Scope and Work Classification

Ever wonder why we get the work we do? Why contractors can’t just come in and take our work and why they get some of the other work? It is due to Scope and Work Classification, the Scope rule. In 1987 most other unions decided that the best way to preserve their jobs was to take a ‘Minimum Work Force Rule’. That meant that if they agreed to keep 100 people working the company could contract out any work, as long as the 100 people were working. The IBEW is one of the unions that took the minimum work force rule. All the electrification work on the Hellgate Line was contracted out due to the minimum workforce rule, unlike the Raceway project where BMWE forces are doing the work because of our scope rule.

Unlike the IBEW, and other Amtrak unions, Jed Dodd (Penn Fed General Chairman) negotiated the Scope Rule. With the Scope rule, the work outlined in Scope and Work Classification mandates what is our work, no matter how many people we have working. If the company wants to contract the work out they have to apply for a Labor Clearance. In the Labor Clearance they have to describe the work, how many men it will take, how long and why they need the contractor to do it. The union can decline the Labor Clearance or they can negotiate terms to the clearance. The Vice Chairmen or General Chairman negotiate the clearances. If the BMWE rejects the labor clearance, and the company still has contractors do the work, the union will time claim the work.

We have won Scope rule arbitration awards from B&B doing carpet and low level platforms to track thermite welding and many others. This is also why it’s very important to put a time claim in when you see an outside worker doing our work. It’s a continual fight to preserve our work.ld contract out any work, as long as the 100 people were working. The IBEW is one of the unions that took the minimum work force rule. All the electrification work on the Hellgate Line was contracted out due to the minimum workforce rule, unlike the Raceway project where BMWE forces are doing the work because of our scope rule.

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Hopefully this helps you have a better understanding of Scpe and Work Classification. To read it in it's entirety you can read it here

Review previous rules
RULE 3 - TEMPORARY POSITIONS AND VACANCIES - METHOD OF FILLING
RULE 4 - TEMPORARY POSITIONS AND VACANCIES - METHOD OF FILLING

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Here is a link to our BMWE Contract agreement and updates