UTU TO SEEK RAIL SPONSORSHIP
OF PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT EFFORTS
IN NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

CLEVELAND -- The United Transportation Union (UTU) will call upon all railroads participating in the next round of national negotiations to sponsor peer-to-peer support programs to aid employees who witness incidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.

"We remain committed to working with the carriers, first and foremost, to create the safest work environment possible for the benefit of our members, the carriers, their customers, and the public," said UTU International President Charles L. Little.

"As part of that commitment, during the next round of national negotiations, we will ask those railroads represented by the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) to sponsor these programs where they do not yet exist," Little said.

Overlooked in such incidents, Little explained, are those who may remain physically unharmed, but are mentally scarred by what they've witnessed. Without the help of timely support, such workers run the risk of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders, posing a potential danger to other workers, the railroad, and the general public.

"The result too often is a traumatized crew," Little said. "Their normal emotional reactions to such abnormally stressful events may interfere with their ability to function properly, either at the scene of the incident or some time later."

Little noted that some railroads are already sponsoring such peer-to-peer support programs, and the positive experiences they report indicate the time has come to create similar programs nationwide.

"A two-year-old labor/management program on Conrail has resulted in a 'win-win' situation for the carrier, its customers, and its employees, in large part due to the voluntary efforts of those who man the railroad's Critical Incident Response Teams," Little said. "A similar effort on the Union Pacific also demonstrates tangible, measurable benefits for everyone involved."

Because employees who receive peer support after a critical incident are returned to work faster, the railroad experiences reduced absenteeism and greater employee retention. At the same time, by minimizing traumatic stress, the cost of mental health benefits is reduced. Carriers also report increased morale which translates into greater productivity and safer operations.

"Despite the best cooperative efforts of our members and their railroad employers, the unfortunate fact remains that rail work is dangerous, and 'critical incidents' resulting in serious injury or death occur," Little said.

The last round of negotiations resulted in an agreement between UTU workers and NCCC-represented railroads that runs through December 31, 1999.

The UTU, with approximately 75,000 active rail members and 150,000 total members, is the largest rail labor union in North America. It represents locomotive engineers, conductors, brakemen, yardmasters, switchmen, and others in the rail industry, as well as bus drivers and other transportation workers.