DC16 craft Master Agreements are referred to as Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA’s).  These agreements are negotiated between the leadership of DC16, craft representatives (representing members/labor) and the craft Management Association(s) with their designated Signatory Contractors (representing management). Ultimately, the vote of each and every member decides whether a CBA is ratified, or whether the demands are not met and the membership decides to go on strike.

Raises and allocations are determined once the CBA has been ratified. For example, a CBA is ratified with the following terms: $6.00 over three years ($2.00 per year increase), contract language could require benefits and or health and welfare increases. So, for a wage allocation, the craft would have an increase of $2.00 minus .25 Cents for benefits and .10 Cents for Health and Welfare; leaving a $1.65 to be allocated per the input of the members for the “wage allocation” vote. Typically, the E-Boards of each local with input from its membership will convene to discuss and develop the best options to present to the craft membership as a whole. The best options will be Motioned, Seconded and Carried to present as the option for your Local’s “wage allocation” vote. Those two options will be Motioned, Seconded and Carried to present as the option for your Locals “wage allocation” vote.  All the members will then vote by secret ballot the option that best suits their needs and the needs of their family. *** Historically less than 15% of a local’s membership turns out to vote on their “wage allocation”, thus leaving their voice and future determined by others.