June 14, 1999 letter from Mr. Robert McFail, Jr.

Mr. Robert McFail, Jr.
12114 Timberlake Road
Riverview, FL 33569

June 14, 1999

UTU International President
Mr. Charles L. Little

Dear Mr. Little:

I am a locomotive engineer represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. I read your article in the June 1999 copy of the UTU News on page 4 entitled "You deserve a vote". I noticed in the seventh paragraph you are addressing members of both UTU and BLE.

Mr. Little I have already voted. Not only me but many other former UTU members. In 1992, I elected the BLE to replace the UTU as my representative after seeing jobs sold away on a post card vote. I have seen far less important issues voted with the ballot placed in two envelopes. Also the letter I received from the UTU letting me know you spent too much money on the Hawaii shindig and need more money helped me decide who to elect as my union representative.

You state "We no longer need two unions doing the same thing for operating employees who have become functionally integrated". We were not functionally integrated with other operating employees in selling the flagman and brakeman for a fist full of dollars. Other operating employees are not functionally integrated with us when a cardinal sin has been committed. Engineers are held to a higher accountability with the FRA.

Let's set the record straight. The locomotive engineers are not functionally integrated with other crafts. You are not getting the flagman and brakeman dues anymore and you need us to fill the kitty in their place. Find another statement to justify a hostile takeover.

Sincerely,

(Signature not reproduced)

Robert E. McFail, Jr.
BLE division 216

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