Canadian Spotlight

An important letter from Canadian Director Gilles Hallé

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

As you know, our Coordinators' team was very busy these past several months in getting the Mobilization structure ready in Canada.

We are asking you to call your division contact to ensure that your coordinators are up-to-date in our central files. If you move and/or transfer, please make sure to tell your division contact, in order for us to have an updated list at all times.

By doing so, you will be certain to obtain all information from all the respective offices (National, Provincial, General and Local Committees).

This is very important!

Thank you for your cooperation.
/s/
Gilles Hallé
Canadian Director
and International Vice-President
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

En Francais

Chers Confrères et Consoeurs:

Comme vous le savez, notre équipe de coordonnateurs a été très occupée depuis quelques mois à mettre en place la structure pour la mobilisation au Canada.

Nous vous demandons de bein vouloir communiquer avec la personne-contact de votre division afin de vous assurer que vos coordonnées sont à jour dans nos dossiers. De plus, si vous déménagez et/ou transférez, s'il vous plaît assurez-vous d'avertir votre personne-contact afin que nous puissions avoir une listeà jour en tout temps.

En le faisant, vous serez assurés d'obtenir toute l'information provenant de tous les bureaux respectifs (national, provinciaux, comités généraux et locaux). C'est trés important!

Merci de votre coopération.
/s/
Gilles Hallé
Directeur canadien et
Vice-président international

BLE Editorial

BNSF 'Unavailability Policy'

A federal judge imposed a "no strike" injunction against the BLE on August 30, preventing the union from striking over Burlington Northern Santa Fe's proposed "Availability Policy."

A better name is "Unavailability Policy" as the new rules make it even more difficult for locomotive engineers to spend time with their families.

The case will go to expedited arbitration and a final ruling is expected in 30-45 days. BNSF sued the BLE because it received strike threats from general chairmen in protest to implementation of the policy.

BLE and its members are opposed to the Availability Policy because it severely restricts their ability to schedule days off, and unjustly penalizes them for taking unscheduled days off -- even in the event of personal injury or family illness.

BNSF's move to implement this policy raises serious questions regarding whether the carrier was serious about the work/rest guidelines adopted earlier this summer. If it is not serious, then the BLE will have to look closely at other options, including legislation or regulation to provide locomotive engineers with relief from fatigue.

Rail labor focused on 55/30 retirement

At a recent meeting of rail unions and the carriers, rail labor made it clear that early retirement would be a key issue in this round of bargaining.

"During negotiations with the carriers, we made it emphatically clear the 55 and 30 issue will be one of our top priorities," said BLE President Ed Dubroski.

Several rail labor unions, most notably the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes, have committed to making the 55/30 issue well known to members of the National Carriers Conference Committee, the railroads' collective bargaining agent. Updates will be provided in future issues of the Locomotive Engineer Newsletter.

At the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Minneapolis, Minn. Room rates are $99 per night and reservations can be made by calling (800) 996-3426. S-Ts will receive training for preparation of various reports and returns for the IRS, Railroad Retirement Board and U.S. Department of Labor. The DOL will be on hand with tips regarding the preparation of LM reports. S-Ts are asked to bring any questionable or delinquent reports for 1996-1998, their LM forms, any correspondence from the IRS, a laptop (if available), and a calculator. Register by contacting Dr. Elaine Reese at (216) 241-2630, extension 243.

At the Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort, 1617 N. First St., Jacksonville Beach, FL. Room rates are $85 per night and must be booked before October 29 to secure corporate rate. For hotel reservations, call (800) 465-4329. Register by calling Dr. Elaine Reese at (216) 241-2630, extension 243.

At the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nev. Room rates are $39 per night and must be booked before November 25 to secure corporate rate. For hotel reservations, call (800) 99-TOWER. Register by calling Dr. Elaine Reese at (216) 241-2630, extension 243.

Convention Chairman J.G. "Jim" Goodman encourages members to register early as the 2000 SMA promises to be a convention to remember. The Galt House East hotel will host the convention, and a room rate of $85 per night has been secured (rates will increase May 19, 2000). For reservations call (502) 589-5200. To contact Brother Goodman, write: 229 Stout St., Mt. Washington, KY 40047; or call (502) 538-4358. Brother Goodman's e-mail address is: <goodble@aol.com>.

Convention Co-Chairmen James Jackson and Roger King will ring in the 21st Century in St. Louis. September 17 is for early registrants, September 18 is the golf tournament, and September 22 in the SWCM business meeting. In between are opening ceremonies, a formal banquet, several training workshops, and a whole lot of fun. The convention will take place at the Marriott Pavilion Hotel, One Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102. Make reservations early by calling (800) 228-9290 or (314) 421-1776, and be sure to ask for the special BLE discount rate. More details to come.

Advisory Board August Activity

By action of the delegates at the Fifth Quinquennial Convention, summaries of BLE Advisory Board members' activities are published monthly:
International President Edward DubroskiInternational Office: General supervision of BLE activities; Meetings: special representatives; SWCM, New Orleans; EUMA, Harrisburg; Advisory Board mtg.; Subcommittee-railroad retirement.
First Vice-President & Alternate President James L. McCoyInternational Office. Assisted president supervising BLE activities; Town Hall mtgs. pertaining to Southwest Hub; Mtg. w/ Bill Sloan re: upcoming PLB; PLB w/ neutral; BLE Advisory Board mtg.; SWCM, New Orleans; EUMA, Harrisburg; General office duties; Relocate to Cleveland to begin work as First Vice-President.
General Secretary-Treasurer Russ BennettInternational Office: Supervision of BLE Financial depts.; Records Dept.; BLE Job Bank; SWCM, New Orleans; EUMA, Harrisburg.
Vice-President Paul T. SorrowAttended GTW GCofA quadrennial mtg.; BLE Advisory Board mtg.; CSX Eastern lines mtg.; Southern GCA mtg.; EUMA, Harrisburg; Divisions 717 and 323 mtgs.; GTW Section 6 notices; W&LE Section 6 notices; Assisted GTW, NS and CSX committees with various issues.
Vice-President Joseph A. Cassidy Jr. General office duties; Study & paperwork; Advisory Board mtg.; Mtg. w/ federal mediator; Mtg. w/ NMB, re: PATH; Mtg. w/ FRA, re: reportable injuries; Mtg. w/ carriers, re: Harriman Awards; New York Susquehanna & Western mtg.; EUMA, Harrisburg; Springfield Terminal Rwy.; PLB 6154.
Vice-President & U.S. Nat'l Legislative Representative Leroy D. JonesWashington D.C. Office; AFL-CIO admin. mtg.; TTD legislative mtg.; TTD/Rail Division legis. mtg.; Reception, Cong. Gephardt (D-MO); DOT Workshop on Safety Strategies; DSCC COPE Directors breakfast; Advisory Board mtg.; SWCM, New Orleans; Mtg. w/ Cong. Steny Hoyer (D-MD); SWCM legislative, SACP and FRA certification workshops; UP SACP mtg.; EUMA, Harrisburg; Mtg. w/ George Gavalla, FRA Associate Administrator of Safety; Mtg. w/ Russian delegation from various transportation/trades unions; Mtg. w/ D. Dunphy, UFCW, and representative from DCCC on 2000 elections.
Vice-President William C. WalpertInternational Office; BLE Education & Training Dept.; Internal Organizing, Mobilizing & Strategic Planning Dept.; Publications Committee; Public Relations Dept.; BLE Safety Task Force; BLE Special Reps.; SWCM, New Orleans; EUMA, Harrisburg; Mtg. w/ KCS GCofA, Kansas City; Div. 527 mtg., Pittsburg, Kan.; Advisory Board mtg.; Special Rep. meeting.
Vice-President Edward W. Rodzwicz CSX prior rights dispute; Advisory Board mtg.; SWCM, New Orleans; General office duties; EUMA, Harrisburg; Interim award, SBA894; UPSP project.
Vice-President Don M. Hahs General office duties; SBA1063; NS work/rest committee; Advisory Board meeting; SWCM, New Orleans; BNSF-KC seniority issue; SP East; Mtg. w/ BNSF; SF procedural board, BNSF ID notices; Con. GC Poe, SP East.
Vice-President Richard K. Radek International Office; BLE Decertification Helpline services; Director of Arbitration Dept; National Railroad Adjustment Board (NRAB) administration/adoption mtg.; Conference-screening docket, BRC; Training agreement mtg. w/ carrier, METRA; Adm. Transition mtg.; Advisory Board mtg.; SWCM, New Orleans; EUMA, Harrisburg; METRA negotiations; Procedural PLB, Art. IX, 458 award; Part 240.409 trials.
Vice-President Dale McPherson BLE Advisory Board mtg.; SWCM, New Orleans; Vacation; Indiana Railroad negotiations; Mtg. w/ Soo Line General Chairman; Vacation; General office duties.
Vice-President & Canadian Director Gilles HalléOttawa Office; annual vacation; statutory holiday; Mtg. w/ president; BLE Advisory Board mtg.; Mtgs. w/ Michel Marcoux, re: Training Centre; CN Pension Board mtg.; Mtg. w/ J. Shields, J. Yach & B. Brunet; Mtg. w/ other unions.
Vice-President & National Legislative Representative-Canada T. George HuckerOttawa Office; Canadian National Legislative Board; Statutory holiday; BLE Advisory Board mtg.; Operating rules workshop; Meeting with Tranz Rail, Auckland, Tairua, Rotora, Hamilton, Wellington, Picton, Christchurch; General office duties.

BLE Publications Committee:

Edward Dubroski, International President
James L. McCoy, First Vice-President & Alternate President
Russell W. Bennett, General Secretary-Treasurer
Leroy D. Jones, Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative
William C. Walpert, Vice-President & Editor
 
John Bentley Jr., Associate Editor
 
Contact us: www.ble.org · (216) 241-2630

 

COPYRIGHT 1999, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

VOLUME 13 · NUMBER 9 · SEPTEMBER 1999
THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER NEWSLETTER
is published monthly by the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
1370 Ontario Street, Mezzanine
Cleveland, OH 44113-1702
 
Send address changes to
BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS
Records Department
1370 Ontario Street, Mezzanine
Cleveland, OH 44113-1702
 

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