March 30, 2011
Dear Members,
Pursuant to Article 15.N the Union and the Company met for a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) committee meeting on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Along with rank and file members the Union was represented by Nick Manicone (IBT-attorney) and Norm Weintraub (Consultant and Economist).
Mr. Weintraub presented the Company with an outline of how the Union would like to proceed in determining the cost of living in each of the cities where technician and related are based. He recommended an expert consulting firm be used to establish a base line city and then compare other selected cities to that baseline city. Mr. Weintraub proposed making Houston the baseline city; he also made some recommendations as to the expert consulting firm and its role in the process. The Company took all the information and agreed to reply at the next scheduled meeting.
The Union and the Company agreed to share the names of the committee members and the cities they are from in the upcoming weeks. Along with you Local representatives, one rank and file member will be selected from the local COLA Committee to attend future system meetings.
Our first local COLA Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at the Union office. Along with the local representatives, four (4) volunteer committee members attended (Peter Morales, Bill Horn, Robin Rosser and Gus Pappas). Four (4) volunteers were unable to attend. We thank them all for their service. Future meetings will be scheduled in the upcoming weeks and the eight (8) volunteers will be selecting one from their group to attend future system meetings.
Members with any suggestions should contact the Union office or one of the following local COLA Committee members:
Peter Morales, Tom Moore, Robin Rosser, Mark Kornbluth, Gus Pappas (LGA), John Benevento, Bill Horn and Miguel Rodriguez.
In Solidarity,
Ralph Salzano