Summer 2000
Volume 107 - No. 2
Summer 2000
Volume 107 - No. 2
President's Message
Achievements and Expectations
This is being written just days before the end of my first year as your President. I thought it would be appropriate, at this time, to review some of the goals we have attained since last August, and to mention those areas where success remains just outside our reach.
One year ago this Organization found itself deeply divided, which was
affecting our ability to provide you with the best representation possible.
I vowed to do everything in my power to heal those divisions, promising
to lead by example and challenging BLE leadership at all levels to follow
my example.
I am pleased and proud to report to you that the response to this challenge has been overwhelming. We are truly blessed with a core of leaders and activists who put the BLE first. While our tradition of internal democracy promotes debate on issues that often is vigorous - and sometimes produces only an agreement to disagree - we have been able to act in unity in promoting the BLE agenda, even on those rare occasions where consensus has not been reached.
The other promise I made upon being elected President was to improve membership services. We have lengthened the office hours at the International Division by 2 1/2 hours per day and dramatically reduced turnaround time for most correspondence. We have broadened coverage in our publications, and deepened the analysis of key issues; we've also worked hard to make our web site a key news resource for everyone in the railroad industry. At the same time, we reduced our public relations expenditures by over $300,000 a year. And we are striving to achieve budgetary spending targets while at least maintaining the current level of services.
In the field, we undertook an unprecedented and historic mobilization of the Union Pacific property, in preparation for a potential representation election. We are now taking the lessons learned from that experience, and using them to improve the mobilization concept on a BLE-wide basis.
In Washington, we have taken the point on issues of interest to BLE members. We have worked hard to shape regulatory policy to suit our needs, our most recent success coming in the Rail Safety Advisory Committee process, where the BLE team won support for a positive train control proposal that would protect our jobs from evolving out of existence because of new technology. And the BLE's continuing role as a leader among Rail Labor is evidenced by my becoming Chairman of the Rail Labor Division of the AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department in July.
At the general committee level, the new structure on the Union Pacific is now in place, and reflects the impact of the mergers of the past five years. Similarly, the thorniest representation issues arising from the Conrail/CSXT/NS merger also have been addressed. BLE members on those properties will benefit from streamlined and more cost-effective representation.
To be sure, not all these changes have been universally embraced; however, they were necessary. The bottom line is that I would be abdicating my responsibility - and doing you a tremendous disservice - by doing what is simply popular, rather than what's right.
There also are a number of areas where we haven't yet reached our goals. Improving Railroad Retirement continues to be a tough struggle. The industry is dragging its feet at the bargaining table, both on Health & Welfare and on wages and rules, apparently in the hope that George W. Bush will be elected President in November, and reward the industry with a Presidential Emergency Board that resembles the infamous PEB 219 appointed by his father.
FRA rulemakings on cab sanitation and air conditioning are moving at a snail's pace. Work on unifying efforts with other Rail Unions who share a common philosophy and outlook is very slow. And, despite our success in the Union Pacific case before the National Mediation Board, we continue to be the target of UTU President Little's fight to the finish.
What all of these subjects have in common is that they are very complex. Also, we have less ability to drive external processes than we do in forging change internally. However, if we remain focused and keep our eye on the ball, I am confident that we will prevail on these issues, as well. I know I won't rest until we do. ·
© 2000 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers