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BLET Division-56
 404 N. 7th St Colton, CA 92324
(909) 514-0274  Fax (909) 514-0314

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Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
Union Pacific Railroad - Western Lines -
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Union meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of every month unless posted.

Next Meeting:

Sept 8th  2010 – 9:00 A.M. 



 

Hit Counter                  agreements  go to www.bletupwl.org    


Held off pending physical/drug alcohol results

Claim earnings your were entitled to:

If the carrier has not let you work pending results of your physical and or drug and alcohol results.  Your are entitled to your earnings of the job you place yourself on once your are able to mark up.  Chances are the claim will be denied, however this Division will get them paid


Reserve Board Info: a cycle is 90 days from the date you are placed on the reserve board.

Any information needed should be addressed with the Local Chairman or Division your dues are paid to.


Larry Law
Local Chairman
Division-56


 

 New number Alerts TE&Y of Family Crises in case of an emergency. (1-888-877-7015) to relay a message. This Emergency Notification
 


Computer problems with the UP System, call the CMTS HELP DESK

1-800-621-8953


E-Payroll

As many of you have found out first hand your pay records only go back 2 years with E-Payroll.
Pay stubs are forever.

Here is the number to opt out of E-Payroll, (888) 241-2764. If you don't get a hold of
real person use option 3. Make sure you tell them you want your pay stub mailed
to your home address.

For the Committee,
Ray Carver
President, BLET Division-56

 


 

 

The Union Pacific has a adopted some new FTX Guide Lines, filed with the FRA, effective May 7, 2010.

One very serious change is the use of and/or compliance of Rule 1.10 (CELL PHONES).

 


Documentation, Documentation, Documentation. Don't tell a story, write one.



Peer trainer agreement
Pool Trade Agreement
Pilot Pay
Reserve Board Agreement
Waiting for lodging Claims
Claims for earnings being held off account of hours of Service
Claim for spotting oil cans -  Local Chairman


Remember, no FRA,  no merit to the claim.

Engine Bell Rule - Legislative Rep

July’s minutes  see- Secretary Treasury -page
Railroad Retirement 2010 tier 1 & 2  see below on this page

 401 changes - President page.

Most frequently used phone numbers regarding your paycheck.  Links


THE BULLETIN CLERK PHONE NUMBER HAS BEEN CHANGED. THE NEW NUMBERS ARE 800-726-1042 OR 402-591-3430

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Vacation and PL Days Info

 

 

VACATION - YEARS OF SERVICE

LESS THAN 2 = ONE WEEK (7-DAYS)

TWO OR MORE = TWO WEEKS (14-DAYS)

EIGHT OR MORE = THREE WEEKS (21-DAYS)

SEVENTEEN OR MORE = FOUR WEEKS (28-DAYS)

TWENTY FIVE OR MORE = FIVE WEEKS (35-DAYS)

 

PERSONAL LEAVE DAYS - YEARS OF SERVICE

LESS THAN FIVE YEARS = 3-DAYS

FIVE YEARS & LESS THAN 10-YEARS = 5-DAYS

TEN YEARS & LESS THAN 15-YEARS = 7-DAYS

FIFTEEN YEARS & LESS THAN 20-YEARS = 9-DAYS

TWENTY YEARS OR MORE = 11-DAYS 

 


 

From Brother Richards.

System Special Instructions

15.2 Protection by Track Bulletin Form B
Change Entire Rule to Read:
Display track flags as specified in Rule 5.4.3 (Display of Yellow-Red Flag) and Rule 5.4.7 (Display of Red Flag or Red Light).

A train must not enter the limits unless instructed by the employee in charge.  A train within the limits at the time the Form B track bulletin takes effect must not make further movement until instructed by the employee in charge (EIC).        

A crew member must attempt to contact the EIC of a track bulletin Form B to avoid delay, giving the train’s location and track being used. In addition, the crew member must inform the employee in charge if there are any excessive dimension loads in the train.  The EIC will use the following format to establish communication with the train:

Foreman (name and/or gang number) using Track Bulletin No._(specifying line number  when necessary) between MP__ and MP__ (specifying subdivision when necessary).

Trains within the limits of a track bulletin Form B, unless otherwise restricted, must move at the speed(s) specified by the employee in charge as stated in Item A.           

A. Instructions
After communication with the train has been established, the EIC will use the following format to grant a train permission to proceed through the Form B limits:

(Train ID) may pass the red flag (or red light) at MP____ (without stopping) and proceed at (one of the following, specifying track when necessary):

*      Maximum Authorized Speed.

*      Restricted Speed.

*      A speed specified by the employee in charge.

Two additional speeds may be given to restrict a train’s movement through a portion of the limits, by adding the following:

*      Do not exceed ____MPH between/at MP____ and MP____ (or other location). 

To require a train to stop at a designated location within the limits, add the following:

*      Stop at MP____ (or other location) until additional instructions are received.

When men or equipment foul adjacent track(s), add the following:

*      Men or equipment fouling (specify track).

B. Repeat Instructions
A crew member must repeat the above instructions and the employee giving the instructions must acknowledge them before they can be followed.

Once instructions are received from employee in charge, if the track route changes from previous instructions received, contact EIC to determine that original instructions received are valid on new track route before proceeding on the new route.  If a crew change occurs after a train has been granted permission to enter Form B limits, or any part of the train is within the limits, the relief crew must contact the EIC before acting on any previous instructions received, or obtain new Form B instructions. The movement must not change direction without permission from the EIC.

Application:
When two Form B track bulletins meet at adjoining subdivisions resulting in a continuous Form B restriction with the same employee in charge and the same time limits the employee in charge may grant permission and give instructions to the train concerning both Form B's at the same time. The communication will begin using the following format:

Foreman (name) using 2 track bulletins. Track Bulletin No.____ Line No. _____ Subdivision _____ and Track Bulletin No. ___ Line No.  ____ Subdivision _____ between MP _____ and MP _____  (outer mileposts).

 

 


 

 


______

Engineer Licensing

Just a friendly reminder.

 

You will NOT receive your Engineer Licensing Package from the Union Pacific automatically.

Just like the State of California drivers license, it is your responsibility.  You must download the licensing packet.

I have been told you can only download it from a Union Pacific yard office computer. Any questions

or problems call your MOP or Licensing.

 

Arrangements for hearing and vision.  The Nurse at Colton, with an appointment can take care

of both of these items.

 

Phone Numbers for licensing

(402) 544-0415

(402) 544-8349

 

Phone Numbers for the Nurse

Kim Ramsden

(909) 685-2090 - office

(909) 486-0026 - cell

 

Ray Carver

President, BLET Division-56

 

______________________________________________________________

 

Prior Rights

CO398/AE10 - NO CHANGES NEEDED.
(Oxnard)
LOF63=SP

CO452/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
(Gemco)
LOF31=SP
LOF42=SP
LOF65=SP
LOF49=SP
ER01=CM

CO452/LE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
(Gemco)
ELO1=CM
ELO2=CM

CX809/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
(LA)
OW10=SP
OW20=CM

CW220/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
(Anaheim)
LOA32=SP
LOA21=CM

WH009/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON (Los Nietos)
RCL

CX809/YE11 - THE FOLLWOING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
(LA)
LA51=SP
LA32=UP
LA12=CM
LA65=CM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP760/RE09 - THE FOLLOWING TURNS ARE NOW COMMON
SP23 TO CM
SP35 TO CM
SP05 TO CM
SP13 TO CM
SP38 TO CM
SP34 TO CM
SP81 TO CM
SP88 TO CM
SP46 TO CM
SP02 TO CM
SP84 TO CM
SP33 TO CM
SP45 TO CM
SP08 TO CM
UP81 TO CM
UP80 TO CM
UP84 TO CM
UP71 TO CM
Note: After the change it should be 20=SP TURNS & 05=UP TURNS (ALL OTHER TURNS COMMON "CM")
SP760/RE10 - NO CHANGES NEEDED
SP760/RE11 - NO CHANGES NEEDED
SP760/RE13 - THE FOLLOWING TRUNS ARE NOW COMMON
SP15 TO CM
Note: After the change the first turn should be SP and EVERY OTHER TURN COMMON "CM")
SP760/RE15 - NO CHANGES NEEDED
SP760/AE10 - NO CHANGES NEEDED
OQ25=SP
OQ47=UP
CO512/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
OB28=SP
OB29=SP
OH32=CM
OH43=SP
OH42=SP
OS48=CM
OH45=CM
CX777/AE10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
OB32=UP
OB34=UP
OB40=UP
OB33=CM
OB45=CM
ER01=CM
CX650/EH10 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
TT01=UP
Note: After the change the first turn should be UP and EVERY OTHER TURN COMMON "CM")
CO486/AE11 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
YCI20=SP
OS41=UP
OS27=SP
CI19=SP
OS24=SP
CI26=SP
OS29=SP
OS49=CM
CI21=CM
OS42=UP
CI30=CM
ER17=CM
JP016/AE11 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
LI13=SP
OI11=SP
OI19=SP
OI21=SP
OI23=SP
OI31=SP
OI39=CM
ER01=CM
ER02=CM
TR29=CM
CS720/AE11 - THE FOLLOWING JOBS ARE NOW COMMON
OG42=UP
OG44=UP
IT IS AGREED:
1. Los Angeles Hub
A new seniority district shall be created that encompasses the following area: UP territory including milepost 164.42 East of Yermo westward to end of track in the Los Angeles Basin and SP territory from (not including) Santa Barbara and milepost 460.0 at (including) Hivolt, and between Burbank Jct and Palmdale Jct, East to milepost 731.5 at (not including) Yuma including all tracks in the Los Angeles Basin and shall include all main and branch lines, industrial leads and stations between the points identified.
NOTE 1: Engineers with home terminals within the hub may work to points outside the Hub without infringing on the rights of other engineers in other Hubs and engineers outside the Hub may work to points inside the Hub without infringing on the rights of engineers inside the Los Angeles Hub. The Hub identifies the on duty points for assignments and not the boundaries of assignments. (This note is further explained in side letter No. 3)

If. Seniority and Work Consolidation.
The following seniority consolidations will be made:
A. A new seniority district will be formed and a master Engineer roster(s) shall be created for the Los Angeles Hub for the engineers on the current SP seniority roster and the current UP Seniority roster and PE Seniority roster or on a SP auxiliary board from a point inside the Hub but working outside the Hub or UP engineer borrowed out to other locations that will return to the Hub upon release. It does not include borrow outs or auxiliary board engineers to the Hub, if any. All such engineers must be on one of these rosters or in training on January 13, 1998.
B. The new roster will be created as follows:

1. UP, SP and PE Engineers will be dovetailed based upon the current engineer seniority date within the Hub. This shall include any engineer working in trainman/fireman service with an engineer's seniority date. If this process results in engineers having identical seniority dates, seniority ranking will be determined by the engineer's earliest retained hire date with the Carrier.
2. All engineers who entered training after January 13, 1998 and are promoted in the Hub after January 13, 1998 will be considered common engineers(holding no prior rights), and placed on the bottom of the roster. Those engineers who entered training prior to January 13, 1998 and are promoted after that date will be entitled to any prior rights set forth in this agreement. This includes those who entered training and have been hostling.
3. All engineers placed on the rosters may work all assignments protected by the roster in accordance with their seniority and the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
4. Engineers placed on the Los Angeles Hub Roster shall relinquish all seniority outside the new roster area upon implementation of this Agreement and all seniority inside the Los Angeles Hub held by engineers outside the Hub shall be eliminated.
5. For the purposes of prior rights, SP San Joaquin engineers who remain in the LA Hub, SP Los Angeles and PE engineers will be dovetailed into one SP prior right roster.
NOTE: San Joaquin engineers who have a right in the Roseville Hub Agreement to bid and relocate on assignments where work is moved will continue to do so in accord with those agreement provisions. Until that time they shall remain on the LA Hub roster,
C. Engineers who are on an authorized leave of absence or who are dismissed and later reinstated will have the right to displace to the appropriate roster, provided his/her seniority at time of displacement would have permitted him/her to hold that selection. The parties will create an inactive roster for all such engineers until they return to service in a Hub or other location at which time they will be placed on the appropriate seniority rosters and removed from the inactive roster.
D. Prior rights and dovetail rights shall be governed by the following:
1 . Until new. extra boards are established the current ones shall be prior righted and protect the same assignments that they protected pre-merger. Once new extra boards are established they shall be filled from the dovetail rosters.
Road switchers and work trains that go on duty at pre-merger points that were clearly an SP or a UP point shall be filled using the prior right roster.
Road Switchers, local freights and work trains that go on duty at a premerger point that was a joint location or at a point where on duty points are consolidated, shall be filled as follows:
Harbor area:70% SP and 30% UP
City of Industry 75% SP and 25% UP
Engineers will be required to fill their prior right positions in the pre merger part of the above two areas first. For example, UP engineers will fill Paramount and Mead positions if available prior to former SP positions in the Harbor area.
NOTE: When on duty points of the two former Carriers are consolidated a ten (10) day advance notice will be given.
4. Locals that run to or from Yermo shall be prior righted to the UP roster regardless of the on duty point. Locals that run West (such as Oxnard, Gemco, Palmdale and Santa Barbara) to pre merger SP destinations shall be prior righted to the SP roster regardless of the on duty point. This does not apply to locals that run to the Harbor area as that has been a joint area. All other locals shall be prior righted based on the on duty point.
5. Extra work trains shall be filled from the extra boards.
6. Victorville helpers shall be UP prior righted and'Colton Helpers shall. be SP prior righted.
7. Except as otherwise provided for in this agreement, all assignments at LATC/East Yard shall be prior righted on a 50/50 percentage basis per shift, at West Colton they shall be SP prior righted and at Yermo they shall be UP prior righted. Any new facility assignments established at other locations after the merger shall be filled from the dovetail roster. (This does not apply to expansions of existing facilities)
8. Pools that run only to Yermo shall be UP prior righted and pools that run only to Yuma and/or Indio shall be SP prior righted up to the baseline number for the specific destination. The baseline number shall be 99(SP) and 37(UP). (The numbers 99 and 37 come from the number of pool turns the respective properties have had for the past two years). Turns above the baseline number shall be filled in one of the two following methods:
a. If either the UP or SP drop below the baseline by a minimum of three turns and the other pools increase by a minimum of three then the Local Chairman may request that the increase in turns, up to the number decreased in the other pools, be prior righted to the roster that lost the turns. These turns will be the first ones whose prior rights are phased out in E, 2, below.
b. All increases not filled by a, above shall be filled from the dovetail roster.
9. In determining the baseline, the SP shall add up the number of turns that go to Indio and Yuma, whether from West Colton or LATC/East Yard and subtract from that 35 (which represents their premerger portion of the West Colton-Basin Pool). The UP shall add up the number of turns that go to Yermo, whether from the West Colton or LATC/East Yard and subtract 9 (which represents their premerger portion of the West Colton-Basin Pool). Since there is more than one pool the Local Chairman shall designate how the prior right turns are allocated between the pools and once designated they cannot be changed.
Example: The SP baseline is 99. After implementation the West ColtonYuma pool has 45 turns and the LATC/East Yard-Yuma pool has 25. The total is 70. When one adds the 35 allocated to the West Colton-Basin pool the total comes to 105. This is 6 over the baseline. The Local Chairman must designate how many of the 45 and 25 turns are prior righted leaving six non prior right turns. If he designates all 25 in the LATC/East Yard and 39 in the West Colton pools then he cannot later change the designation.
10. The West Colton-Basin pool shall be prior righted on an 80(SP)/20(UP) basis up to the number 44 and shall be filled on a dovetailed basis after that number. The attached chart shows the specific job allocation.
11. Assignments at Yuma, both regular and extra board, protected by the West Colton source of supply shall be governed as follows:
a.The assignments shall be prior righted to SP engineers holding seniority in the Los Angeles Hub on the day this agreement is implemented.
b.If an assignment goes no bid/application then it shall be filled by an engineer from the adjoining Hub.
c. LA Hub SP prior rig ht engineers shall have bid/application rights to vacancies on these assignments and shall not have displacement rights to them if they are held by an engineer from the adjoining Hub for a period of time not to exceed 6 months from the date the engineer from the other Hub holding the assignment is assigned, unless the 6 month period of time is waived by the engineer holding the assignment.
NOTE: These provisions shall become applicable when the adjoining area is under a merger agreement/award.
12. Engineers who are on assignments on the day of implementation shall remain on those assignments unless they make application to another vacancy or are displaced by engineers with displacement rights under the controlling CBA. This agreement does not create displacement rights due to its implementation.
E. Prior rights shall be phased out on the following basis:
1. Non pool freight prior right assignments shall have the prior rights phased out at the rate of 25% per year beginning with the start of year eight and 25 % with the start of year nine. The local chairman shall designate in writing 30 days prior to the end of each year the assignments that will no longer be prior righted the next year. Failure to do so will result in the Carrier selecting the assignments. The remaining prior rights (50%) shall be phased out through attrition.
2. Pool freight prior right assignments shall have the prior rights phased out at the rate of 25% per year beginning with the start of year eight and 25 % with the start of year nine. The remaining prior rights (50%) shall be phased out through attrition.
3. Yuma positions shall be prior righted until attrited.

 


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Reserve Board

 

 I will try to explain the Engineers Reserve Board agreement, WESTERN LINES, (1991 Local Agreement, Former Southern Pacific Eastern Lines, Article 3), pasted below. 

    Section 11 (a) (2) - Reserve boards will be established at the following locations: Los Angeles, Colton, etc..

Note: These boards will be established although the needs of service at a source of supply may preclude engineers from being assigned.

preclude

Verb[-cluding, -cluded] Formal to make impossible to happen [Latin prae before + claudere to close]

 In other words Engineers at other locations will not be entitled to bid from one source of supply to a Reserve Board at another source of supply.

(At the time of merger a Reserve Board was established at  (CX809) the agreed upon ONE TIME generic location and  was available to everyone on the service unit)

 Section 11 (a) (4) - If any of the extra board locations listed in (a) above are eliminated as an extra board location for any reason, the reserve board positions at the eliminated extra board location will be relocated to the new extra board location. Reserve board positions shall be awarded based on the applicant's relative seniority at the source of supply.

 In other words Engineers at other locations will not be entitled to bid from one source of supply to a Reserve Board at another source of supply. 

Section 11 (c) (2) - Commencing three months after the date of the initial reserve board assignments and each three months thereafter, if reserve board positions are available the will be advertised for seniority choice at each extra board location.

 

    Q AND A

(Side Letter No. 1)

 Q. May an engineer bid to a reserve board at another location from his source of supply?

 A. NO. In order to be eligible for assignment to a reserve board, and engineer must be identified with an assignment (regular or extra) at the reserve board location or within the area protected by the extra board at the reserve board location prior to the time bulletin is issued advertising reserve board positions. 

In other words Engineers at other locations will not be entitled to bid from one source of supply to a Reserve Board at another source of supply. 

Note: The requirement to bulletin such jobs has been replaced by the May 13, 2004 Engineer Compensation and Utilization agreement - Article VII - APPLICATION (STANDING BID)SYSTEM.

 In other words Engineers must have an application on file at the same source of supply to be PICKED_UP on a Reserve Board.

 SEE & READ AGREEMENTS BELOW

 Note: The Carrier's position is that NO other source of supply on the Los Angeles Service Unit is and/or has qualified for a Reserve Board, example CX809. Trainmen have been FURGOLADED, however, NO Engineers have been cut-back into train service at any other source of supply, except SP760. 

Fraternally,Larry R. Law
Local Chairman, BLET - Division 56

 

cc: D. W. Hannah
 R. Saunders
 D. W. Carroll

 

 

 

 

 

SEE RESERVE BOARD AGREEMENT BELOW

 

 

 

Engineer Reserve Boards (Western Lines)

(1991 Local Agreement, Former Southern Pacific Western Lines, Article 3)

 

SECTION 11. (a) (1)  The Company will establish reserve boards for engineers on Southern PacificUnion Pacific (Western Lines), including former Pacific Electric and EP&SW.

 

11. (a) (2) Reserve boards will be established at the following extra board locations:  Portland; Eugene; Albany; Klamath Falls; Roseburg; Dunsmuir; Roseville; Sparks; Ogden; Oakland; San Francisco; San Jose; Salinas; Watsonville; San Luis Obispo; Tracy; Fresno; Bakersfield; Los Angeles; Colton; Yuma; Phoenix; Tucson; El Paso and Tucumcari.  These boards will be established although the needs of service at a source of supply may preclude engineers from being assigned.

 

11. (a) (3) Applications will be accepted based upon the needs of service at each extra board location.

 

11. (a) (4) If any of the extra board locations listed in (b) above are eliminated as an extra board location for any reason, the reserve board positions at the eliminated extra board location will be relocated to the new extra board location.  Reserve board positions shall be awarded based on the applicants' relative seniority at the source of supply.

 

11. (b)  (1) Engineers on reserve boards will receive $1,750.00 per semi‑monthly pay period.  Periods of less than a month will be prorated at the rate of $116.67 for each calendar day in reserve status.

 

11. (b)  (2) No other compensation will be paid to or on behalf of an engineer in reserve status, except for payment of premiums under applicable health and welfare plans (including Side Letter 4 of agreement dated June 28, 1991 and/or compensation payable to them under Article 7 of agreement dated June 28, 1991. Deductions from reserve pay will be made for income, employment or payroll taxes (including Railroad Retirement Taxes), pursuant to federal, state and local law, deductions of dues pursuant to an applicable union shop agreement, and any other deductions authorized by agreement or legally required deductions.

 

11. (b)  (3) Reserve pay will be subject to any future wage and/or cost‑of‑living adjustments provided for in agreements reached between the parties, either locally or nationally, except that only 70% of any such adjustment will apply to reserve pay.

 

11. (b)  (4) Other non‑railroad employment while in reserve status is permissible so long as there is no conflict of interest.  There shall be no offset for outside earnings.

 

11. (b) (5) Any monies received from settlements of disputed grievances or back pay/lump sum allowances resulting from concerted wage and rule move­ments do not offset reserve board payments, nor shall any reserve board payments be used in determining any amount due as a result of settlement of concerted wage and rule movements.

 

11. (c)  (1) An engineer assigned to reserve status must remain thereon for at least three months, or until: 

 

(i)        discharged from employment by the Company in accordance with applicable discipline rules;

(ii)       resigns from the Company's employment;

(iii)      recalled to active service;

(iv)      retires on a disability annuity.

 

11. (c) (2) Commencing three months after the date of the initial reserve board assignments and each three months thereafter, if reserve board posi­tions are available they will be advertised for seniority choice at each extra board location.

 

                         Q AND A

                         (Side Letter No. 1)

 

Q. May an engineer bid to a reserve board at another location from his source of supply?

 

A. No. In order to be eligible for assignment to a reserve board, an engineer must be identified with an assignment (regular or extra) at the reserve board location or within the area protected by the extra board at the reserve board location prior to the time bulletin is issued advertising reserve board positions.

 

 

11. (c) (3) The BLE Local Chairman shall be permitted first right to a position on a reserve board established hereunder, subject to written approval of the appropriate BLE Division President.

 

11. (c) (4) Runs held by engineers taking reserve status will be bulletined as provided for in Section 10(a) of Article 32.

 

11. (d)  (1) An engineer in reserve status must be available for return to service upon 30 days' written notice by Certified Mail, with restricted delivery to addressee only and a copy to the Local Chairman.  Reserve pay will continue for only seven (7) days after postmark and the employee must return to service within thirty (30) days of attempted delivery.  Failure to comply with any of these requirements will result in forfeiture of all seniority rights subject to the provisions of Article 32, Section 21 of the engineers' agreement, or appropriate EP&SW Discipline Rule, including the Pacific Electric Discipline Rule.

 

 

 

11. (d) (2) The recall of an engineer from reserve status will be in reverse order of seniority and based solely on the need for service at the extra board location from which he accepted reserve status.  Upon recall, such engineer will be allowed a full right of displace­ment.  Once an engineer has reported for service, that engineer's use will be governed by the collective bargaining agreement.

 

11. (d) (3) An engineer in reserve status must maintain his work profi­ciencies, including successfully completing any retraining or refresher programs the Company may require and passing any tests or examinations (include­ing physical examinations) administered for purposes of determining whether such profi­ciencies have been maintained.  Such tests and examinations will be consistent in context with those administered to active employees.  The Company will give a reserve engineer 30 days' advance written notice by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, of refresher programs, rules classes, or examinations the engineer is required to attend to maintain such work proficiencies.  Unless so stated, such notice should not be construed to be a return to duty notice.

 

11. (d) (4) Reserve engineers shall be considered in active service.

 

11. (e)  Vacation pay received while on a reserve board status will offset pay received under Section 2(a).  Time spent in reserve status will not count toward determining whether the employee is eligible for vacation in succeeding years.  It will count as time in determining the length of the vacation to which an employee, otherwise eligible, is entitled.

 

(f)                   11. (f) Engineers on the reserve board are not eligible for Holiday Pay, Bereave­ment Leave, Jury Pay, Personal Leave, or other similar allowances.

 


 

 

 



 

 

6/l4/06

Claims:

When your claim is denied call the shortage clerk.  Tell the shortage clerk you want a declination or approval sent to your local chairman in the form of a "heat ticket".
Your local chairman needs a copy of your pay stub that part showing trips, amount paid and your denial (all portions other than first page that show your gross). Local chairman also needs, dates, times, turn, pool, and supportive information such as a
snap shot for your claims.  It is your job to supply this information.

With the increase amount of claims this office has received we have noticed a decrease in supportive information.  In simple terms we are getting lazy.

Ray Carver
President, BLET Division-56


CMTS Help Line

1-800 621-8953
 


 Values hot line

The value hot line phone number is:

800-998-2000
 


                      E-Payroll
      Do not participate!


This is worth a lot of money to the Union Pacific. It saves them printing, mailing, postage, handing and employees to get it done and the cost of paper, paper, paper. If they want this E-pay, make them Pay at the bargaining table. For you non believers remember the basin agreement, 18 hour tie-ups on the re-10 pool and overtime after 12 for the new employees. They all came at the bargaining table. Give them nothing for FREE.

Ray Carver
President, BLET Division-56

 


 

What to do when injured on the job.

This new program was established at our last Union Meeting and will be a work in progress. This committee is co-chaired by Joanne Sebelius and Dan Holmes. What would your spouse do if you were injured at work? Who would they call, what insurances cover you? how many days do you have to make a claim to railroad retirement?, how long until railroad retirement mails a check?
If you have any questions or suggestions for this committee e-mail them to:

webmaster@blet56.org  

 

Here are a few things you need to do as the injured party:

Note any defects in equipment or work area; photograph if possible.

Note names of all possible witnesses.

Fill out accident report for the company; keep a copy.

Do not give any written or recorded statements.

Contact your local chairman or union legal council.

Give your doctor a complete history of how your injury happened.

 

Ray Carver
President, BLET Division-56


     Welcome to Division 56

 

For the benefit of new members, let me introduce you to your Local Committee of Adjustment.

Your Secretary-Treasurer is Rod Fry.  This job is very important and many times Rod’s effort goes un-noticed.  He handles the Division 56 finances and keeps the members advised of the division’s finances.  He keeps all records from all meetings.  Rod handles union dues and in this Division he sells job insurance.  If you don’t have any job insurance you need to check into it.  Rod’s e-mail address is frod55@aol.com The way we know Rod is doing his job is that he complains any time we spend any money.

Your Legislative Representative is KA (Kent) Richards.  He works for more healthful and sanitary conditions on the locomotives.  He helps educate members on their political rights, supports legislation that benefits, and opposes legislation that will injure the people we represent.  Kents's email address is ble56lr@aol.com                  

 Your Local Chairman is L.R. (Larry) Law.  His duties are to handle claims, grievances and appeals. If you get in trouble, Larry will represent you in your investigation.  With regard to claims, your Local Chairman handles pay shortages.  We understand that money is the reason most of us are here. Larry is so busy with claims, we ask that you make an appointment so Larry can give you his full attention.  Remember claims have a 60-day period to be answered after the company denies them.  Larry's e-mail address is ERanger@aol.com   

On a personal note I would like to remind you of a few things.  Firstly, I would like to remind you that things take time, they don’t happen overnight.  For example, the Air Conditioner Project; it has taken us five years to get to this point.  Secondly, our Local Chairman is very accessible and there is no need to page/call him in the middle of the night for small things, such as a crew dispatcher yelling at you or giving you a wrong call, or a pay shortage.  If you get in big trouble, an accident, or being pulled out of service go ahead and make that page/call.  That’s what we’re here for.

In most cases union meetings are the second Wednesday of the month.  I’m proud to say that Division 56 is very involved and  has good turn-outs.  The meetings are held at our office in the rear of 404 north 7th St. Colton California.

Hope to see you there.
Ray Carver
webmaster@blet56.org

President,
Division 56



Old and still useful

68 minutes to do your job, are you doing it?

 

Mr. M.L. Irvine, General Superintendent

Los Angeles Service Unit

Union Pacific Railroad

19100 S lover Avenue

Bloomington, CA 92316

Dear Sir:

Please refer to your Superintendent's Notice Number 81, dated March 8, 1999, and my Lotus Note to you about the same Notice dated March 10, 1999.

The language in Notice 81 creates an oxymoron of "damned if we do and damned if we don't." It simply is impossible to comply with the General Code of Operating Rules, and with Los Angeles Superintendent's Notice Number 81. They contradict one another.

Helper Engineers, or any engineer for that matter, assuming duty on the Los Angeles Service Unit are required to comply with General Code of Operating Rule 1.3; Rule 1.3.2 (using =ON function); Rule 3.0; Rule 3.3; Rule 15.0; and Rule 15. 1. They are also required to comply with System Special Instructions ITEM 1; ITEM 10-A, 15.15; ITEM 14; ITEM 17; and ITEM 18.

Rule 1.3 Rules

Rule 1.3.1 Rules, Regulations, and Instructions

Rule 1.3.2 General Orders

Rule 3.0 Standard Time

Rule 3.3 Time Comparison

Rule 15.0 TRACK BULLETIN RULES

Rule 15.1 Track Bulletin

System Special Instructions

 

Effective 000 1 Sunday, October 25, 1998

Item 1. TIME COMPARISON

Item 10-A. Operating Rules Chapters I to 20

Item 15.15 Mechanical Transmission of Track Bulletins

Item 14. OPERATING WITH FOREIGN RAILROADS

ITEM 17. JOB BRIEFING ITEM 18. ACCESSING GENERAL ORDER AND SUPERINTENDENT BULLETINS ELECTRONIC FILES

Under Rule 1.3.2. - General Orders - "before beginning each day's work or trip, trainmen, enginemen, and others must review general orders that apply to the territory they will work." Using the =ON function or command each operating employee must check each day the "System Special Instructions" for the latest "System General Orders" and make sure that they understand their applicable meaning and understand the rule change by cross referencing the Safety Rules, General Code of Operating Rules, Timetable/Special Instructions.

Following is a break down in time: Checking "System Special Instructions" (General Orders) Time - 03 minutes to look and 10 minutes for each change. Minimal time without any changes 03 minutes. (This does NOT include checking Metro Link, PHL or BNSF as required by Item 14 of System Special Instructions).

Checking "Subdivision General Orders" Time - 03 minutes to look at each subdivision (13 subdivisions) & 10 minutes for each change. Minimal time without any changes 39 minutes.

Checking "Superintendent Bulletins" Time - 03 minutes to look and 10 minutes for each change Minimal time without any-changes 03 minutes. (Note: This does not take into account working with a new employee and ensuring that they are familiar with their duties and/or knowledge of the rules. Nor does it take into account how long it will take to instruct them, when necessary. See Rule 1.47[c].)

And we have the dubious honor of having to work under TWO different

Superintendent which requires us to comply with Los Angeles and Tucson

Superintendent Bulletins, which also takes more preparatory time.

Checking "Time" Time - 02 minutes just to check Minimal time 02 minutes and up to 04 minutes if you need to set your watch.

Check "Track Bulletins"

Minimal time - 15 minutes just to check and understand. (Note 25 to 30 Track Bulletins a day on Service Unit).

Misc: Checking Locomotives (Li/UP3206) Minimal time - 03 minutes to type and print a list of a 4 unit consist.

Calling "Train Dispatcher" - For information. Minimal time - 03 minutes to dial and talk to dispatcher - IF THEY ANSWER IMMEDIATELY. AND THAT'S A JOKE!

These figure total SIXTY EIGHT (68) minutes if you don't have any changes to the above; if the engineer happens to be a computer expert; IF THERE IS A COMPUTER AVAILABLE, and if all the dominoes fall in place and in order.

In Superintendent's Notice 81 you state in pertinent part as follows: "Crew members are not to do =PE. " I consider this a unilateral violation of our collective bargaining agreement, established past practice on the property, and commitments made to us by senior management regarding the Carrier electronic timekeeping process, and I have immediately appealed your actions to the General Committee for assistance.

So to sum it up - when a Helper Engineer assumes duty on the Los Angeles Service Unit - THEY'RE FIRED! If they comply with the General Code of Operating Rules they cannot comply with Los Angeles Superintendent's Notice 8 1. If they comply with Los Angeles Superintendent's Notice 8 1, they cannot comply with the General Code of Operating Rules.

If you cut off a few more clerks, who used to do the majority of the work listed herein, I believe you can get engineers up to 3 or 4 hours a day of clerical time. That should really help expedite your freight trains.

I have previously echoed these complaints to you in multiple meetings that you and I have had since October 1998 when the Carrier initiated tile new =ON process. You promised to have the Road Foremen "roll the boards" so that the crews could be educated as to the process. That has NOT happened, and crews still don't know how to use the system. I think your terminal staff also needs to attend class or have their "boards rolled" so that they can see what is required of a crew when they assume duty.

Respectfully I call you attention to Section 6, of Article 25 of the current agreement covering engineers.

For the committee

D.W. Hannah,
Local Chairman
cc: R.D. Carver
E.L. Pruitt