Negotiations have been underway since December 1999 to renew a contract that became amendable in January 2000. Voting will commence immediately and results will be announced on September 15, 2003.

“We have repeatedly rejected the offer as inadequate and notified both the Carriers’ negotiators and the National Mediation Board that IAM members would never accept such a proposal,” said IAM District 19 President Robert Reynolds. “However, the membership has both a right and an obligation to vote on the proposal.”

The Carriers’ proposal mirrors a recent arbitrator-imposed contract between the NCCC and the Transportation Communications Union (TCU).

“The Machinists Union is committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure our members receive an agreement worthy of their ratification,” said IAM General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “A commitment to good-faith bargaining by the Carriers is required to make that happen. Trying to force the product of another Union’s arbitration on our membership is not the way to bring these negotiations to closure.”