Several dozen people picketed for three hours in frigid temperatures at the headquarters of Progressive Rail in suburban Lakeville. “We are here to show our total support,” said Phil Craig, a member of the union’s International Executive Board.
Craig said union members are concerned about safety and other working conditions at Progressive Rail.
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| UTU-SMART members picketed Tuesday outside Progressive Rail in Lakeville. |
Workers at Progressive Rail are represented by the UTU, a division of SMART (Sheet Metal Air, Rail Transit) union, which has 190,000 members nationwide, including 1,200 in Minnesota. The Progressive Rail workers joined Local 911 of the union in August 2009.
The union and company reached a contract agreement in February 2012. But ever since the union was certified, management has tried to bust the union by intimidating and firing workers, said Phil Qualy, UTU state legislative director. The fired workers have been replaced with anti-union employees, he said.
Progressive Rail management has attempted to replace UTU-SMART with a sham union, Qualy said. The company applied to the National Mediation Board for a representation election, which is scheduled for Jan. 29.Stewart Howe, one of the workers fired by Progressive Rail, thanked the members of UTU-SMART Locals 64, 650, 1000 and 1614 and others who participated in the picketing. Howe said he was terminated last August because of his activity to support the union. He has filed grievances under the union contract, two of which will go to arbitration next week.
Qualy said the group of workers at Progressive Rail is small in number, but any violation of worker rights will be met with a strong response by UTU-SMART.
“We sent a message today,” he told the crowd at the picket. “It’s not just four or five guys. It’s 1,200 [UTU-SMART] members in Minnesota.”
Progressive Rail is a “shortline” railroad that operates on the former Canadian Pacific Railway and Minneapolis Northfield and Southern Railway. In recent decades, numerous shortlines have been spun off from large carriers to avoid union contracts and instead, lower wages and benefits for rail workers.
Several dozen people picketed for three hours in frigid temperatures at the headquarters of Progressive Rail in suburban Lakeville. “We are here to show our total support,” said Phil Craig, a member of the union’s International Executive Board.
Craig said union members are concerned about safety and other working conditions at Progressive Rail.
|
| UTU-SMART members picketed Tuesday outside Progressive Rail in Lakeville. |
Workers at Progressive Rail are represented by the UTU, a division of SMART (Sheet Metal Air, Rail Transit) union, which has 190,000 members nationwide, including 1,200 in Minnesota. The Progressive Rail workers joined Local 911 of the union in August 2009.
The union and company reached a contract agreement in February 2012. But ever since the union was certified, management has tried to bust the union by intimidating and firing workers, said Phil Qualy, UTU state legislative director. The fired workers have been replaced with anti-union employees, he said.
Progressive Rail management has attempted to replace UTU-SMART with a sham union, Qualy said. The company applied to the National Mediation Board for a representation election, which is scheduled for Jan. 29.
Stewart Howe, one of the workers fired by Progressive Rail, thanked the members of UTU-SMART Locals 64, 650, 1000 and 1614 and others who participated in the picketing. Howe said he was terminated last August because of his activity to support the union. He has filed grievances under the union contract, two of which will go to arbitration next week.
Qualy said the group of workers at Progressive Rail is small in number, but any violation of worker rights will be met with a strong response by UTU-SMART.
“We sent a message today,” he told the crowd at the picket. “It’s not just four or five guys. It’s 1,200 [UTU-SMART] members in Minnesota.”
Progressive Rail is a “shortline” railroad that operates on the former Canadian Pacific Railway and Minneapolis Northfield and Southern Railway. In recent decades, numerous shortlines have been spun off from large carriers to avoid union contracts and instead, lower wages and benefits for rail workers.