RAIL AGREEMENT POSTED

The tentative national rail agreement is now available for inspection at www.utu.org, and may be read by clicking on the "Railroad Contract Negotiations Update" box in the lower right corner of the UTU Web site home page.

Also available on the UTU Web site are agreed upon questions and answers as jointly written by UTU negotiators and the carriers.

A hard-copy of the tentative agreement, along with the questions and answers, will be sent to all affected members as part of a ratification package, which also will include voting instructions.

That package will be mailed in late May -- the delay intended to provide opportunity for local meetings to explain the agreement, respond to additional member questions, and assure members are fully informed before being asked to cast a ballot.

General chairpersons, representing affected members, unanimously recommended a "yes" vote after reviewing the contract and meeting with the UTU negotiating team in late March.

UTU International President Mike Futhey said that, "despite differences among some officers regarding the status of the SMART merger, there is unanimity of support for this agreement among our officers. Where there is absolutely no difference of opinion among officers is in the importance of  ratifying this agreement."

The Yardmaster agreement is Document B of the tentative agreement, and follows Document A and Document A sideletters.