Reece Murtagh sat down with NPR and talked about the Tentative Agreement.
Reece Murtagh currently serves as the Local Chairman of Lodge 696 for the Bryan Park Shop Mechanics in Richmond Va. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College. Reece has been a CSX Roadway Mechanic for 13 years and has worked in the BPRS Rebuild shop, Regional and System Production field mechanic positions. Reece Transferred back to the Bryan Park Rebuild shop a year ago after many years working as a traveling mechanic and has wasted no time fighting for his members. Recently winning a big quality of life improvement for all CSX Roadway Mechanics. The option to split a second week of vacation up into individual days and take off 1 hour increments. This was something CSX roadway mechanics didn't all have. He is a husband and father to two daughters, actively involved in his daughters' elementary school as the sponsor of the Garden Club. Reece decided to run for President of DL19 after how poorly the latest contract negotiations were handled. Hard work is all DL19 members know and they deserve union officers who work just as hard. He was recently featured in an AFL-CIO freight railroad worker story.
After "Amtrak Joe Biden" showed us who he really works for, see what Reece Murtagh had to say about it.
Reece Murtagh talks with Labor Notes about his run for President of District Lodge 19
Valley Labor Report Interview
I am running for this position with the intent of having complete accountability for every dollar spent with full transparency to any and all who question anything in regards to our district spending. I have no ties with anyone currently in a district position and therefore I owe nothing to any of them, including 'turning a blind eye'. I want our district to thrive, not to be the laughing stock that we've slowly become to other unions, by no fault of our own.
The Challenger slate is committed to transparency and honesty. Union Officers work FOR their members. This is your Union! The incumbent leadership team simply acts as a buffer. District Lodge 19 has lost over 5000 members in the last 5 years. There has been no attempt to organize new members. The incumbents are more concerned with fighting each other and internal politics. Send them all back to their tools, it's time for something different.
A strong and healthy union is run from the ground up. Your new leadership team will embrace technology to connect all members and exchange ideas and build solidarity. Virtual 'zoom' town hall meetings will be held regularly.
Reformation of: The National contract membership voting system to include electronic and paper ballots and an audit committee to include rank and file members, by-law changes where necessary through a democratic process.
The challenger slate supports By-Law changes linking officer pay to the national contract.
When the nation was focused on Railroad Workers fight to get paid sick days. Where were the Incumbent District Lodge 19 leadership? They were nowhere to be found. Reece Murtagh seized the moment and let his members voices be heard.
DL19 Machinists should be collectively asking ourselves the question, where do we go from here ? We saw a "pro labor" president side with the rail carriers in our national contract negotiations. We voted to strike and the incumbent DL19 leadership was afraid to follow through. Our backs are against a wall, now is our chance to break the cycle. Vote in leaders that aren't afraid to throw punches. The incumbent leadership is content to hide under a rock and beg for table scraps.
If we join together and make our voices heard, we can fight for the change we want to see! On November 1 Local 1299 will have a special re-run election to determine the president of District Lodge 19.
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On October 28, 2023 IAMAW District Lodge 19 has entered into a voluntary compliance agreement to conduct a new election and installation for the offices of President/Directing General Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer on or before May 30, 2024, under the supervision of the Department of Labor and in accordance with Title IV of the LMRDA.
District Lodge 19 has been run like a private club for too long with all officers appointed. These officers treat the union like it's their private property. It's time to put the power back in the Rank and File members.