Click on the links below for two articles that address TSA cautions regarding train systems on new terror claim.
http://abc7chicago.com/tsa-
Click on the link below to view the video, please feel free to share this information with your membership.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5wa5kq5dF8
______________________
Robert W. Guy
State Director, Illinois Legislative Board
SMART-Transportation Division
8 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2006
Chicago, IL 60603
312-236-5353
Please click on the link below to view the current Synopsis and Proposal for the current National contract negotiations.
http://www.utu171.com/2017_Synopsis_and_Proposal.pdf
January 6, 2014
Dear Sirs:
This is in regard to the Letters of Understanding outlining the terms of the Recovery Incentive. Please consider this as BNSF’s 5-day Notice of Cancellation. The Recovery Incentive will be cancelled effective end of day January 11, 2014.
Sincerely,
Milton H. Siegele, Jr.
During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks.
According to KCS, each locomotive will have two cameras – one behind the engineer focused on the control panel, and one across the cab focusing on both crew members. (Some locomotives with cameras installed already are in use in Mexico; others are being fitted for cameras in Shreveport.)
The carrier told the two presidents that it has “management prerogative” to take these actions and does not have to, and does not intend to, bargain with the unions over the use of these cameras, or the effects of this dramatic change on its operating craft employees.
Without notifying the unions, that same day KCS filed suit in federal district court in Shreveport, La., to obtain a ruling allowing it to implement its plan. Upon learning of these developments, BLET National President Dennis Pierce and Mike Futhey, President of SMART Transportation Division, together told the carrier that both unions vehemently disagree that the carrier has the right to install and use inward-facing cameras unilaterally without exhausting the bargaining processes of the Railway Labor Act.
The two presidents and the leadership of both unions view this as a serious change in working conditions and have agreed to work closely to resist its implementation. A coordinated effort is being undertaken in response.
Not only will both unions be fervently opposing KCS’s lawsuit, they will be asking the court to enjoin the carrier from going ahead with its plan.
As of now, and until the court has issued a ruling regarding the parties’ respective rights, the carrier has agreed not to turn on or use the cameras.
Union members who work for KCS on a locomotive that has a camera installed should request assurances from the proper carrier officials that the camera is not turned on and not in use. Any instance where that assurance is not given should be immediately reported to your general chairperson.
Also, to avoid any possibility of discipline, no member should attempt to move, cover or otherwise tamper with the cameras they encounter.
Cooperation in this manner is vital.
Lastly, train and engine employees can be assured that their unions are diligently working to protect them and their interests in this matter. No legal stone will be left unturned in opposing the carrier on this issue.
Below is the suggested time slip language for a yardman denied a “utility yardman” position due to either of the following situations, 1) the Carrier arbitrarily demands Remote Control Certification to work as utilityman or, 2) from having been federally decertified and the Carrier requires such to work as a utility yardman. In each case, when the yardman had adequate seniority to hold a utility yardman assignment and had made the required request for such position and is denied, a claim would be supported by our office.
Allow one basic day account restriction of my seniority. I have adequate seniority and requested/bid to be assigned job ______ on (date) yet was denied by the Carrier due to (not having Remote Control Certification) or (being decertified). Junior yardman (name) was allowed to work in my place.
Please require our members to provide you and I with documentation to support their claim(s). At a minimum I will need the following support for each claim:
1. Seniority standing between the claimant and Jr. yardman involved.
2. Printout of the assignments for the claim date showing the yardmen assigned.
3. Claimant’s Daily Mark Preference entry for the claim date, if applicable
4. Claimant’s bid and bulleting award for utility yardman position showing him/her as senior bidder
If you have any question please give me a call.
Fraternally,
Randy Doyle
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains information concerning the Work Retention List
http://www.utu171.com/WRL_Displacement.pdf
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains information concerning the recent BNSF - OSHA agreement pertaining to whistleblower violations
http://www.utu171.com/BNSF-OSHA-Agreement.pdf
All
For those of you that have elected to implement the WRU List agreement at your location, and for those of you who may be contemplating it, there was recently some confusion regarding the manner in which those on the list submit to be recalled in seniority order.
It has since been related that there is no electronic means of doing so and if you wish to be recalled from this list in seniority order, a written request must be faxed to Crew Support in Topeka.
In fact, following is a “cut & paste” of the instruction issued the callers when contemplating a recall:
How TYE can move from the Work Retention List Back to Active Service
• When the division manager recalls from WR list. Please check the folder to find any senior employee, if none found, recall junior to senior off WR list.
Requests should be faxed in and filed in the WR Recall folder.
Randy K.
As we are all aware, on February 29th, the FRA came out with interpretive changes regarding the 2009 RSIA changes. On April 30th, there was a subsequent postponement granted for the interpretation of the definition of “day” in the original ruling. The “day” changes are currently scheduled to take place in December.
However, there were other changes that go into effect today from a Crew Support programming perspective. We will be making the following changes later today in order to comply with the effective date published by the FRA.
· CRF 49 Chapter II Section IV (B-7) addresses “How much rest must an employee have after initiating an on-duty period for six consecutive days by sec. 21103(a)(4)(B)?”
· From a Crew Support Programming perspective:
· Prior to the change – an employee getting a 7th start out of the AFHT that is a straight away deadhead was granted 72 hours of unavailable time at the HT
· With this change – an employee getting a 7th start out of the AFHT that is a straight away deadhead will be granted 48 hours of unavailable time at the HT
· CRF 49 Chapter II Section IV (C-1) addresses “Does the prohibition protect employees from any communication for the entirety of the off-duty Period?”. The Executive Summary goes on to state “Employees are not permitted to grant advance permission for all off-duty periods…”
· From a Crew Support Programming perspective:
· Prior to the change – an employee was able to designate whether they wanted to receive “push” alerts when they were not FRA rested.
· With this change – an employee will no longer have the option of whether to receive a push alert if they are not FRA rested – they will only receive push alerts when rested.
· ** at the time of the change, 8,394 TYE employees are signed up for pushes. Of them, 4,121 employees had the options set to receive when not rested
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains information concerning the Unilateral Change Of Pool Handling (First In, First Out)
http://www.utu171.com/FirstInFirstOut.pdf
Please click on the link below to view Part 1 of 2 of the document that contains information about the new password requirements for 2012.
http://www.utu171.com/password_requirement_changes_faqs.pdf
Please click on the link below to view Part 2 of 2 of the document that contains information about the new password requirements for 2012.
http://www.utu171.com/password_changes.pdf
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains highlights of the Conductor certification final ruling
http://www.utu171.com/Highlights_Conductor_Cert.docx
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains a Q & A session regarding the Conductor certification final ruling
http://www.utu171.com/Conductor_Cert_Q&A.pdf
WASHINGTON
– It's now official. Conductor certification, mandated by the Rail Safety
Improvement Act of 2008, has a clear track for Jan. 1 implementation.
>
> In a final rule, published by the Federal Railroad Administration Nov. 9,
railroads must implement, by Jan. 1, a formal training program for certifying
conductors and a formal process for training prospective conductors, thus
ensuring job competency.
>
> The FRA's final rule on conductor certification follows many of the
provisions of locomotive engineer certification, with a number of improvements
the UTU, joined by the BLET, was able to obtain.
>
> Following are highlights of the final rule, which runs almost 300 pages in
the Nov. 9 Federal Register.
>
> * While the railroad and its employees must comply with the final rule,
there is no limitation on any rights the employee may have under a collective
bargaining agreement
>
> * Conductors currently employed will be grandfathered for from one to
three years, with one-third of those conductors required to be tested for
certification in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Beginning in 2015, one-third of the total
conductor workforce will be recertified each year.
>
> * Each railroad, in submitting its proposed certification program to the
FRA for approval, must simultaneously submit it to the presidents of the UTU
and BLET, which will have 45 days to comment. The intent is to encourage
coordination by carriers with local union officers in formulating the
certification program, and to gain a supporting statement from the general
committee of jurisdiction.
>
> * A conductor losing certification may work as an assistant conductor,
brakeman, yard helper, switchman or utility employee, but cannot work as a
locomotive engineer. If that individual holds both conductor and engineer
certification, and the engineer certification is revoked, they may not work as
a conductor.
>
> * If the conductor certificate is revoked because of failing to control a
train, violation of train speed, violation of brake test requirement, occupying
main track without proper authority, tampering with safety devices, or an
alcohol or drug violation, the decertified conductor may not work as a
locomotive engineer. However, if the decertification is for violation of a rule
covering shoving or pushing movements, or equipment left out to foul track,
switches and derails, the decertified conductor may work as a locomotive
engineer.
>
> * The conductor must be trained by a qualified person on the territory
over which that conductor will operate. If the certified conductor lacks
territorial qualification, and has never been qualified on main track physical
characteristics, that conductor shall be assisted by a person who is a
certified conductor qualified on the territory, and NOT a member of the crew.
>
> * If the conductor has been previously qualified over the main track
territory, and the time limits have expired on their qualification, the
conductor may be assisted by any knowledgeable person, including a member of
the crew, other than the locomotive engineer on the crew, so as not to conflict
with other safety sensitive duties.
>
> * If the conductor lacks territorial qualification on other than main
track, the conductor, where practical, shall be assisted by a certified
conductor meeting the territorial qualifications. Where this is not practical,
the conductor shall be provided an appropriate job aid, which includes maps,
charts or other visual aids of the territory. This applies to all tracks on
each territory.
>
> * Territorial qualification is not required for short movements of one
mile or less where track speed is 20-mph or less and movement is required to be
at restricted speed, and the track grade is less than 1 percent.
>
> Prior to revoking conductor certification, a railroad must:
>
> * Provide notice of the reason for suspension, and an opportunity for a hearing
before a person other than the investigating officer. Written confirmation of
the notification shall be in accordance with the collective bargaining
agreement. Additionally, the hearing shall be in accordance with the collective
bargaining agreement, but shall be convened within 10 days after the
certificate is suspended, unless the conductor asks for a delay.
>
> * Provide, no later than convening the hearing and notwithstanding any
collective bargaining agreement, a copy of the written information and a list
of the witnesses the railroad intends to present at the hearing. The railroad
shall grant a recess if the information is provided just before the hearing. If
the information is provided through written statements of an employee, the
railroad shall make that employee available for examination during the hearing.
>
> * Not revoke certification or recertification if there is sufficient
evidence that an intervening cause prevented or materially impaired the
conductor’s ability to comply with requirements.
>
> Additionally, with regard to conductor certification:
>
> * The appeal procedures largely mirror engineer certification regulations.
>
> * The training requirements for new conductors are significantly improved
from current requirements. In addition to improved initial training, this rule
requires recurrent training for all conductors every three years during the
recertification process. The recurrent training must be identified in the
certification plan filed with FRA, including changes in operating rules,
operating practices, new federal regulations and new equipment in service.
>
> "The implementation of conductor certification enhances the skills
and safety performance of freight and passenger conductors, provides a federal
license ensuring proper training of conductors, and establishes a new basis for
resisting management pressure to violate operating rules and federal
regulations," said UTU International President Mike Futhey.
>
> The final rule is a result of input from all affected parties, including
labor, through the FRA’s Rail Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC).
>
> The UTU was represented on this RSAC Conductor Certification Working Group
by Local 645 Chairperson Vinnie Tessitore, Local 1470 Chairperson David Brooks,
General Chairperson (GO 049) John Lesniewski, Local 528 Legislative
Representative Ron Parsons, Alternate National Legislative Director John Risch,
National Legislative Director James Stem, and UTU Rail Safety Coordinator for
Designated Legal Counsel Larry Mann.
>
> A link to the 278-page final rule will be available on the UTU website at www.utu.org by midday Nov. 9.
>
Arbitrator
Michael H. Gottesman said the UTU-ratified merger agreement to create the Sheet
Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Union is an enforceable
agreement. Gottesman was named by AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka to decide the
question of enforceability after binding arbitration was ordered by Federal
District Court Judge John Bates.
>
> Gottesman acknowledged that there is pending before Judge Bates another
merger related case – a complaint by several UTU members that Titles I and V or
the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) were violated. When
Judge Bates ordered binding arbitration to determine if the UTU-SMWIA merger
agreement is enforceable, he said the LMRDA claims were beyond the purview of
the arbitrator, and that he would decide those claims following the outcome of
the arbitration.
>
> Although the SMWIA asked Gottesman to allow the SMWIA to, in Gottesman’s
words, “effectively micromanage the implementation of the merger, complete with
timelines and very detailed instructions for the behavior of UTU officials,”
Gottesman denied the request.
>
> Ruled Gottesman: “It is far better that the parties decide how to
implement the merger than to have an arbitrator do so. Accordingly, the award
simply directs the presidents of UTU and SMWIA (or their designees) to begin
meeting not later than 15 days after the effective date of this award (Oct. 10)
to discuss any and all issues pertinent to implementation of the merger … and
to continue meeting on a regular basis until all such matters have been
resolved.”
Please click on the link below to view the document that contains a synopsis of the tentative contract.
http://www.utu171.com/Local%20Chairmen%206-3-11.pdfThe Federal Railroad Administration's rule that bans the use of electronic devices, including cellular phones, by on duty railroad crews becomes permanent on Monday, March 28.Also attached is a flow chart that can be printed off for easy reference. All members are strongly urged to abide by the electronic device ban and to encourage other crew members to do the same. Penalties for a violation could be severe and include carrier discipline and personal monetary penalties.
Please click on the link below to read the article from the UTU International Web page that highlights the specifics of the ban. http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=53964
Please click on the link below to view the reference flow chart http://www.utu171.com/FRAUseofElectronicDevices.pdf
Members that received disability claim payments in 2010 will be receiving W2 forms from their carrier. This does not mean that their benefits were taxable - this is merely a reporting requirement of the IRS. Please read the message below to understand the meaning of the W2. Even if a claimant’s disability benefits are non-taxable, the claimants will receive W2s. However, the payments should be listed in box 12 with a J and the amount entered. Our members have called indicating they should not have received W2s because the benefits were non-taxable. However if the disability amounts are entered in box 12 with a J; that is the correct designation for our benefit plans since disability amounts entered in this box notifies the IRS that the third party sick income is non-taxable. As such, the member would not claim the payments as income for tax reporting purposes.
Please click on this link to view information pertaining to outlying assignments.http://www.utu171.com/Outlying_Assignments.pdf
Please click on this link to view information regarding the payroll W2 error.http://www.utu171.com/form_w-2c_ltr.pdf
Please click on this link to view information about our latest round of collective bargaining.http://www.utu171.com/Section_6_Notice.pdf
Please click on this link to view information regarding group disability now available to members.http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=47800
Please click on this link to view information regarding the proper riding of equipment.http://www.utu171.com/Riding_Equipment.pdf
Please click on this link to view information regarding the new EBB and Flow agreement from General Chairman Randy K.http://www.utu171.com/EBB_FLOW.pdf
Vacation
Recovery Pay Statement Display
Vacation recovery is shown differently on the new pay statements,
and this is causing some confusion.
To clarify how it should be interpreted, please first look at the
bottom left Before Tax Deductions section. There is a line called Gross
Recollection with two columns – Current and Year-to-Date. The Current
column displays the amount collected in this pay period; the Year-to-Date is a
new feature that is displaying a recollection total beginning with this pay
period, since we never had accumulated that information on the pay statement
before. This will accumulate going forward. Please note that this Year-to-Date
column only represents the recollection starting June 16, 2009; this is in
addition to all previously recollected amounts. Also, this is a display line
item – it will not calculate to the Total Before Tax
Deductions at the bottom of the box.
The section immediately above that one – Gross Earnings –
includes a Total Gross Earnings sum at the bottom of the box. This is the
employee’s correct gross earnings, and you will find that same number carried
over to the top line of the Payment Summary section at the top right,
the first line being Total Gross Earnings. Now this part is very important:
Before any gross-to-net calculations are made, the Gross Recollection /
Current amount referred to earlier (representing the vacation recollection
for the current pay period) is deducted from the Total Gross Earnings.
TY&E
Vacation Recovery FAQ
This week, employees began receiving letters outlining the details of how they were impacted by the vacation adjustment. The following are a few frequently asked questions about the letters and the impact.
Q. Do I have to file an amended tax return because of this issue?
A. No, employees actually received and paid taxes on the inflated vacation rates in 2008.
Therefore, the previous tax paid was correct. The 2009 recoveries will be taken from gross pre tax earnings, and will thereby reduce taxable income by the equivalent amount paid in 2008. The overall impact is a wash for 2008 and 2009 tax purposes.
Furthermore, we have corresponded with members from the IRS, our internal tax department, and an independent tax lawyer as requested by the Organization’s leadership team. The handling has been confirmed in compliance with tax code, and no further action is required on the part of the employees.
Q. Why is the vacation rate, on my letter, higher than the vacation rate showing on my 816?
A. All employees received lump sum vacation rate adjustments last year. The payments were identified as a V8 payment on your 816. These payments were makewhole adjustments for vacation that had already been used in 2008. V8 payments were made on June 30, August 15 and August 31 of 2008 (varied by craft). All unused vacation was then paid at the higher rate for the remainder of the year. To view those V8 payments, you will need to rerun your 816’s for the appropriate pay period. Since the V8 payment for the UTU back pay project was handled in a separate pay period, you can run that 816 by putting 2008 and “RG” in the pay period field.
In some cases, employees used all of their vacation prior to the V8 adjustment. Therefore, they only received the lump sum makewhole vacation adjustment. They did not receive vacation pay at the new rate because no vacation days were remaining.
In order to verify that your vacation rate is correct, you must take the sum total of all of your V8 payments and divide that number by the total number of vacation days taken in 2008. Adding that number to your original vacation rate will give you the actual 2008 vacation rate. That number should be reflected in your letter.
The formula is as follows:
(Original Daily Vacation Rate paid in 2008) + (V8’s divided by Total Vacation Days)
Q. Why doesn’t my W-2 show the same earnings reflected in the letter?
A. The 1/52nd vacation rate calculation generally includes all compensation in association to working in the TYE craft. However, there are some items that are not included. Those items are non-taxable items, such as meals at the away from home terminal, mileage reimbursement claims etc... Also not included would be any former BN UTU Productivity Fund payments, former Santa Fe BLET ICP or any bonuses in association to temporary transfer work or relocation allowances.
Also, W-2’s are based off of earnings actually received between January 1 and December 31 of each year. Vacation rate calculations are based on pay period 01 to pay period 24 earnings, even though pay period 24 earnings are not actually received by the employees until the following year.
Therefore the W-2 is not an accurate indicator of earnings used for the vacation rate calculation.
If you would like further assistance in understanding the details and your individual impact please contact Compensation Systems through the VRU.
All,
In December, 2008, the Organizations received a favorable arbitral ruling wherein it was determined that existing collective bargaining agreements did not give the Carrier the right to substitute paid leave for unpaid leave. Put another way, it was improper for the Carrier to allow payment of personal leave and/or vacation days when an employee was allowed unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Although the Carriers have now changed their policy on this matter, there was still no resolution regarding the proper remedy to those that were adversely affected. To update you, I just received word from the UTU International that the remedy piece of this dispute will be arbitrated on April 21, 2009, and a decision will be rendered within 60 days.
What I am unable to advise is if we are successful with the remedy portion, will only those employee that submitted timeslips be eligible for the remedy or will this apply to all those adversely affected? We will not have an answer to this question until the decision is rendered.
Fraternally,
Randy K
A
couple of operating employees contacted payroll in February, 2009 to complain
that their vacation earnings for January, 2009 were less than what they were
compensated for vacation in 2008. When researching the problem, it was
discovered that instead of these figures being wrong, the Carrier actually
overpaid the vast majority of vacation allowances in 2008. Apparently, both the
second half of July, 2007 and the first half of October, 2007 were duplicated
by their vacation calculator, which essentially based your vacation pay on “13”
months earnings instead of 12. All employees who took vacation in 2008 and
their compensation was based upon 1/52 of their earnings from 2007 were
affected by this.
In
examining the issue from an arbitral standpoint, it appears that neutrals have
fairly consistently ruled that contractual time limits would not apply in
instances where the overpayment was a “mistake,” and not purposely or
intentionally executed. In other words, we do not have a leg to stand on with
this issue other than to attempt to influence the repayment schedule.
While
my initial suggestion was not supported by their software (so I won’t
elaborate), the Carrier did consent to make the repayment schedule graduated
based upon the amount owed. Theoretically, this should invoke less of a
financial burden on those that who only have a few weeks of vacation and are presently
having difficulty continuing to stay in active service. Regardless, repayment
will only take place during pay periods in which the employee has earnings.
As
info, repayment will be as follows:
$0 to
$399: $25 per pay period
$400 to
$799: $50 per pay period
$800 to
??: $100 per pay period
If you
have any questions regarding this, please feel free to contact us.
Fraternally,
Randy K
Six International Union Vice Presidents To Go On Trial before UTU
Executive Board
Federal Judge Denies Temporary Restraining Order
On January
30, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. Judge John R. Adams held a telephonic
hearing on the motion by Joyce Goldstein, who is the SMWIA paid attorney for the six UTU International
officers who have charges pending against them before
the UTU Executive Board. On February 3, 2009 at 9:00 A.M. the trials of
these officers is scheduled to begin but a motion for a TRO had been filed to
block the trials.
After hearing from Ms. Goldstein on behalf of the six Vice
Presidents; Baffoni, Babler, Boling, Cumby, Iannone and Fitzgerald, Judge Adams
asked several
pointed questions to clarify their position on the propriety of the trials.
The attorneys for the UTU International, the UTU Executive Board
and the charging defendants
also further clarified their positions citing the reasons why the trials
should not be halted or delayed any further. The UTU Executive Board has
a constitutionally required duty to promptly investigate charges against International
Officers and to determine their validity.
Judge Adams referred the parties to the charges filed by the
defendants. In doing this the judge stated that the charges covered many
issues that dealt with dual unionism, failure of the officers to meet their
obligations of their oaths of office and attempting to usurp the power of the
UTU President under article 16 of the UTU Constitution while acting on behalf
of the Sheet Metal
Workers International Association. He stated that the constitution did reference the Vice Presidents
being subordinate to the UTU President. He compared that to the precedent
setting manner in which the SMART merger, which lies at the genesis of
this dispute, was secretly negotiated by then UTU President Paul Thompson
and only a few select others who placed the finished merger agreement as a fait accompli
before the UTU Board of Directors and demanded their immediate approval.
In closing Judge Adams denied the intervenors' motion to grant a TRO to stop the UTU
Executive Board from holding the trials. The
Executive Board will begin these hearings on February 3, 2009 at the UTU
International Headquarters in Cleveland, OH, at 9:00 A.M.
More information will be posted on the Save Our Union
website as it becomes available.
The
Carrier has advised that they intend to train approximately 250 engineers,
system-wide, during the first quarter of 2009. That said, we are
receiving numerous inquires whether or not an employee may bid and be awarded a
slot in the LETP when they are in furlough status.
First,
I would like to state that it is the position of this office that it would be
proper for a furloughed employee to bid and be awarded a slot in LETP. We
have discussed this at length recently and cannot find any provision that would
prevent it.
However,
the Carrier has taken the opposite position and deemed an employee for LETP
while in furlough status.
Therefore,
unless we can reach agreement otherwise, should an employee’s LETP application
be denied simply due to being in furlough status, a grievance should be filed
on his behalf contesting such. Should you have any questions regarding
the structure of the grievance, please feel free to contact us. Keep in
mind that any such grievance must be properly submitted and progressed under
the time limits set forth in the existing agreement.
Randy K
Seems to be some confusion concerning the interlocking at
Savanna. We had two
instances, eastbound,
12/6 and 12/7 of trains having to put it into emergency at the diamond. In both
situations the trains were stopped at CP 1462, then given a proceed indication.
Per the rule below, highlighted, this is in the Chicago Division Timetable,
Aurora Sub, page 6, when they start moving at CP 1462 and there speed is not
above 20 MPH by time they go by the signal, they must move prepared to stop at the
diamond. I have
verified this with the rules department. Both instances they were under 20 MPH
going by CP 1462 which
requires them to be prepared to stop instead of blasting up to the signal and
then putting it in emergency. If you could, please pass this on to your
distribution list, it would be appreciated.
Rule 9.9.1—At automatic interlocking at IC&E, MP 144.8, the
following will govern:
A train must proceed prepared to stop at the interlocking signal
when:
• Moving below 20 MPH and passing a signal displaying an
indication more favorable than Approach that governs the
approach to the interlocking.
• Speed is reduced to below 20 MPH after passing a signal
displayi ng an indication more favorable than Approach that
governs the approach to the interlocking.
The train must continue to move prepared to stop at the
interlocking signal until the train reaches a point approximately
1,000 feet from that signal. If the interlocking signal then
indicates proceed, the train may resume speed.
Thanks,
Bob Fisher
- RFE
LaCrosse
UNIONS
WIN BIG IN FMLA ARBITRATION
A three-person arbitration panel ruled unanimously Dec. 2 (published Dec. 8)
that the nation’s four largest railroads, which control some 90 percent of U.S.
intercity rail freight traffic, no longer may require employees to substitute
paid vacation and/or paid personal leave for unpaid leave under the Family
Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
It was a stunning blow to BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific --
carrier parties to the arbitration who had been ignoring collective bargaining
agreements and the law in an attempt to maximize employee availability. Other
carriers likely will abide by the arbitration ruling.
Under the FMLA, employees may elect to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to
deal with a family emergency, or a personal serious health condition. The law
also provides that if employees have a more beneficial arrangement with the
employer, the more beneficial arrangement shall take precedence.
Based on this provision, and the carriers' blatant violation of it, the UTU and
11 other rail labor organizations challenged the carriers, who agreed in July
to arbitrate the issue.
The arbitration award becomes effective Dec. 22, at which time the carriers
must "immediately discontinue" the invalidated provisions of their FMLA
policies.
There is also a provision allowing follow-up proceedings to determine a
monetary remedy for those who have taken FMLA leave and suffered by the
carrier's forcing them to substitute paid vacation or paid personal leave for
this time period.
The question submitted to the arbitration panel was: "Do the carriers'
policies requiring employees to substitute paid vacation and/or paid personal
leave for unpaid FMLA leave violate requirements of the national vacation
and/or national personal leave agreements?"
In a 43-page award, arbitrators John E. Sands, William H. Holley Jr., and
Jerome H. Ross said that collective bargaining agreements guarantee employees
"a set number of paid vacation days" annually, with management
restricted from administering the granting of guaranteed vacation days. The
arbitrators also ruled that collective bargaining agreements similarly
guarantee paid personal leave days.
The arbitrators cited a long history of other arbitration awards and court
decisions backing their ruling that, "On the entire record before us, we
must sustain the unions' position and find that the carriers' policies at issue
to substitute paid vacation and/or paid personal leave for unpaid FMLA leave do
violate the requirements of the national vacation and/or national personal
leave agreements."
Voting Tally for 2009 Elections
Local Chairman Conductor
Terry Harwood 39
John Hoppe 13
Treasurer
Dick Temple 82
Joe Cutrano 41
Secretary
Colleen Heine 64
Jason Heath 57
Trustees
Brian Cantrell 113
Ron Phillipp 84
Russ Regner 79
Lee Lain 68
Total Votes 123
RAIL
HEALTH & WELFARE PREMIUMS TO RISE SLIGHTLY
Members covered by the NRC/UTU Health & Welfare Plan and the Railroad
Employees National Health and Welfare Plan will see their contributions rise by
$4.71 per month in 2009 – from $166.25 monthly to $170.96 per month.
The $170.96 monthly employee contribution represents 15 percent of the total
premium carrier’s pay monthly for employee health
and welfare benefits. The
premium covers medical care, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and
dental and vision benefits.
The national plans are negotiated jointly by the carriers and the Cooperating
Railway Labor Organizations (CRLO).
'The health-care plans had an extremely favorable trend due largely to the
removal from the rolls of some 20,000 ineligible
dependents, which trimmed some
$30 million from the total costs of plan,' said UTU International President
Mike Futhey.
'The new employee contribution rate, which is more than $20 lower per month
than what was anticipated going into negotiations,
also reflects an expectation
that railroad claims in 2009 will increase at a lower rate than the national
average, owing to the addition
of plan improvements designed to reduce the
frequency of treatment and severity of illnesses,' Futhey said.
These plan improvements include telephone contact with a nurse (the Nurse
Line), custom-care coordination, disease management,
and strategies for
participants to cease smoking and lose weight.
The plans' total monthly premium costs per employee for 2009 will be $1,061.46
for medical care, $12.30 for the life and accidental death and dismemberment
premium, $55.98 for the dental premium, and $10 for the vision care premium, or
a total of $1,139.74 monthly. Carriers will pay $968.78 monthly, and employees
will pay $170.96 per month in 2009.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Not only is it now law, but it became effective immediately on Friday afternoon, Jan. 12, when President Bush signed the Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act, which raises from $400 monthly to $700 monthly the cap on outside earnings for recipients of Railroad Retirement disability benefits.
The new law means disabled rail workers can earn up to $700 monthly without suffering a reduction in their Railroad Retirement disability payments. In future years, the cap will be increased by a formula based on changes in the federally calculated cost-of-living index.
Those receiving the disability are afflicted with bad hearts, high blood pressure, failing eyesight and injuries received while on the job. While many were able to find menial work outside the railroad industry, the law previously limited their outside earnings to $400 monthly. Anything earned above that amount resulted in a reduction in disability benefits.
The new $700 monthly cap is closer in line with what is permitted under Social Security. "This is going to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many disabled rail workers who struggle so to keep a roof over their family’s head, pay for prescription medication, buy groceries and clothing, and purchase medical care," said UTU International President Paul Thompson.
UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer said that he had been lobbying Congress to raise the cap on outside earnings "since I was first elected to this job two decades ago. It has been a struggle, but one I pledged I would never abandon," Brunkenhoefer said.
“With assistance from the other rail organizations, and thousands of phone calls and e-mails to lawmakers from UTU members and retirees, we achieved passage of the bill this year," Brunkenhoefer said. "It was the right thing for Congress to do. And it was the right thing for the president to sign the bill into law."
Although the carriers previously opposed raising the earnings cap, "extensive good-faith discussions with them in December resulted in the railroads withdrawing their opposition and supporting the bill’s passage," Thompson said.
Especially helpful in gaining passage of the bill were House members Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Corrine Brown (D-Fla.), Don Young (R-Alaska) and Steve Latourette (R-Ohio), and senators Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.).
Allowing the disabled higher outside earnings while retaining their full disability benefits will not create a financial burden for the Railroad Retirement system, Brunkenhoefer said. Currently, the Railroad Retirement Trust Fund totals some $27 billion. The estimated cost of this new law to the trust fund will be about $400,000 annually.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Carrier Officers Can Be Sued Individually!
.29CFR§ 825.400 What can employees do who believe that their rights under FMLA have been violated?
(a) The employee has the choice of:
(1) Filing, or having another person file on his or her behalf, a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, or
(2) Filing a private lawsuit pursuant to section 107 of FMLA.
(b) If the employee files a private lawsuit, it must be filed within two years after the last action which the employee contends was in violation of the Act, or three years if the violation was willful.
(c) If an employer has violated one or more provisions of FMLA, and if justified by the facts of a particular case, an employee may receive one or more of the following: wages, employment benefits, or other compensation denied or lost to such employee by reason of the violation; or, where no such tangible loss has occurred, such as when FMLA leave was unlawfully denied, any actual monetary loss sustained by the employee as a direct result of the violation, such as the cost of providing care, up to a sum equal to 12 weeks of wages for the employee. In addition, the employee may be entitled to interest on such sum, calculated at the prevailing rate. An amount equalling the preceding sums may also be awarded as liquidated damages unless such amount is reduced by the court because the violation was in good faith and the employer had reasonable grounds for believing the employer had not violated the Act. When appropriate, the employee may also obtain appropriate equitable relief, such as employment, reinstatement and promotion. When the employer is found in violation, the employee may recover a reasonable attorney's fee, reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action from the employer in addition to any judgment awarded by the court.
(29 U.S.C. 209). SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
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(4) EMPLOYER.--
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(a) CIVIL
ACTION BY EMPLOYEES.--
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(b) ACTION BY THE
SECRETARY.--
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(c) LIMITATION.--
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(d) ACTION FOR
INJUNCTION BY SECRETARY.--The district courts of the United States shall
have jurisdiction, for cause shown, in an action brought by the
Secretary--
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(e) SOLICITOR OF LABOR.--The Solicitor of Labor may appear for and represent the Secretary on any litigation brought under this section. |
“Carrier Doesn’t have the right to offset PLD and earned Vacation days in lieu of FMLA. Carrier lost this case in Federal Court. Carrier is refusing to cooperate. General Chairman, John Fitzgerald, wants all who are covered under FMLA and who are having their FMLA and Vacation days used needs to put in a timeslip for a basic day explaining it’s a violation of collective bargaining agreement.
In retaliation, the carrier is reviewing FMLA files for each employee on BNSF who has FMLA to see if the number of layoffs and the duration that coinsides with their FMLA. If it exceeds the FMLA and what their DR prescribes the carrier is filing investigation notices for fraud. The investigation notice uses the following terminology:
“Attend investigation at the Terminal Superintendent’s Office for the purpose of ascertaining the facts and determining your responsibility, if any, in connection with your alleged indifference to duty, gross dishonesty, and intent to defraud BNSF when you laid off Family Medical Leave (FML) a total of ## occurrences in the months of --- and --- 2006, which is not consistent with the approved FMLA grant of # - # days every # month(s), according to documentation provided on (date of employee’s FMLA paperwork) by BNSF Benefits Coordinator, Marilyn Ehrhardt.”
Investigation notices are already being sent out to many and investigations are underway. Everyone who has FMLA needs to review their FMLA paper work to make sure they are in compliance with their FMLA lay offs and the amount of time your DR approves off. If you have questions about it, you should schedule an appointment with your DR and review your FMLA papers. A recommendation: DO NOT SIGN A MEDICAL RELEASE FORM!!!!!!!!!!!! Each Employee with FMLA should be claiming DR/Patient confidentiality. Make sure your DR understands not to release any info to the carrier.”