MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
MTA METRO-NORTH
And
TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATIONS UNION
Representing
All Clerical Workers
The parties hereby agree to the following amendments and changes to the Collective
Bargaining Agreement for the period January 16, 2017 through June 1, 2019.
This Memorandum of Understanding is subject to ratification by the membership of the
Transportation Communications Union and final approval by the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority Board of Directors.
Metro-North/TCU Memorandum of Understanding October 10, 2017 Page 1
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 10th day of October, 2017, by and between Metro-North Commuter Railroad (“Metro-North”) and the employees represented by the Transportation Communications Union.
ARTICLE I – GENERAL WAGE INCREASES
SECTION 1 – 2017 GENERAL WAGE INCREASE
Effective January 16, 2017, all rates of pay irrespective of the method of payment (hourly, daily, etc.) in effect on January 15, 2017 shall be increased by two and one-half percent (2.5%).
SECTION 2-2018 GENERAL WAGE INCREASE
Effective February 16, 2018, all rates of pay irrespective of the method of payment (hourly, daily, etc.) in effect. on January 15, 2018 shall be increased by two and one-half percent (2.5%).
SECTION 3 – LUMP SUM INCREASE
Effective March 16, 2019, Metro-North shall pay a one-time non-recurring lump sum payment of $500,00 to each employee with more than one (1) year of service.
SECTION 4 — ELIGIBILITY FOR WAGE INCREASES
The January 16, 2017 and February 16, 2018 retroactive payments shall be granted only to current employees for service performed in 2017, 2018 and on a prorated basis for employees who, during 2017 and 2018: 1) retired; 2) died; 3.) resigned while having vested right to a pension under the MTA Defined Benefit Pension Plan; or 4) were dismissed and subsequently reinstated or rehired with seniority restored.
ARTICLE 11 – HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS
1. Where both spouses and/or domestic partners are employed by the MTA and/or any of
its agencies and covered by NYSHIP, only one (1) employee will be eligible for a family health plan. The other employee will be eligible for an individual health plan. Should the spouse or domestic partner work for another MTA agency, Metro-North employee must take the individual health plan.
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2. Effective January 1, 2018, employees will no longer be required to have a minimum of
half of their potential sick leave bank at the time of voluntary separation or retirement
Metro-North/TCU Memorandum of Understanding October 10, 2017 Page 2
in order to be eligible for a sick leave buyback. The other existing eligibility rules. in place (eligible employee are those who leave Metro-North for any reason, other than termination for cause, with a minimum of ten (10) years of continuous Metro-North service) remain in force.
3. When Medicare eligible, a retiree is eligible to receive $100 per month premium
allowance which shall be used to purchase health coverage. These supplemental payments shall be paid only to the retiree and not a spouse, dependent or survivor. Proof of coverage must be supplied to Metro-North in order to receive the premium reimbursement:
ARTICLE II – PENSION BENEFITS
Employees enrolled in Article 12 of the MTA Defined Benefit Pension Plan (Article 12) shall be subject to the following change:
1. The offset in computing retirement benefits when a retiree becomes Tier II eligible
will be reduced from one hundred percent (100%) of the Tier ll amount to ninety percent (90%) of the Tier ll amount.
ARTICLE NV – WORK RULE CHANGES
1. Amend Rule 55(a) to provide that:
The application of new employees for employment shall be approved or disapproved within. one (1).year from their entry date into full service, exclusive of any required training period. In the event of applicants giving false information, this Rule shall not apply.
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2. Disciplinary suspension, at Metro-North’s discretion may be converted to a fine equal to
twenty-five percent (25%) of the employee’s regular salary for each day of the suspension, The employee will be required to work and pay the fine. The employee’s disciplinary record will only reflect the period of the suspension for the purposes of progressive discipline and will not reflect that a fine was paid in lieu of a service suspension. Metro-North will not apply fines to work rule violations covered by the FRA or Drug and Alcohol violations under any authority, or any other out of service violations. An employee who works under these circumstances is not available for overtime opportunities or relief day work during the suspension period.
Metro-North/TCU Memorandum of Understanding October 10, 2017 Page 3
3. Members of the bargaining unit may avail themselves of free passage on the New York City
Transit (NYCT) system pursuant to a system to be developed by Metro-North and NYCT. Such privileges shall only be used by the employees covered by this Agreement and may not be shared or transferred.
ARTICLEV – MORATORIUM
(1) The Agreement shall be effective January 16, 2017 and shall remain in effect through June 1, 2019 and thereafter until changed or modified in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended.
(2) The parties to this Agreement shall not serve or progress prior to January 1, 2019 (not to become effective before Junie 1, 2019) any notice or proposal for the purpose of changing agreements.
This Memorandum of Understanding is subject to ratification by the membership of the TCU and final approval by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto sign their Agreement at New York, New York this 10th day of October 2017.
FOR; TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATION UNION.
FOR: METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
William Decarlo National Representative
Anita Miller Chief Employee Relations & Administrative Officer
FOR: METRO-NORTH RAILROAD
o candelet Robert Scarðelletti National President
Andrew J. Paul Vice President – Labor Relations: