MEMBER'S AREA
   
   
Arbitrator Releases Award on New 4-Year Contract

7/8/08 - The arbitrator's decision on a contract covering the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2010 Boston Carmen's Union Local 589 members has been released. The award included a series of wage increases in July of each year totaling 13.6% (compounded) as well as new requirements for retiree health insurance payments and changes to the health plan design. Wage increases are retroactive to July 1, 2006. 

"The wage adjustments and improvements were modest and the decision to award retroactive pay was appropriate," explains Local 589 President/Business Agent Stephan MacDougall commenting on the Arbitrator's Award.

"The negotiations process worked to the degree that the parties moved forward and then through arbitration and a binding award was rendered by the Arbitrator" said MacDougall. "The Union worked hard to make the case for wage increases, retroactivity and other improvements. The changes to the future retiree health care insurance are unfortunate but not surprising.

View a summary of the Arbitration Award

This summary will also be mailed to all Local 589 members. Members are encouraged to attend the Tuesday, July 15th Membership meeting for more details on the contract award.
     
  
Local 589 Members Approve Two By-law Changes

By a two-thirds vote of Boston Carmen's Union members attending the morning and evening union meetings held on May 27th, two changes that effect dues for Local 589 members have been approved.

The first By-law change approved by a vote of the membership was a change in the dues structure for all Local 589 members. The change to Section 46A creates a new structure at $16 per week, replacing the $52 per month in the By-laws.

President/Business Agent Steve MacDougall stressed that the dues increase was to strengthen the Union's General Fund after a costly round of research, legal work and arbitration that saw Local 589 members pay almost $440,000 leading into the pending arbitration. President MacDougall noted that the increase was for administrative costs and future fights and did not represent an increase in any Executive Board members' salary nor increases in spending on other issues.

A second By-law change, capping the amount of dues paid by retirees, passed overwhelmingly

   
    
  

 

 

 

 

 

    

     

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