselves And Will Continue to Receive Higher Salaries if IBB C&BLs Pays Less

S5 and 5(a) of the Agr

Grand Lodge Vice Presidents Guarantee Themselves Jobs,  Have Interim Election Next Year and then Establish Five Year Terms for Themselves  and Will Continue To Receive Higher Salary With Subsequent Increases Guaranteed

S9(c) of the Agr

In Addition to IBB International Dues, BMWE Division Members Will Continue to Pay $3.05/month more than all other IBB Members

S12 and 12(d) of the Ag

BMWE Division Members Continue to Pay $1.00 Legislative Assessment and $1.00 Negotiations Assessment ($2.00/month)

S12(c) of the Agr

BMWE Members eligible for both current strike benefits and IBB strike benefits when approved by the President of the IBB

S15 of the Agr

Interest From Strike Fund (1 million dollars per year) Diverted to Death Benefit Fund to Ensure The Death Benefit Liability Is Not Passed Onto IBB When Grand Lodge Assets Are Turned Over to IBB

Side Letter One of the Agr

IBB International Dues Subject to Increase Every Year Whether or Not BMWE Wages also increase while currently Grand Lodge dues only increase when the average hourly rate increases

Part 12.2.2 of the IBB C&BLs

Former President and Secretary Treasurer, as Well As Grand Lodge Vice Presidents, Are Eligible For Two Additional Pensions besides their RR Retirement Pension and current BMWE Pension, for a total of four pensions upon retirement

S14 (b, d and e) of the Agr

All System Officers in Addition to Their Railroad Retirement Pension are Eligible for Three Additional Pensions, for a total of Four Pensions Upon Retirement

S14 (b,c,d and e) of the Agr

System Federations will continue to exist and Article 24 of the Grand Lodge Constitution and By-Laws, titled, “Government of Protective Department, System Divisions and Federations” is made part of the Takeover Agreement, except where the provisions of Article 24 conflict with the IBB C&BLs

S17 of the Agr

IBB Is Governed by President and 10 International Vice Presidents who Sit on an Executive Council.  On this Council the BMWE Division would get 2 additional seats, one for each International Vice President.  Although We Will Be 1/3 of the Membership we will only have 1/6 of the representation on the Executive Council

IBB C&BLs and Agreement

Grand Lodge Headquarters In Detroit will be Shut Down

S4(d) of the Agr

Takeover Agreement is Enforced Through Arbitration, But Only An International Vice President of the BMWE May Bring a Claim and the International Vice President Is elected by the IBB At Large and Not by the BMWE Division

S21 of the Agr

Pension Issues Will Become a Bargaining Priority for IBB In Negotiations

Side Letter 7 of the Agr

15% of the BMWE Political League Fund Will Be Controlled by the IBB

Side Letter 17 of the Agr

Health Care Issues will be A Bargaining Priority for IBB in Negotiations

Side Letter 18 of the Agr

Membership Ratification of Local Agreements Preserved

Side Letter 21 of the Agr

When BMWE and BLE Threatened to Shut Down the Country When Railroad Management and the Government Tried to Change Railroad Retirement Disability, the IBB Refused to Participate and Announced They Would Not Help In Strike

Fact

Offer to Merge with the Steelworkers Union Not Pursued

Fact