UE Members at Wabtec’s Erie Rail Plant Vote to Ratify Tentative Agreement
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Locals 506 and 618, who work for Wabtec Corp.’s Erie County, Pa., rail plant voted on Aug. 31 to accept the manufacturing company’s latest offer, ending a 10-week strike.
The 1,400 members of UE, Locals 506 and 618, had been on strike since June 2022 but will return to the plant on Sept. 5, according to a YourErie.com report.
According to an Erie Times-News report, the four-year ratified agreement, which comes four months and a few days after Pittsburgh-based Wabtec and the union began negotiations on April 21, includes one bonus and annual pay raises, a cost-of-living increase and “accelerated the pace by which wages will increase for new employees who are hired at a lower pay rate.”
Under the new contract, according to the Erie Times-News report, a production technician, one of the lowest paying positions in the plant, would earn $34.71 an hour as a legacy employee and $22.83 as a new employee.
An advanced manufacturing machining technician, one of the highest-paid classifications, would earn $41.35 after ratification, compared to $35.07 for a new employee, according to the Erie Times-News report.
Wabtec provided the following statement:
“Wabtec is pleased the UE members ratified the collective bargaining agreement. We look forward to having our employees back, working on the innovative technologies that help drive our customers’ success, while also contributing to a cleaner planet. Together, we will continue to deliver on customer commitments.”
