UTU News Digest - Monday, August 9, 1999

UTU Daily News Digest

Information of interest to operating railroad and transportation employees

Monday, August 9, 1999

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Clinton names Linda Morgan to chair STB

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton has announced the nomination of Linda Morgan to serve as a member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and will designate her as chairperson upon appointment.

Morgan, of Bethesda, Md., currently serves as chair and member of the STB. From 1994 to 1995, Morgan served as Commissioner and then Chair of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), where she worked with Congress and the Administration in establishing the STB and abolishing the ICC. From 1987 to 1994, Morgan served as General Counsel to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, where she was responsible for advising Members and directing staff on transportation, trade, science and space, oceans, consumer, and communications policy and issues. From 1978 to 1986, Morgan served as Staff Counsel on the Democratic Staff of the Senate Commerce Committee, where she was responsible for surface transportation issues, including those related to railroads, motor carriers, pipeline safety, and hazardous materials.

Morgan received her A.B. in Hispanic Studies from Vassar College and a J. D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.

The STB is an independent adjudicatory, responsible for the economic regulation of interstate surface transportation, primarily railroads, within the United States. The STB’s mission is to ensure that competitive, efficient, and safe transportation services are provided to meet the needs of shippers, receivers and consumers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: NTSB plans public hearing on Bourbonnais accident

WASHINGTON -- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct a public hearing on September 13-15, 1999, on the fatal grade-crossing accident in Bourbonnais, Ill., that occurred earlier this year. The three-day event will be held in Chicago, Ill., at the Ambassador West Hotel at 1300 North State Parkway.

On Monday, March 15, 1999, about 9:47 p.m. Central Standard Time, a southbound Amtrak train, the City of New Orleans, consisting of two locomotive units and 14 cars, struck a tractor semi-trailer at a railroad/highway grade crossing near Bourbonnais. As a result of the collision, 11 passengers were fatally injured and 122 passengers and crew members sustained serious or minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured. Estimated damages exceeded $14 million.

"Grade crossing safety is a major issue that affects rail and vehicular safety in the United State," said John Goglia, NTSB board member and chairman of the hearing. "Last year, there were 3,508 grade-crossing accident in the United States with 431 fatalities. These number illustrate the importance of this issue."

Throughout its 32-year existence, the NTSB as issued numerous recommendations on grade-crossing safety. These recommendations, which have a success rate greater than 80%, have included: installing of roadside barrier to protect crossing control equipment; giving high priority to active warning devices at crossings with passenger/commuter rains; requiring minimum lighting standards for illumination of active lighted warning devices; and general site-specific programs for grade-crossing improvements, including lights, sight distance, fates, profile characteristics and location.

NTSB’s hearings, which are fact-gathering sessions, are designed to clarify accident information and to air, in a public forum, significant new issues. During the hearing, the board will gather information to assist in the development of a probable cause and recommendations, if necessary, to enhance grade-crossing safety throughout the country.

MICHIGAN: Chapter makes WARR supplies available

PONTIAC -- A Michigan-based chapter of the national organization Women/Wives Against the Railroad (WARR) has geared up an organizing campaign and is trying to reach others who may be interested in starting a local chapter.

Marlene Haines, chairperson of a WARR chapter known as FAM-RAIL, said her local unit has responded to increased requests for information by preparing literature that includes an organizational outline, the group’s latest newsletter, and samples of letters.

"If interested parties have e-mail capability, it’s no problem for us to send this information immediately," said Haines. Inquiries can be sent via e-mail to FAM-RAIL Newsletter Editor Kay Planck at planktrain@ameritech.net .

Haines also can be reached by writing to her at 570 Sutton Ct., Lake Orion, MI 48362, or by phone at (248) 693-2281, while Planck can be called at (248) 627-3253.

FAM-RAIL, closely associated with UTU Local 1709 in Pontiac, Mich., represents one of about 100 sites where people began expressing an interest in starting a unit of WARR after learning about the success of the founding unit.

The WARR organization was begun in North Platte, Neb., in 1998 by Kathy Beisner, the wife of Union Pacific Railroad (UP) employee Ron Beisner, when she lost her patience with the way manpower mismanagement and disregard for safety affected her home life.

Mrs. Beisner brought together others looking to take a stand for more humane scheduling and a better quality of life for railroad families.

In July 1998, as the UP struggled to extricate itself from a logjam created in the wake of its acquisition of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the women of WARR met with UP executives to demand the carrier hire more workers, allow employees more rest time, and address safety and family issues. Ultimately, the UP responded by establishing a new scheduling program in September 1998.

Haines, the wife of UTU member Joseph R. Haines III of Local 1709, Pontiac, Mich., noted that her local chapter, formerly known as the Southeastern Michigan Region Four Subsidiary of WARR, recently changed its name in a bid to soften its image and attract new members.

The group recently sponsored a picnic to mark the end of the road for the former Grand Trunk Railroad (GTR), which formally ceased to exist in July 1999 as a result of the Canadian National’s purchase of the Illinois Central and its plan to merge the GTR and IC.

"About 40 people turned out for the picnic, despite the intense heat of the day," said Planck, the wife of UTU member Bennett H. Planck, also of Local 1709. "It was a nice mix of railroaders. We had lots of good food and good clean fun, and heard a lot of stories from all the old-timers."

TEXAS: Chemicals leak after freight train derails

GORDON -- A Union Pacific (UP) freight train that included a chemical car derailed Saturday and spilled a flammable liquid for about eight hours before cleanup crews contained the leak.

There were no injuries, and no evacuations were ordered after 22 of the freight train's 102 cars derailed, UP spokesman Mark Davis said.

All but six cars that jumped the tracks were empty. The loads that derailed included talc, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum distillates and plastic pellets.

The leaking car carried about 18,000 gallons petroleum distillates, but it was not immediately known how much of the thick, tar-like liquid had spilled, Davis said. Distillates are petroleum liquids, such as kerosene, that are produced during the oil distillation process.

The train, pulled by four locomotives, was headed from El Paso to Fort Worth when it jumped the track about 3:55 p.m. in Palo Pinto County in west central Texas.

A small grass fire that started after the derailment was quickly extinguished, Davis said.

The cause of the derailment was being investigated.

MICHIGAN: Engineers charge CN with violating privacy

DETROIT -- An invasion-of-privacy lawsuit by 19 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) against Canadian National Railways' U.S. unit will be heard in a Michigan court.

U.S. District Judge Robert H. Cleland ruled in favor of the engineers' contention that the case should be returned to a state court. The railroad argued that the case belonged in the U.S. court because the railroad is governed by federal statutes.

The plaintiffs claim that the state's eavesdropping and right-to-know act were violated when a videotape camera was hidden in a locker room where they change clothes and meet before beginning and ending their work.

A CN spokesperson said the railroad would have no comment because the matter is in litigation.

OHIO: Official wants rail crew to pay for blocked crossing

NORWALK -- A train crew that blocked two crossings for three hours and forced an ambulance to make a 21-mile detour while carrying a patient to a hospital should face stiff penalties, a Huron County official said.

Law Director James Conway said CSX Transportation will be charged with two counts of blocking a railroad crossing.

But the director of the Huron County Emergency Management Agency says additional charges should be brought against CSX.

"It's foolish to charge them with blocking a railroad crossing,'' which carries just a $65 fine, said county EMS Director Bill Ommert.

The crew abandoned the train on the crossings last Monday when their shift was over, forcing cars and the ambulance to find another route.

"We're lucky this time. What if that had been a heart attack? We'd be having a funeral today,'' Ommert told county commissioners Thursday.

The railroad will hold a formal hearing today, with the train crew and union representatives in attendance, said CSX spokesman Gary Wollenhaupt.

The employees could be fired, Wollenhaupt said.

Congested rail traffic and blocked crossings have been a nagging problem since CSX and Norfolk Southern took over Conrail in June.

Huron County officials documented 129 blocked crossings in June alone, according to a letter sent Thursday to the executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio.

The commissioners are trying to drum up support for proposed legislation that would increase fines against railroads for blocking crossings.

NEW JERSEY: Governor signs bill to reduce train, bus fares for seniors

TRENTON -- Gov. Christie Whitman has signed legislation to provide senior citizens age 65 and over and handicapped citizens with around-the-clock reduced bus and rail fares at the Hoboken Transit Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey.

The reduced fares will go into effect by Jan. 1, 2000. Seniors who are age 62 through 64 will continue to receive the current discount for travel during off-peak hours.

"Many seniors, as well as citizens who are handicapped, live on fixed incomes," Gov. Whitman said. "Ready, inexpensive transportation services are essential to their health, safety, and welfare.

"Currently, senior citizens age 62 and over and handicapped citizens pay one-half the regular adult rate on bus and rail fares during off-peak hours. But they can't always make their appointments -- particularly medical appointments -- to conform with off-peak travel," she said.

"With this law, we will reduce bus fares at all times for senior citizens 65 and older and for citizens who are handicapped," said Gov. Whitman. "Our seniors are one of our fastest growing populations, and we want to do all we can to ensure that older adults continue to be a vital part of our communities."

The legislation, A-374, was sponsored by Assemblymen Louis A. Romano (D-Hudson) and Rudy Garcia (D-Hudson) and Senators Nicholas J. Sacco (D-Bergen/Hudson) and John A. Girgenti (D-Passaic).

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Agency eyes new limits on trucker hours

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Highway Administration is ready to propose new limits on the number of hours truckers can drive each day, the first change in their work rules in more than 60 years.

The agency, in a rule anticipated this fall, is expected to force drivers to be off duty for at least 14 hours in a 24-hour period, according to trucking industry sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Gail Shibley, a spokeswoman for the Highway Administration, refused to discuss the specifics, pending release of the rule.

Truckers currently are limited to 10 hours behind the wheel in one stretch. They then must stop driving for eight hours.

After that, they can resume driving for up to 10 more hours.

The Highway Administration contends that if truckers are ordered off the road for 14 hours in a 24-hour period, it will improve the chances they get at least eight hours of sleep during their down time, the sources said.

Last year, 5,302 people were killed in truck-related accidents on the nation's highways, according to preliminary figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That is a slight drop from 1997 and part of an overall trend in which the truck-related highway fatality rate has been falling, despite increased trucking mileage fueled by cheaper gas and an increase in just-in-time business deliveries.

Nonetheless, over 3% of the truck-related accidents were caused by drowsy truckers, and there has been talk for years about ways to improve truck safety.

Congress and the Clinton administration last week unveiled competing truck-safety legislation.