Railroad Track Workers Protest Proposed Health Insurance Cuts By Profit-Rich Rail Companies

NOVI, Mich., May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED) -- a railroad track and bridge workers' union within the International Brotherhood of Teamsters -- is in the midst of a protracted battle with the largest railroads in this country over healthcare.

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR:    

Demonstrations on Wed., May 3, 2017                                 

5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.                                                            

-- Proviso Yard, Northlake, IL

-- Homewood/Markham Yard, Homewood, IL

-- Calumet Yard, Chicago

-- Radnor Yard, Nashville

-- Davis Yard, Roseville, Calif.

Under the slogan "Healthcare Not Wealthcare," the union will take its message public at rallies across the country on May 3.  BMWED railroad workers, vital to the cross-country infrastructure of American freight and passenger service, will stand together with allies to push back against the railroads' collective greed. All railroad crafts (with a combined membership of more than 150,000 rail employees) will be welcomed to the rallies.

This fight, which has been ongoing in collective bargaining for two years, epitomizes the systemic problems with the structure of American healthcare.

In 2012 the BMWED entered a National Agreement that provided the railroads $90 million in annual healthcare savings. The Union's proposal this time, which includes putting the networks out to competitive bid for the first time in 20 years, provides over $130 million in annual savings, most of which comes from the medical vendors - not the railroad workers' pockets. Ours is a true "mainstream" proposal that will reduce costs without creating financial hardship to rail workers.

Despite the fact that the BMWED has demonstrated at the bargaining table potential savings of over $100 million through tighter provider management, these highly profitable corporate giants balk. Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific Southern Pacific, for example, have averaged almost $25 billion in revenues annually and have generated profits of $5 billion - a whopping 20% return for investors.  And still they want more from their workers.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/railroad-track-workers-protest-proposed-health-insurance-cuts-by-profit-rich-rail-companies-300449818.html

SOURCE Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes