PREPONDERANCE OF SERVICE FOR VACATION QUALIFICATION

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
Between
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY
and
SMART-TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
and 
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS AND TRAINMEN
UP, SMART-TD, and BLET jointly desire to modify provisions governing the craft grouping of train and engine service employees within the Denver Hub, the Salina Hub, and the Eastern District.  The parties acknowledge there is a benefit to both UP and its employees to determine vacation schedules based on a preponderance of servicestandard rather than by a specific date as provided in existing agreements.  UP, SMART-TD, and BLET jointly desire to modify provisions governing the craft qualification for each organizations perspective contractual vacation benefits.  In addition, UP, SMART-TD, and BLET jointly desire to modify provisions governing floating of vacations by union officers and their designees. 
Accordingly, IT IS AGREED:

A.  The Parties mutually agree that the manner in which the crafts of engineer and train service are determined for an employee for vacation scheduling purposes only, shall be based on the location, craft, and class of service where he/she was assigned for a preponderance of the time during the six(6)-month qualification measurement period.  The qualification measurement period shall be April 1 through September 30.  For the purposes of this Agreement, Firemen-In-Training (FIT) will be classified as train service employees with consideration being given to the location and class of service where the on-the-job training portion of the training is performed.  This will not however, serve to alter the adjustment of vacation periods for FIT's to accommodate required training regimens during the 6-month training program.

B.  The duly elected BLET local chairperson representing engineers (or his/her designee(s)), shall be allowed to float his/her vacation if he/she administers a vacation grouping for his/her members regardless of whether he/she was working in train service at the time vacation qualification was determined.  The duly elected SMART-TD local chairperson representing train service employees (or his/hers designee(s)), shall be allowed to float his/her vacation if he/she administers a vacation grouping for his/her members regardless of whether he/she was working in engine service at the time vacation qualification was determined.  The duly elected SMART-TD local chairperson representing Firemen-In-Training, hostlers and/or hostlers helpers  (or his/hers designee(s)), shall be allowed to float his/her vacation if he/she administers a vacation grouping for his/her members regardless of whether he/she was working in engine service at the time vacation qualification was determined.

NOTE:  The number of designees allowed to float their vacations per local Committee will be approved on a case by case basis, with Carrier reserving the right to limit that number in the event the number of people designated to administer vacation is disproportionate to the number of weeks that Committee schedules.

C.  Existing rules and practices regarding the handling of vacations not specifically amended by this agreement, including, but not limited to, scheduling of vacations, scheduling single day vacations, shall continue in effect without change unless modified by other understandings or agreements by the parties.

D. This Agreement will be effective for vacation year 2015 and may be cancelled by either party with the serving of a ten (10) day advance written notice to the other parties prior to September 20 of the applicable calendar year.  However, the parties agree if there is any dispute over the application of this Agreement, the Director Labor Relations and General Chairman will attempt to resolve the issues prior to cancellation.  If cancelled, vacations will be scheduled in accordance with preexisting agreement provisions.
Signed this 8th day of December 2014
For the Carrier:
Beth Wilderman
Director Labor Relations

For the Organizations:

Mr. D. Geisler
General Chairman-BLET

Mr. B. Leonard
General Chairperson-SMART-TD