BLET gearing up for contract negotiations

http://www.ble.org/pr/news/newsflash.asp?id=4777

CLEVELAND, March 11 - The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
is conducting a random survey of its membership in preparation for the
upcoming round of national contract negotiations.

The six-page survey seeks membership input on a variety of issues and will
provide the National Division with demographic information for analysis of
the returns.

Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act requires that the company and/or the
union provide advance notification of their intent to engage in contract
negotiations. This notification is commonly referred to as a Section 6
notice. The BLET is eligible to serve its Section 6 notices on the
carriers regarding a new National Agreement and a new Agreement with
Amtrak beginning November 1, 2009.

The written survey was mailed to 2,000 randomly selected members on March
10. In addition, the National Division is also conducting an identical
online survey in the Members' Area of the BLET website. Members chosen for
the random survey are not eligible to participate in the online survey.

The survey is located on the BLET website at:
http://www.ble-t.org/survey

Access to the online survey is password protected. Those interested in
participating can use the same password they normally use to enter the
Members' Area of the BLET website. A registration area for those who do
not have a password is provided at the link above. Those who don't have a
password must register using their seven-digit membership identification
number (found on the mailing label of the monthly Newsletter) or their
Social Security Number and their date of birth.

Deadline to complete the random surveys is April 15, 2009. Deadline to
complete the online survey is April 30, 2009.

Labor contracts or collective bargaining agreements do not expire under
the Railway Labor Act, but become amendable at the end of their term. The
current BLET National Contract was ratified in June of 2007, and the wage
increases were retroactive to July 1, 2005. Part of the 2007 National
Agreement was a standard moratorium clause under which the parties agreed
not to seek any changes for a defined period of time. The National
Agreement becomes amendable on January 1, 2010, and the parties agreed in
2007 that notices can be served 60 days before the Agreement becomes
amendable.

"Thanks in advance for participating in this survey and helping to shape
our bargaining goals for the upcoming round," BLET National President Ed
Rodzwicz said.

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If you wondered just what would be looked at if you were to have your cell phone records pulled I think you may be surprised just how much is looked at. I have added a link to the docket on the metrolink collision and also a PDF of the Engineers phone records.

http://www.ntsb.gov/Dockets/Railroad/DCA08MR009/default.htm


414046

All Addressed:

Currently, I am receiving documented exceptions from Overland Park Administration regarding Computer Based Auto Proctor Certification. The information is from the cameras attached to each CBT work station showing employees using reference material to take the examinations.

Please be reminded that examinations are to be taken without reference materials except when authorized by on screen instructions. This instruction is found in the General Notice titled “TYE 2009 Employee CBT Biennial & Triennial (Recertification) Rules Training”. Using reference material can be grounds for invalidating an examination taken and subject employee to Conduct and Failure to Comply with Instructions.

I am attaching copy of posting that should be included at all CBT locations that outlines BNSF Auto Proctor Information. Please note that proctoring is a Federal Requirement for numerous examinations. Tampering with a camera on the CBT workstation is also a serious offense.

Please make sure this mail and a copy of the attachment is printed and posted at all locations where CBT examinations are administered.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact me.

<<Auto Proctor Posting.pdf>>

Kevin C. McReynolds

Superintendent Operating Practices

BNSF Railway

Belen, NM

505-864-5186 Office

817-296-3635 Cell



Auto Proctor Posting

As you recall, this was discussed at Staff Meeting with Phil Mullen. As long as the Yard Crew is standing by to handle the cars after the Road Power detaches, then it is OK. The yard crew cannot be performing other task(s) with “intention” of going to the other end of the cut. They must be standing by ready to attach or open the angle cock.

K. McReynolds

Supt Operating Practices


_____________________________________________
From: Stuhldreher, William C
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:10 AM
To: McReynolds, Kevin C
Subject: RE: FRA Guidance on closing angle cock "bottling the air"

What about a yard crew going to the opposite end after a road crew has cut away? That is practice in Belen. Is there a minimum time amount that they have open angle cock up?

William C. Stuhldreher

BNSF Railway

Terminal Superintendent II

* William.Stuhldreher@bnsf.com

( 505-864-5114


_____________________________________________
From: McReynolds, Kevin C
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:07 AM
To: Fitzgerald, Tyrone; Perez, Carlos A; Smith, Rick J; Stuhldreher, William C; Thomas, Paul F; 'Arthur Moffett'; Butler, John L; Charlie Anderson; Coker, Larry T; Dante Diaz; David D. Smith; Dick Kolomitz; Donny Nelson; Dwayne Tafoya; G. N. Harper (harpo@ctaz.com); Gary Edge; Gerald Woznick; Hynes, Gregory K; Jackie Horton; Jim Polston; Jimmy Johnson; jmcfather@comcast.net; Jorge Gomez; JP Lusk; Ken Kyer; Mark Marquez (utu-emarme@hotmail.com); Martin Luley; Mike Lee; Phil Black; Rick Spears; Rick Ziede; Robert Lambert; Ron Hrzich; Switzer, Rick D; Tom Pate
Cc: Mullen, Phillip M; Ness, Daryl S; Gomez, Luis R; Swartzfager, Patton W; Fox, John N; OPR DL Operating Practices SOP; Berryman, Ronald T (Travis); Eli, Brandon K; Hanzlicek, Brandon J; Kent, Theresa L; Maser, Jason S; McClellan, Bruce J; Medina, Felipe ; Miller, William C; Mraz, Sean M; Simpson, Shannon C; Soto, Anthony M
Subject: RE: FRA Guidance on closing angle cock "bottling the air"

As result of question posed by BNSF Team members in Phoenix, I am forwarding the information below outlining the FRA position on when the angle cock can be closed on the portion of cars left standing after a locomotive detaches.

The key criteria in complying with Federal Regulation is 1.) When the locomotive goes DIRECTLY to the other end and couples up OR, 2.) The angle cock is immediately opened on the other end of the cut of cars left standing.

K. McReynolds

Supt Operating Practices

_____________________________________________
From: Mullen, Phillip M
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:34 AM
To: McReynolds, Kevin C
Subject: FRA Guidance on closing angle cock "bottling the air"

FRA will not take exception to a train crew cutting away from a cut of cars, initiating an

emergency brake application on the cut of cars, and then closing the angle cock for the sole

purpose of taking the locomotives to the opposite end of the cut of cars to either: (1) couple

the locomotives to the cars; or (2) open the angle cock at the other end and leave the angle

cock open and vented to atmosphere as required under 49 CFR 232.103(n)(2). However, if

the locomotive cuts away from the cars and closes the angle cock without going "directly"

to the other end to either open the angle cock or couple the locomotives to the cars, the

railroad would be in violation of 49 CFR 232.103(n)(2). The emphases is "directly"

Because even though it may be the train crews intent to go “directly” to the opposite end of

the cars to take the appropriate action, if a train dispatcher, or whomever, directs the crew to

Perform another job task before they “directly” go to the opposite end of the cars, a

violation is committed. It is only with the understanding that the train crew goes "directly"

to the other end of the cars to take the appropriate action that FRA will permit this type of

activity.

Phillip M. Mullen

Director Rules & Field Support

O - (817) 352-1293

C - (817) 266-1871

The following is a weekly mailing that comes from Greg Fox, Vice President. I thought I would share these with this distribution list in order to give some idea of the Vision that is communicated in our daily activities as Supervisors at BNSF.

If this is posted by the Labor Leaders or Safety Tem Members and you want to be included on my mailing list for this types of communications and Rules Interpretatins and various other Alerts that affect you job, please send me an email and I will gladly add you to the list.

Kevin.mcreynolds@bnsf.com is my email address and I would be happy to add you.

Thank you,

Kevin C. McReynolds

Superintendent Operating Practices

Belen, NM



Transportation Team:

A couple of updates for you:

First, on Wednesday evening this week the Surface Transportation Board (STB) reversed an earlier decision and decreed that BNSF has been overcharging an electric utility located at Moba, Wyoming just south of the Powder River Basin. BNSF is understandably concerned with this decision and our official response included the following: "The STB reversed its prior decision and has now ruled that those very same rates (those in place at the original 2006 decision) are unreasonable. It appears that the STB has awarded the shipper approximately $100 million in reparations and then capped rates for the next 16 years, for a total present value of $345 million. Despite ruling in BNSF's favor once, the STB substantially revised its large rate case rules, and then allowed the shipper to submit a reconfigured new case. BNSF believes that this case is a manipulation of the new rules and represents an outcome-oriented decision. We are currently reviewing the decision and intend to pursue all legal remedies".


Second, attached is the latest "Transport Tracker" which recaps traffic volumes and service metrics for the previous week (week ending February 13). Please note that on a year-over-year basis we improved Terminal Dwell by over 18% (vs. a 10% improvement for UPRR). We also increased overall Train Velocity by 14% on a year-over-year basis. Note that Union Pacific had a 28% improvement in Train Velocity and their velocity is now a full mile-per-hour faster than ours. In line with this, please remain focused on driving improvements in Train Velocity and Terminal Dwell. While we continue to show significant year-over-year improvement, our major competitor in the West (Union Pacific) is also showing historically uncharacteristic improvements in both Velocity and Terminal Dwell. ~ let's whip those folks in Omaha!


<<weekly Class 1 Performance_021909.pdf>>

We appreciate what you do every day for BNSF and our customers! Please continue to focus on Safe Production, Asset Velocity, and Employee Engagement!

Thanks!


weekly Class 1 Performance_021909