UTU NEWS
| Volume 30 | December, 1998 | Number 12 |
UTU NEWS ONLINE EDITION A Service of the United Transportation Union Public Relations Department Charles L. Little Roger D. Griffeth Editorial Offices: WELCOME TO THE VOICE OF TRANSPORTATION LABOR "Unification between the UTU and BLE is the most significant event in rail labor since the UTU was founded nearly 30 years ago, and one of the biggest events ever in rail labor history." Charles L. Little, UTU International President TABLE OF CONTENTS IN THIS EDITION UTU,
BLE agree to form new union .................##A AROUND THE UTU News from around the U.S. and Canada .............##I MEMBERSHIP PROFILE Local 1168 delivers food, toys to needy ......##J BUS DEPT. / STREET BEAT "Christmas
list" .................................##K YARDMASTER REPORT "Your
protection" .............................##L EDITORIALS Operating Unity at Last! .........................##M "Unity Works for
Everybody" ...................##N "Labor Makes the Difference in
Elections" ........##O Voices: Members share their opinions ..........##P Lake Terminal employees express appreciation .....##Q TCU members voice thanks for UTU backing ......##R STATE WATCH News from UTU State Legislative Boards ...........##S MONTHLY FEATURES "The Women of the UTU" ........................##T "Karen Belcher: Driver, officer" .................##U SENIOR NEWS Medicare+Choice debuts as HMOs bow out ........##V Retiree spreads FELA education ...................##W Correction: Decimal point misplaced ...........##X Retiree insurance benefit reminder ...............##Y The Final Call ................................##Z TPEL HONOR ROLL Contributors' continued support recognized ......##AA FELA UPDATE Consult a lawyer for non-railroad claims .....##BB NOTICES Open enrollment for retired, furloughed .........##CC Dates, locations for meetings, convention ....##DD Monthly apparel winner announced ................##EE Changes affect Aetna patients ................##FF UTUIA Permanent Life makes a lasting gift .......##GG Officers extend season's greetings ...........##HH ==================================================== IN THIS EDITION --UTU, BLE agree to form new union .................##A CLEVELAND -- In an historic agreement with enormous potential, the United Transportation Union (UTU) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) have adopted a Statement of Principles that will provide the foundation for a new organization to represent North American operating railroad employees and guarantee craft autonomy. On November 23, the UTU Board of Directors unanimously voted for unification with the BLE by agreeing to a Statement of Principles. Concurrently, the BLE Advisory Board voted to accept the same Statement of Principles for forming the new union. In addition, the UTU and BLE agreed to create the framework for finishing work on a new Constitution and Unification Agreement by October 1, 1999. Members of the UTU and BLE will then vote on ratification effective January 1, 2000. A majority vote from the membership of each organization returning ballots is required. The new union's "working name" will be the North American Rail & Transportation Union (NARTU), but is subject to review by the Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee, comprised of UTU International President Charles L. Little, Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., BLE International President Clarence V. Monin and First Vice President Edward Dubroski, will appoint five UTU and five BLE representatives to constitute a Joint Drafting Committee. This committee, which will function under the Oversight Committee's supervision, will commence work on January 1, 1999, and will be charged with drafting and preparing a Unification Agreement and a Constitution for the new organization by October 1. The Joint Drafting Committee shall incorporate the provisions from the agreed upon Statement of Principles voted on by the boards of the UTU and BLE. "Unification between the UTU and BLE is the most significant event in rail labor since the UTU was founded nearly 30 years ago," said Charles L. Little, UTU International President, "and one of the biggest events ever in rail labor history. One thing is also certain: that craft autonomy is guaranteed." Little added: "I also wish to extend my appreciation to Tom Donahue and Federation President John Sweeney for their hard work in making this event possible. In addition, I must thank those members of the UTU and BLE who have worked so hard to make unification possible." "The members of our organizations will be the big winners in the unification of the UTU and BLE," said Byron A. Boyd, Jr., UTU Assistant President. "They will have even better representation and larger resources to serve their interests. This was the vision of Eugene Debs, and it is fitting that it will become a reality on January 1, 2000." Some provisions included in the Statement of Principles that will be part of the new Constitution include:
--Inspection of USX steel railroads sought ......##B WASHINGTON -- The UTU is asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to investigate serious worker safety issues at USX steel works railroads operating in five states. The request comes after the UTU began an investigation in late September into worker safety issues at USX's steel railroads in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota. The investigation revealed serious safety issues that could injure workers, including improper training, inadequate communication devices, defective locomotives and operating equipment and other life-threatening problems. "We are focusing the spotlight on very serious safety issues at USX steel railroads in order to protect our members," said Byron A. Boyd, Jr., UTU International assistant president. "We want our members to return home safely from the job every day. It is time that USX fix the serious safety problems in its rail transportation systems, and we are asking the FRA and OSHA to make sure they do so." The USX facilities and Transtar-USX railroads the UTU is asking the FRA and OSHA to investigate include: USS/Kobe Steel and the Lake Terminal Railroad, Lorain, Ohio; USX plants in the Mon Valley, including the Irvin Works and Edgar Thompson Works, and the Union Railroad; Gary Works in Gary, Ind., and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway; the Bessemer Works in Greenville, Pa., and the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad; USX's Iron Range operation and the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railroad; the Fairless Works in Birmingham, Ala., and the Birmingham Southern Railroad, and the McKeesport (Pa.) Connecting Railroad. At last month's White House conference on the dumping of cheap foreign steel, Labor Secretary Alexis Herman raised the issue of job security and safety at the USS/Kobe Steel mill in Lorain, Ohio, with US Steel President Paul Wilhelm. Her office is trying to arrange a meeting between US Steel, the UTU and the Labor Department to resolve the situation. As of press time, USX has declined to meet. USS/Kobe Steel Co. announced in September it was terminating it's service agreement with the Lake Terminal after 104 years and was planning to hire a non- union company to replace it. The new company is planning to buy old, defective locomotives from Transtar, which lack safety equipment and working brakes, to operate by remote control. In November, Tim Smith, general chairperson of UTU Local 1391 at the Lake Terminal, said he would immediately end the campaign to save their jobs and the railroad the moment USS/Kobe Steel Co. signs a public pledge to maintain its current level of employment with no permanent reductions in work force, no job losses due to outsourcing to non-union outside contractors, or layoffs. Smith said the UTU would immediately end its effort to save 88 UTU jobs, as well as 82 other union jobs on the Lake Terminal if USS/Kobe officials signed the pledge. USS/Kobe Steel, however, have refused to sign the Worker Job Protection Pledge. In addition, the Lorain, Ohio, City Council passed a resolution supporting the efforts of UTU members to save the Lake Terminal and 170 union jobs. --Court upholds two-person crew law ................##C The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin has ruled that the Wisconsin law requiring a two-person crew aboard locomotives operating in the state is valid. The court also ruled that the Wisconsin law, called the "UTU Law" when it was signed by Gov. Tommy Thompson, is not pre-empted by federal law, as was claimed by the plaintiffs. Lawyers for the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Soo Line, Union Pacific and Wisconsin Central (WC) filed suit in the district court soon after adoption of the two-person crew law by the Wisconsin legislature in December 1997. At hearings held in Wisconsin last year, UTU came out strongly opposed to WC's proposal to expand the use of one-person crews and remote controls to operate railroad locomotives. Bowing to UTU and other pressure, the FRA stopped short of issuing rules on one-person and remote operations while it reviews safety and other data. Concerned over safety on the WC, and not willing to wait for disaster, State Representative John Dobyns introduced the two-person crew measure, and it was adopted quickly by fellow lawmakers. In the wake of the law's enactment, UTU International President Charles L. Little called on all UTU state legislative directors to work for the adoption of similar crew laws in their respective states. "We believe we can replicate the Wisconsin effort on a carefully coordinated state-by-state basis," Little said. "By passing similar laws in more states, we will enhance railroad safety by assuring that two-person crews operate every railroad train." --Appellate court backs line-sale notices .......##D In a victory for all railroad workers, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has turned back carrier efforts to weaken notices given to employees in line sale transactions. The court has upheld a new Surface Transportation Board (STB) rule for Section 10901 and 10902 transactions which will result in a post-acquisition net worth of the acquiring railroad of more than $5 million. The agency is requiring the acquiring railroad to give 60 days notice of the transaction to employees on the acquired rail line, including the railroad's intentions to hire a work force and basic information on compensation and employee qualification requirements. Previously, only a seven-day notice was required for most of these types of line sales, which left the UTU and others little time in which to fight for workers' jobs. The court disagreed, and also said the $5-million threshold was a compromise "between those who would have the notice requirement apply to all transactions, and those who would have it apply to none." "This is a win for us," said UTU International President Charles L. Little. "This will give our general chairpersons more warning and help protect our members' jobs and families." --Wisconsin Central pact rejected ..................##E Conductors represented by the UTU on the Wisconsin Central, Fox Valley and Western, and Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Co. have rejected a proposed wage-and-rule pact. The parties will reopen the mediation process Dec. 14, 1998, at the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C., according to UTU Vice President Robert W. Earley. The rejected agreement would have affected more than 320 conductors on the three properties, and would have been effective through Dec. 31, 2001. The conductors chose the UTU as their bargaining agent in the summer of 1997. At that time, engineers on the three properties chose the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as their representative by just 12 votes. --JRTS negotiations begin .......................##F Negotiations between Janovic Reliable Transportation (JRTS) in Tampa, Fla., and its UTU-represented employees were to begin late last month, Bus Department Vice President Bernie McNelis said. According to McNelis, priorities include improvements in hourly and mileage rates of pay, hours of rest, and better working conditions. The employees of JRTS were thanked by McNelis for their patience as the company has sought to stall negotiations through an appeal of the election and other delays. --Amtrak reports record revenues, growth ...........##G Amtrak ridership showed its greatest growth in a decade, with a 4.5% rise for the fiscal year that resulted in the carrier topping the $1-billion mark in passenger revenue for the first time in its 27-year history, the nation's passenger railroad reported last month. The carrier also reported that its mail and express shipment business set a record with $83 million in revenue, a 19% increase over the last fiscal year. As an example, Amtrak's Dallas, Texas, terminal/warehouse facility reported that monthly traffic has increased from less than 15 carloads (each equivalent to three trailerloads) in July 1997 to more than 200 carloads per month. At the same time, the railroad is now the nation's single-largest provider of contract commuter rail services for state and regional authorities. Amtrak also said it has increased its on-time performance to 78%, the highest level for the operation in 13 years, while employee injuries were reduced by 14% this year. Amtrak's board of directors hailed the year-end results as evidence that the carrier's efforts to modernize services and focus on customers are working. "These positive results are an incentive for us to redouble our efforts to sustain this momentum," said Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, chairman of Amtrak's board. System-wide ridership rose to just more than 21 million passengers this year, bringing ridership up 7% in the last two fiscal years. --Lloyd Rabb, Jr., passes away ..................##H Retired UTUIA Field Supervisor Lloyd L. Rabb, Jr., passed away Oct. 1. He was 68. Rabb began railroading in 1956 as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1967, he became a field supervisor for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and retained that position upon the formation of the UTU's Insurance Association in 1971. He retired in 1994. AROUND THE UTU --News from around the U.S. and Canada .............##I LOCAL 77, NEW YORK, N.Y. Members are reminded that monthly meetings are held at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the Vanderbilt YMCA located at 224 E. 47th Street in New York City. Retired members interested in rekindling old friendships are encouraged to contact retired conductors BOB CHRISTIE at (914) 227-6002 in New York or BILL DLHOSH at (352) 873-6305 in Florida. LOCAL 168, CHICAGO, ILL. Members are pulling for Legislative Representative LEE T.G. CHANNING, whose sudden illness last month required an emergency liver transplant. Brother Channing is reported to be making rapid progress in his convalescence. LOCAL 343, HAMILTON, ONT. The officers of the local wish all UTU members a happy holiday season, and remind all to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves by making donations to local charities, food banks and shelters. "Most of all," said member SCOTT MONTANI, "remember that you are UTU, and be proud. Show others that we care, and that there is Progress Through Unity for all mankind." LOCAL 469, MADISON, ILL. Members are getting together for a Christmas Party on December 9 at the Croatian Hall in Madison, Ill., and plans are on track for the annual poker tournament to be held in January. Money raised at the tournament, sponsored by Designated Legal Counsel F. LANCE CALLIS, assists area relief efforts. For more information, contact Local Secretary JOHN I. PAYER at (618) 344-4519 or GO-919 Chairperson J.L. LAUDERDALE at (618) 452-0775. LOCAL 771, NEEDLES, CAL. To accommodate all those wishing to attend, the annual Christmas Dinner and Party will be held on two consecutive nights, December 4 and 5, at the Elks Club in Needles, Cal., according to Secretary-Treasurer GORDON A. (BUTCH) DAVIS. For information, contact Davis at (760) 326-4700. Meanwhile, the Local maintains a website that includes its monthly newsletter, weekly news updates, a guest book, an e-mail directory, the UTU Constitution, reports from the local chapter of the UTU Auxiliary, and more, available at <http://www.bakehead.com/utu/utu771.htm>. LOCAL 924, RICHMOND, VA. The local is set to grow by about 38 members as CSX addresses a critical manpower shortage, but some are being trained "the old-fashioned way" to expedite the process, according to Local President MARGARET FIALA. The carrier requires that new hires attend its "college," but on a trial basis, 20 destined for the local are spending one day a week in class, followed by a day of field training, with the rest of the week dedicated to on-the-job training with experienced crews. LOCAL 1503, MARYSVILLE, KAN. Together with members of Local 707, also in Marysville, a dinner was shared where retired General Chairperson G.A. "PETE" EICKMANN was honored for his years of service to the union. Brother Eickmann was presented a UTU Brass Lantern, along with special UTU clocks from the Kansas Legislative Board and Local 1503. The dinner and a prior luncheon were hosted by Designated Legal Counsel HUBBELL, SAWYER, PEAK, O'NEAL & NAPIER, sponsors of a two-day informational seminar. LOCAL 1594, UPPER DARBY, PA. Members are mourning the death on November 1 of THOMAS E. DAVIS, a 47-year member of the UTU and one of its predecessor unions, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. An operator on the former Southern Penn Lines before it became Red Arrow Lines and later part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Brother Davis was active as a chaplain for members on Southern Penn and always offered a eulogy at the funerals of members who passed away. LOCAL 1637, WISHRAM, WASH. Representing BNSF workers, the local recently upgraded and moved its website to a new address (URL), according to webmaster and Local Chairperson JAY SCHOLLMEYER. To keep up with events affecting the Local, members are urged to bookmark the following: <http:// jaysworks.com/1637/>. LOCAL 1715, CHARLOTTE, N.C. A TPEL membership drive held recently was stoked by a visit from MEMBERSHIP I, the UTU's mobile education and training coach. According to Local Chairperson STEVE SMITH, due to incredible regional growth, the city has earmarked $1.2 billion for transit, and Transit Management of Charlotte, which employs members of the local, is being transformed into a 10-county transit authority. New work for members already includes a neighborhood transit service, and light rail is being developed along two corridors. Meanwhile, members are participating in an annual food drive that trades bus fare for a can of food. LOCAL 1748, CLEVELAND, OHIO Diesel mechanics working for the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad recently ratified a contract that includes pay increases retroactive to March 1, 1996, a new profit- sharing plan, a new pension plan, lump-sum pension payments of $3,000, work shoe allowances, and other improvements, according to UTU International Vice President PETER L. PATSOURAS, who credits General Chairperson LARRY T. MOORE with doing an outstanding job in arriving at the settlement. Engine service members have a Section 6 notice pending under the jurisdiction of the National Mediation Board. LOCAL 1790, FITZGERALD, GA. Congratulations go out to retired conductor JOHN HAGEMAN, who won a seat on the Fitzgerald, Ga., city council after running a clean campaign that resulted in a close vote, according to UTU Georgia State Legislative Director WILEY VAUGHN, who noted the value of having UTU members, active or retired, involved in politics. L.A. LODGE 655, CLEVELAND, OHIO The newest lodge of The Ladies' Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union, organized by President M. LOUISE RILEY and Secretary-Treasurer EDYTHE M. WALTER, invites those interested in joining to call Mrs. Linda Maher at (440) 944-6579. Meetings will alternate between the east and west sides of town, and will be held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each odd-numbered month. Members should note the organization in 1999 will be known as The Auxiliary of the UTU, with membership open to males and females. MEMBERSHIP PROFILE -- Local 1168 delivers food, toys to needy ......##J When the members of Local 1168 in Clovis, N.M., give to their community, it's gift-wrapped and tied with a bow. In fact, dozens and dozens of items are gift-wrapped as part of an annual ritual begun five years ago that feeds the homeless and provides toys for needy children. The food-and-toy drive began when Local Vice President Julian Rubio overheard someone commenting that "you guys make good money, but you never give anything back." Determined to counter that image, Rubio raised the matter at a local meeting. The ensuing brainstorming session hit upon the idea of assisting the city's Lighthouse Mission because of its concern for children and the homeless. With vital help from Local Chairperson John Hayes, Jr., Local President Richard K. Barnard, Treasurer Buddy J. Blue, and members Ramsey Marin and Mike Gonzalez, the drive proved an immediate success. "All members of the local should be given credit," said Rubio, who noted the growing Local now includes some 370 Burlington Northern Santa Fe workers, including switchmen, brakemen, conductors and engineers. "My wife and my daughter-in-law will also be helping us do the gift wrapping," Rubio said. "Last year, we wrapped 63 toys worth at least $350, and we bought food for the mission with another $300 we raised." Rubio explained that local merchants help stretch the budget by giving the UTU members special deals on their purchases. "With the breaks I got, it really works out to about $800-worth of food and toys that we donate to the mission," he said. Those who wish to help out can reach Rubio, who serves as chairman of the drive, by calling (505) 762- 0160. BUS DEPT. / STREET BEAT --"Christmas
list" .................................##K I want to extend to every member of the UTU my best wishes for a very safe, happy and blessed holiday season. It is time again for the children to begin wishing for what they want Santa Claus to bring for Christmas. It is also time for Laborites, not only in the United States but all over the world, to make their wish list: Employers will pay for health care for employees and their families; Employers will not merge, but if they do, they will protect employees' jobs; Employers will not use child labor; Employees will have steady employment in order to send their children to college; Employers will make good-paying jobs available for our children and grandchildren; Employers will provide a safe work environment and safe equipment; Employers will treat the employees with the dignity and respect they deserve; Employers will provide employees with time off to spend with their families. I have a wish list as well. It is: If employers will not provide the above, and more, those who are involved in the labor movement will never give up the fight to help make those wishes come true. YARDMASTER REPORT --"Your
protection" .............................##L The break up of Conrail by CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern is moving closer to reality with each passing week. Allocation of employees between the two purchasing carriers began the week of November 9, 1998. Implementing agreement ratification ballots were circulated November 12, 1998, among the affected yardmaster local chairpersons of the five general committees having jurisdiction over the affected territory. From the announcement of the purchase, through the negotiations and arbitration that lead to the ratification package, protection of our yardmaster members was the first priority. The goal of the Yardmaster Department was to minimize the number of adversely affected yardmasters while maximizing the benefits and protection for the largest number of yardmasters. General chairpersons who had the best interests of the membership as their first priority, cooperated in a diligent effort to successfully achieve our goal. The break up of Conrail, as with any merger, has a drastic impact on the lives of our members. However, the adverse affect has been minimized greatly by the leadership of International President Charles L. Little and Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr. in achieving enhanced protection benefits from the carriers. Automatic certification assures benefit payments to adversely affected UTU members without the normal need of proving affect. This will save the UTU general committees an untold amount of dues dollars which might have been spent on party pay arbitration proceedings under New York Dock. EDITORIALS --Operating Unity at Last! .........................##M Eugene Debs' dream of a strong and undivided operating railroad union is finally coming true. After so many years, and after so many words, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the United Transportation Union are joining together to create a new and even more powerful union. The right hand and the left hand are being clasped together in eternal fraternal unity and sense of purpose. It's about time. We wish to welcome our new Brothers and Sisters in a new beginning for operating railroad labor. The family is now whole -- and if all goes as planned, will be united on January 1, 2000, the beginning of a new era. As you know, the BLE and UTU have agreed to a Statement of Principles to create a new labor organization to better represent all operating railroad workers, as well as other transportation workers. Brother Debs prophesied the day when rail labor would come together to use its unified strength to better challenge the railroads. That day is rising -- and just in time to meet the challenges we will be facing in the 21st Century. Since the early days of unionism, rail labor organizations have written their own unique brand of history. But anyone who has watched old newsreels remembers that we were always told that "history marches on." For years, the rank-and-file members of the UTU and BLE understood that there was much to be gained from standing and working together. Now that work is ready to begin. We are ready to work better and more wisely to improve our members' positions on the railroads and in other transportation industry jobs. We are committed to guaranteeing historical craft autonomy and seniority for BLE and UTU members. And, we are looking forward to the day when the united forces of operating rail labor begin to flex their new muscle with the railroads and others in the transportation industry. --"Unity Works for
Everybody" ...................##N We've finally done it. We've finally united the BLE and UTU into one stronger operating railroad labor union that promises to be better than the sum of its parts. Let me thank all of you who have supported this historic event. It's been a long time coming, but the wait has been well worth it. The wait will be over on January 1, 2000, after our memberships have voted to create a new union and make rail labor history. First, let me thank the many UTU officers and members who have worked so hard to make this happen, particularly Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., and General Council Clint Miller. It was especially gratifying to receive enthusiastic support from our members at this summer's Regional Meetings for our Operating Unity Initiative. In addition, the resolve of our Board of Directors to bring about unification was always strong and unanimous in its support. I must also thank the many BLE officers and members who share the vision of unification. My personal appreciation goes out to BLE President Clarence Monin, who shares the vision and chose that leadership path, and BLE First Vice President Ed Dubroski. Over the years, it is common for leaders of rival organizations to "have words" about each other. Over the last few months, as we have aggressively campaigned for unification, Clarence and I have had a few choice ones between us. But we also ultimately agreed on the most important "choice words" for our unions. Those words are: "Strength through unity." Because we agree on those fundamental words, and because it is time to make history, the BLE and UTU will create a new family of interests in rail labor history. Clarence, I thank you for being able to see the future and join in writing a new chapter in the history of operating rail labor. That chapter begins with a family finally being united. It will tell about how the BLE and UTU, with their proud roots and notable histories, came together in 1998-1999 because they knew that the only way to ride the rails in the 21st Century was to get on the same train... and drive it home. A key character in that chapter is Tom Donahue. As the facilitator appointed by Federation President John Sweeney to assist in our talks, the former AFL-CIO president showed why he is a great asset to organized labor. He kept us talking and talked sense to us as he pushed for a fair and reasonable resolution that would benefit both organizations. The rest of that chapter, and the rest of the book, we will write together. The BLE and UTU united for the betterment of operating rail labor. It will be a fascinating story. --"Labor
Makes the Difference in Elections" ........##O The November election is over, and you fooled everybody, including me. It sure made my day. The labor vote showed up in a big way. The election in 1994 was one of the most disappointing events in my life. I saw many of UTU's friends defeated because many members of organized labor and their families did not vote, and those that did were mad and cast their votes in a way that hurt us all. In 1996, organized labor spent $35 million, bought a lot of television ads and received much criticism for their efforts, but it did increase the labor turnout. This year, at the suggestion of UTU and others, the AFL-CIO modified its program. Instead of buying ads on television, the dollars were spent at the grassroots level. This time, union members called union members and the AFL-CIO and affiliated unions sent out mailings to inform the members about the issues and the candidates. It really paid off. Another difference in this election was that the union push this time was not just for one party but was bipartisan. This time unions supported the candidates that supported you, no matter what party they represented. Unions have gone back to doing what they do best, which is listening to their members and finding out what issues are important to them, and then finding the candidates that support those issues and letting union members know what the candidates stand for. The results speak for themselves. I can tell you that if you hadn't shown up on Election Day and voted the way you did, our situation would be getting much worse. I don't know if things are getting better, but I will make you a solid, iron-clad promise: If you don't continue to vote, your quality of life will get worse. Those people who want to reduce your wages, eliminate your job, and put decent health care for you and your family out of your reach just to enhance their own wealth, are going to make good-sized contributions to their favorite candidates. These are the people who will be the cash cows for the politicians that want to work against you and your family. That will be the nature of their investment in their future. The votes of you and your family, and your continued participation in the political process, will, and should be, your investment. There are a number of issues that we will not want this next Congress to consider. We walk a thin line here in Washington every day because we are aware of all the things that need to be done but are often burdened by a Congress whose proposed solutions to problems often make things worse instead of better. It has been reported that in Illinois we did our job in getting out the vote. The candidate knew he was in trouble as he drove to the polls in the morning and noticed that there were already lines of voters, many wearing overcoats over pajamas and house slippers. When questioned, these voters said that their union had called them and wanted to make sure that they supported the union-endorsed candidate. They took the time to vote even before they took time to get coffee or get dressed. That type of dedication should be an example for all of us. That is the investment we must continue to make. Voices: Members share their opinions ..........##P Periodically, the UTU NEWS will contact members at random to report their thoughts on a question of interest to the general membership. This month's question: HOW DOES YOUR JOB AFFECT YOUR FAMILY LIFE? "I'm a conductor, working for the Union Pacific on the former C&NW. It's a pretty disruptive lifestyle. You can't make any plans, so your friends fall by the wayside. I have adult children, but I was gone for most of the things they did growing up. It's a trade-off. But even in other industries, if you want to get ahead, you have to put in extra time. I worked on the railroad before we got married, so my wife got accustomed to me being gone. She's pretty independent." -- STEVEN BOVENMEYER, L-867, DES MOINES, IOWA "I'm a Grand Trunk conductor. The job pays very well, but as far as family life is concerned, it leaves a lot to be desired. The rail worker is like a guest in his own home. I've been married for 40 years or so, and it was a very big adjustment for my wife, but she's handled it very well. In my opinion, you have to have a special kind of mate to accept it and learn to live with it. I'm happy to say, my wife falls into that category. But I've come home at night and had the dog try to keep me out of the house!" -- KEN CLARK, L-1183, PORT HURON, MICH. "I'm a municipal bus operator, and one of the better benefits we have here is a flexible schedule. My sons play football, but I've never missed one of their games. I work 11.5 hours a day, but I arrange my schedule around their events. I don't take the job home with me because it's very stressful, and the two areas of life don't mix. If you allow work to come into the home, you don't have a home life. Likewise, if you have problems at home, you can't bring that into work." -- BYRON WILLIAMS, L-1785, SANTA MONICA, CAL. "I'm a conductor on the Union Pacific, and I don't have much of a family life because I'm gone most of the time. I come home, go to bed, get back up, and go back to work. My son plays football, and I've made only one game this year. I laid-off to go to my daughter's wedding. They won't hire new men on the UP, and they're overworking us. It's a stress that we bring home to our families. The only way we can get off is to lay-off sick." -- MONTY YOCOM, L-594, MINEOLA, TEX. --Lake Terminal employees express appreciation .....##Q Following is an open letter to all members of the United Transportation Union from UTU General Chairperson Timothy Smith, an employee of the Lake Terminal Railroad in Lorain, Ohio: ------------------------------------- Dear Brothers and Sisters: This letter will serve as a means for myself and the members of UTU Local 1391 to express our very deep and heartfelt appreciation to all the officers and members of the UTU who have assisted us in our struggle with the USS/Kobe Steel Co., which intends to sever its 104-year- old working relationship with the Lake Terminal Railroad and put 170 UTU, TCU and Steelworkers members on the street on December 29, 1998. Our campaign to preserve these jobs and way of life is being led by the UTU. A nationwide media blitz has enabled us to enlist the aid of national, state and local elected officials to halt the corporate greed of USS/Kobe. In fact, our membership in the UTU carried our fight to the White House. Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer, State Directors Bill Thompson, Don Dunlevy and Ron Clements have been with us all the way. Ohio Assistant State Legislative Director Joe Boda earns special mention. UTU locals from CSX, NS and Conrail have been very involved. Union brothers and sisters from the BLE, TCU, UAW and Steelworkers have offered support and participated in our job rallies. This major effort to save the 170 unionized jobs at Lake Terminal would not have been possible without the full support and direct involvement of President Charlie Little. The full and considerable resources of our International backed our members from the beginning. I have been a chairman for 20 years and a six-time delegate, and can truly state that our union has never been in better hands. Our union is respected and recognized as a major force in the labor movement nationwide. The outcome on our property is still in doubt and our fight continues. Every member of the UTU can take pride in what we as a team have accomplished, and continue to promote the causes and unity of our great organization. Fraternally, Timothy Smith UTU General Chairperson Lake Terminal Railroad --TCU members voice thanks for UTU backing ......##R Brother Little: On behalf of myself and the 19 other clerks represented by Transportation Communications Union (TCU) District 133 here at Lake Terminal Railroad in Lorain, Ohio, I would like to thank you and the UTU International for all their letters, newspaper articles, time, money and support you have given us in our 90-day war to save our jobs. People like you make a difference. Unions like yours make a difference. Again I say thanks! Sincerely and fraternally, Joseph Vargo M.P.C. District 133 Transportation Communications Union (TCU) STATE WATCH --News from UTU State Legislative Boards ...........##S ARIZONA The Arizona State Legislative Board, with the cooperation of the state AFL-CIO, contacted each UTU member in the state by phone prior to last month's general election to inform them of threats to federal entitlement programs by Republican lawmakers. In a phone call to each UTU household, Local 1081 President Steve Coffey informed members and their families of Republican plans to save Social Security by eliminating federal entitlements, including Railroad Retirement. Coffey was informed of Republican legislators intentions in conversations with Cong. J.D. Hayworth (R) and his staff. Although Hayworth went on to retain his sixth district seat, State Director Scott Olson, Assistant Director Bill Chrisman (1629), Chairperson Dave Shearer (1559) and Coffey were all thanked by the Arizona State Democratic Party, the state AFL-CIO and newly elected Attorney General Janet Napolitano for their hard work and dedication on behalf of working men and women. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The UTU had a major presence at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station on Oct. 4-5, as it joined Amtrak in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the renovation of the facility. The two-day event provided an opportunity for UTU members to meet with officials from Amtrak, the Railroad Retirement Board, local government, and each other. The UTU's mobile education and training facility, MEMBERSHIP I, was on hand for the affair and was toured by more than 200 people, including Amtrak and AFL-CIO officials and Cong. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). District of Columbia Legislative Director Steve Fritter was able to meet with Norton and other members of Congress during the event. Fritter pointed out that Norton serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where she has a vote on issues that are critical to all UTU members. IOWA On behalf of all UTU members in the state of Iowa, the legislative board there has contributed $100 to the Children's Wish Foundation International. The foundation grants the wishes of children and adolescents who have been diagnosed with medical conditions considered life-threatening. In a letter to foundation President Arthur J. Stein, Legislative Director Pat Hendricks credited UTU Ladies Auxiliary President M. Louise Riley for encouraging support of the organization at the UTU's Regional Meeting in Houston last summer. LOUISIANA The Louisiana Legislative Board was successful in obtaining a permanent injunction, judgment and order from a federal court there against the State of Louisiana, reports Legislative Director Tyrone Boudreaux. The state's legislature had enacted into law three rail bills that implemented an alcohol- and drug-testing program without any safeguards, required trains to sound horns and whistles one-quarter mile prior to reaching grade crossings, and required railroads to provide local law enforcement agencies with a copy of the event recorder report following a grade crossing accident. Judge Marcel Livaudais ruled that all three laws were pre-empted by federal regulations and that the alcohol- and drug-testing program was in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. UTU Designated Legal Counsel Larry Mann represented the board and the state's UTU members. The legislative board would also like to extend its sincere appreciation to retirees W.W. Cutrer Jr. (1501) and Sam Walker (1458) for their generous contributions to the TPEL program. MONTANA A Federal Railroad Administration regional administrator's recommendation for civil penalty assessment against the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad was issued after State Director Fran Marceau reported a violation of the FRA accident/incident reporting regulations. The recommendation was issued after the FRA determined that a 1997 meeting between BNSF officials and an injured employee was designed not to ascertain facts concerning the injury or possible rules violation, but to discourage the employee from reporting his injury. In an Aug. 28 letter to Marceau thanking him for his safety concerns, FRA Regional Administrator Dick Clairmont wrote: "The division superintendent's statement was calculated to discourage or prevent this employee from reporting his injury, and did so...once the injury report was destroyed the BNSF canceled the investigation." NEBRASKA The Nebraska Legislative Board reports that UTU Local 200 at North Platte is now contributing an average of $2,500 a month to TPEL. State Legislative Director Ray Lineweber said it is a reflection of the members' belief that "we need good legislation to keep our jobs secure and our members safe on the job." Lineweber thanked Local Chairperson (Y) John Charbonneau, whose promotion of TPEL among new members has dramatically increased donations. He also said Legislative Representative Jeff Rosenthal deserved credit for working closely with Local 200 members and the state legislative board. MONTHLY FEATURES --"The Women of the UTU" ........................##T It was September 1979. The headline story of the UTU NEWS read, "Congress debates Milwaukee Road solutions." On the front page was a photograph of Elizabeth Hickey, a member of Local 645 in Garden City, N.Y., with the headline "First female conductor." The story inside told of Hickey and her all-woman crew on the Long Island Rail Road, newsworthy because it was unusual in railroading. Not any more. Every day, on every railroad and transit system, women are joining the ranks of operating transportation workers. We talked to a few of them about their jobs, their lives, and their union. CSX CONDUCTOR MARGARET FIALA Margaret Fiala is a conductor/brakeman at CSXT's Acca Yard in Richmond, Va. She's been railroading 20 years. She also is assistant state legislative director in Virginia and Local 924 president since 1995. Fiala said there are many women working at Acca Yard as engineers, brakemen, conductors, yardmasters and clerks. "I believe Acca Yard has a unique situation, with women covering all the crafts," Fiala said. "We have a female trainmaster who has been here 30 years; she's just brilliant." Fiala and her husband, Jimmy, who is a brakeman/conductor at Acca Yard with 26 years of seniority, have three grown children. "Both of us being in the railroad," she said, "we always talk union, we exchange material. We are a true team." She got into railroading by necessity. "I was getting a divorce, I had three babies, and I wanted the best for them," she said. "The women's jobs didn't pay enough, so I went and applied. There were problems when I first started because there were no other women working those jobs. It was dangerous. I opened a door that hadn't been opened before." Fiala said the men at work tell her they would "rather work with me because I'm safe. I practice safety as best as I can." Would she recommend railroading work to her daughter? "No. I think that I would make sure my children got an education so they wouldn't have to work a manual job. The hours that we work and the way we work, on call and at all hours, is hard for anyone." Fiala, who is involved with a work/rest task force, said, "We just put in a proposal for regular off days, so we can get some quality of life. If we, the workers, can gain an inch in any of the programs-days off, safety, communication-that's good. I think the workers have the majority of the answers, and management is surprised at the answers we do have." ENGINEER SUE HERMAN Sue Herman works for Manufacturers' Railway in St. Louis, which is owned by Anheuser Busch. She's been railroading 20 years and currently works as a switchperson/foreman. "I knew railroading my whole life," she said. "My dad was an engineer with Terminal Railroad in Madison, Ill., and then with the Manufacturers' Railway. Railroading was something I knew about my whole life. My dad said to try it for two weeks and if I didn't like it I could quit. Well, I've been here 20 years." Herman said she probably worked harder at first than any man. "You want a man's job you got to earn it," she said. "I work just as hard as any man." In terms of working with men, Herman said that "some women can work with men, some women can't." She added that she has shared a locker room for 20 years with the men, and "has had no problem with that, and most of the men have no problem with it." "When I got here 20 years ago I heard, 'There has never been a woman union officer in this union and there ain't never gonna be one,'" Herman said. Times have changed: Herman serves her local as vice local chairperson, trustee and legislative representative. TRAINMAN YVONNE HAYES Yvonne Hayes likes railroading better than anything else she has ever done. As a member of Local 1138 at Miami, Fla., Hayes works as a trainman/conductor for CSXT at Hialeah Yard in Miami. She has been railroading almost five years because she "wanted to work union." "I always worked union, because of the wages and security," she said. "I got into it and had a job with Conrail in Baltimore, then I moved to Florida and applied with the CSXT. There's no big story to tell there; I needed a job." "The hours stink," she said, "the conditions are sometimes pretty horrendous, but it's okay. In general, we have to fight for safe and decent working conditions. We have lots of derailments here. It's a hazardous job in general without the added problem of track that isn't maintained." Are there problems being female in a traditional male job? "I would say that union members are much more accepting of women than they were," Hayes said. "We have come a long way. Men realize women need these jobs. People are helpful and I have had no real problems." But Hayes said she has had some problems with supervisors. "I've encountered some resistance from supervision," she said, "when I report switches that are hard to throw. 'Oh, Miss Hard-to-Throw,' they think. The problem isn't that I'm a woman, it's that the switch is hard to throw. If I've got to get some 200-pound guy to throw a switch, it's the switch's problem, not me." ENGINEER KAY SEDAM Kay Sedam, an engineer at CSXT's Hialeah Yard in Hialeah, Fla., is also a member of Local 1138. She's a yard engineer working midnight to 7:30 a.m. She started working for the railroad on the Union Pacific in Salt Lake City many years ago. "I worked as a teacher for three years, but was dissatisfied," Sedam said, "so I heard they were hiring at the railroads, and I applied. The pay was a lot better and you can be more independent." Sedam also has worked for the Long Island Rail Road, and for the CSXT in Birmingham, Ala. Starting at Hialeah Yard in 1994, Sedam worked on the ground for four months, then went right to locomotive engineer school where she has quickly worked her way up the seniority roster. "I really like working on the railroad. You are not so confined to a specific workplace. You have a little more mobility, and you have to take individual job responsibility," she said. "I like to be able to have input on what I do and how I do it." Sedam said that there are about eight women co- workers at Hialeah, all working in transportation. "It's very unusual here. It's a small yard, but there are quite a few women working here. They just put more lockers in the locker room, and I told the superintendent we needed a women's locker room." Sedam has encountered few problems as a female working on the railroad. "When I first started in 1979, there weren't that many women working, and there was a little resistance," she said. "As I gained the respect of my male co-workers, they appreciated the fact that a woman could do this job, and quickly the resentment melted away." Would she recommend a railroading career to her daughter? "I think it would be great," she said. "It's an experience that a lot of women would enjoy if they knew it wasn't as hard as it is put up to be. As an engineer there's not a lot of physical work, but you need to be mentally sharp, that's for sure." SWITCHMAN THERESA HAMANN Theresa Hamann, 42, has worked for the Burlington Northern in Vancouver, Wash., for eight years. She serves her union as local chairperson for Local 1238. She's currently working as a switchman in BN's Vancouver Yard, having been bumped from the engineers' roster. She said she's held an engineers' license for three years but continues to work in ground service. "I work with some of the greatest guys in the world," she said. "I work with someone new almost every day, and from that aspect I recommend the job. It's fun," she said. Otherwise, Hamann said, the work is tough, and she wouldn't recommend it to her daughter. "It's a dangerous job, a difficult job, and I don't like what the company is doing to the people. Until the unions can work out some of these problems, I don't recommend it." She said that with furloughs, manpower shortages and other problems, the carrier shuffles workers around with little regard for their personal lives. "We've had good people come to work, only to be cut off weeks later. It's just crazy," she said. TRAIN OPERATOR PATRICIA GREENE Patricia Greene is a train operator with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and a member of Local 1594. "These guys here I was the first woman on this train, and they made me do exactly what they did. They made me earn their respect. I used to ask them, 'How do you feel about a woman coming over here?' and they'd say, 'If you do the job, we don't care.' After a while, they wouldn't let me leave." Besides featuring a photograph of Greene, the traditional print version of this month's edition of the UTU NEWS also included another photograph depicting CSXT employees Georgette McClung (clerk); Barbara Lloyd (assistant trainmaster); Joanne Retzloff (engineer); Brenda Coffey (yardmaster), and Margaret Fiala (yard foreman). All work at the carrier's Acca Yard in Richmond, Va. --"Karen Belcher: Driver, officer" .................##U Karen Belcher is general chairperson, delegate and legislative representative of Local 81, which represents members working for the North County Transit District, which serves north San Diego County. Belcher said the property is about 65% men and that all the women she represents are drivers. About one- third of newly hired drivers are women. "Women have no problem now," Belcher said. "It was extremely difficult 20 years ago when was I hired. There were only seven women. The guys weren't accustomed to having women around. There weren't any sexual harassment laws or rules back then, so you had to be pretty tough. You had to take the jokes, the touching, which was wrong. I was only 23 and it was tough." Is driving a bus more dangerous for women? "Sure," Belcher said. "It's a little more dangerous being out on the road with passengers. Women encounter different problems than men, just like in the real world. It's scary out there on the road." Belcher recommends that women seek union jobs because they are an equalizer between the sexes and there's no discrimination that way. "You do the job, you get the pay," she said. "A woman knows she will be making as much money as a man. For women trying to raise a family, the job can be difficult because of the hours, but it's not any harder on women than it is on men." Belcher says she is concerned that there are so few women in labor leadership positions, in the UTU and other unions. "I would say it's very much an old-boys network," she said. "Eight years ago, there were less than 1% of women in leadership roles in all of the UTU. "At the last UTU convention there were less than 10 female delegates, out of 800 locals," she continued. "In California, which has the largest state legislative department in the U.S., there are 45 legislative representatives and I'm the only woman." Belcher said that women have different problem- solving skills and communication skills that should be understood. "We are not into back-slapping, old-boy networks," she said. "We did not grow up with the team- sports mentality. We have different thinking patterns. If you have a different approach to doing something, you meet with resistance. "Don't not vote for me because I'm a woman. Vote for me because I'm qualified," Belcher concluded. SENIOR NEWS --Medicare+Choice debuts as HMOs bow out ........##V As the U.S. government prepares to unveil a new set of Medicare reforms on Jan. 1, 1999, more than 100 health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in 30 states have served notice they are withdrawing from Medicare or cutting back services, leaving hundreds of thousand of seniors upset and confused. The new program to debut in January, called Medicare+Choice, was created by Congress last year with the promise that Medicare beneficiaries would get many of the same health plan choices available to younger people. But as the new year approaches, only five companies have applied to offer the program's new choices, and none has yet been approved by federal officials. At the same time, a massive effort to educate the public about the Medicare+Choice program got off to a rocky start late last month when the agency sent out to 5.5 million Americans in five states a handbook that includes outdated material. To make matters worse, a $46-million, toll-free hotline set up in early November (1-800-MEDICARE) has been giving out inaccurate information. Medicare+Choice is open to seniors nationwide. For information regarding the new health plans in your area, call the automated Medicare Special Information number 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-877-486-2048). Meanwhile, the decision by Medicare HMOs to halt participation in Medicare or slash services at the end of the year is forcing some 440,000 older Americans to figure out how to rearrange their health insurance. Those who enroll in Medicare HMOs pay no premium, or a low premium, to receive all the medical care of regular Medicare, along with a full menu of extras, such as prescription drugs, vision care, and dental care. About six million seniors are enrolled in Medicare HMOs. Because of rising costs, growing competition and shrinking government payments, many HMOs decided not to renew their one-year contracts with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which administers the Medicare program. Such plans were required to provide written notice to enrollees by Nov. 2 that service would terminate Dec. 31. For some of those affected, there will be no choice but to return to traditional Medicare coverage. Most, however, can choose from other health plans operating where they live, but may have to switch doctors. Seniors whose HMOs are pulling out of Medicare need to be aware of their options and rights. Information can be obtained through Social Security and Railroad Retirement offices, or at <http://www.medicare.gov> on the Internet. Those without computers often can access the information with the help of the staff at a local library. Though exceptions exist, most beneficiaries need not take any steps to disenroll from an HMO terminating Medicare participation. Enrollment in a new HMO will automatically disenroll participants from the first HMO. Those who wish to return to traditional Medicare need take no steps at all. Those who disenroll from an HMO before Dec. 31, 1998, with the intention of going back to traditional Medicare, may be hurting themselves. Many in traditional Medicare opt to purchase so-called "Medigap" policies to cover what Medicare doesn't. However, in many states, Medigap companies can turn down applicants. If you're a member of a terminating Medicare HMO, the law says insurers must issue you a policy, as long as you apply for a Medigap policy no later than 63 days after coverage with the non-renewing Medicare HMO terminates on December 31. To get that protection, you must stay in the HMO until it shuts down. --Retiree spreads FELA education ...................##W To hear George W. Morrison tell it, being a part-time field representative for UTU Designated Legal Counsel Rossi, Cox, Kiker & Inderwish is the most rewarding way a retiree with passionate beliefs can stay involved in the industry he loves.
Morrison hired out in 1960 on the Denver & Rio Grande and joined the former Switchmen's Union of North America. His 37-year rail career was spent mostly at the Roper Yard in Salt Lake City, but he also spent time on the mainline, doing local work in Provo, Utah, and taking some extra-board assignments between Odgen, Utah, and Salt Lake City. For about six years leading up to his retirement in June 1997, Morrison served as UTU Assistant State Legislative Representative in Utah. As a field representative, Morrison does investigative work for attorneys preparing cases brought to court under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). He also travels to various UTU locals explaining members' rights under the FELA law. "FELA is the best safety tool we have today," Morrison declared. "It forces the railroads to be responsible." Because he visits workers at so many locals, Morrison has formed some opinions about what can be expected in the future, and why members should support the Transportation Political Education League (TPEL). "The railroads haven't begun to fight," he observed. "Once they sort out their merger problems, they'll be fighting us on Hours of Service, Railroad Retirement, and other issues. Our battles in the next 10 years won't take place at the bargaining table. They'll be in Congress." Morrison doesn't really miss working as a railroader, "but I miss talking to the guys," he said. "That's why I enjoy what I'm doing now." --Correction: Decimal point misplaced ...........##X A typographical error involving a decimal point has been discovered in a story about the 1999 U.S. Railroad Retirement cost-of-living increases that appeared in last month's edition of the UTU NEWS. In fact, the Tier II portion of the retirement benefit will be increased by 0.4% in January 1999. --Retiree insurance benefit reminder ...............##Y Members are reminded that some who retired from rail service on or after April 1, 1967, may be eligible for a $2,000 Retiree Life Insurance benefit through the Railroad Employees' Health and Welfare Plan, now being administered by MetLife. Call MetLife toll free at 1-800-310-7770 to obtain a summary plan description book that provides details about the plan's benefits and serves as a certificate of benefit eligibility. MetLife asks that callers furnish the date they last worked for a railroad, the name of the railroad that employed them, and their Social Security numbers. --The Final Call ................................##Z Following are the names of members of the UTU Retiree Program who have died recently, according to reports received at the UTU International Headquarters. These brothers and sisters will be sorely missed by their many friends and by fellow UTU Retiree Program members. LOCAL NAME CITY 0004 Samson, Conrad St. Romuald, PQ 0006 Crabb, Charles R. Terre Haute, IN 0048 Townsend Jr., Wm. Laurel, MD 0048 Wells, Thomas Virginia Bch., VA 0117 Schanck, John B. Kent, WA 0198 Maloney Sr., Rondal Tucson, AZ 0211 Smith, William H. St. Cloud, FL 0212 DePaulo, Peter J. Albany, NY 0212 Shay, Jr., Joseph Pt. Charlotte, FL 0343 Hamilton, Daniel Stoney Crk., ON 0464 Williamson, Andrew Noble, OK 0498 Walsh, William C. Pittston, PA 0524 Hassell, Kiper Jacksonville, TX 0587 McKenney, L.C. Enfield, NH 0610 Marcum, Thomas Ijamsville, MD 0632 Irwin, Robert E. Tyrone, PA 0724 Bartos, Ronald B. Chicago, IL 0762 Manning, Huron C. Union City, GA 0783 Talbert, Boyce P. Albemarle, NC 0807 Rabb, Jr., Lloyd L. Tucson, AZ 0832 Kurtz, Erwin Superior, WI 0838 Simcsak, Albert Levittown, PA 0847 Holmes, James Birmingham, AL 0903 Pitts, Claude L. Tallahassee, FL 0996 Basler, John J. St. Genevieve, MO 1177 Blaufuss, Eugene Breckenridge, MN 1245 Holt, Richard B. Lilburn, GA 1292 Filbey, Frank M. Superior, WI 1361 Poveromo, Michele Mt. Vernon, NY 1374 Thompson, Walter New Castle, PA 1376 Craft, Oscar E. Galloway, OH 1391 Cooke, Charles T. Elyria, OH 1422 Mayes, Walter A. Glendora, CA 1477 Wood, Sr., Robert Evansville, IN 1522 Geesling, James Arlington, VA 1574 Fry, Dale R. Lake Oswego, OR 1607 Miller, George Los Angeles, CA 1709 Bragan, J.W. Pontiac, MI 1722 Mumma, Monroe Harrisburg, PA 1823 Jaworski, Joseph A. St. Louis, MO 1933 Schaeffer, Gary K. Richmond, VA TPEL HONOR ROLL --Contributors' continued support recognized ......##AA Below are benefactors of the UTU's Transportation Political Education League (TPEL) who have begun contributing more than $100 per year, or have increased their donations to more than $100 per year, within the last month. This list is a regular feature in the UTU NEWS, honoring those men and women who help make this union and nation great. * Denotes Retired Member PLATINUM CLUB ($1,200 or more per year) NAME LOCAL CITY/STATE Ramsey, Robert S. 1912 Mobile, AL DIAMOND PLUS CLUB ($400 or more per year) NAME LOCAL CITY/STATE Bresnick, Brian 811 San Bernardino, CA Dawson, Stephen T. 811 San Bernardino, CA DOLLAR-A-DAY CLUB ($365 or more per year) NAME LOCAL CITY/STATE Freiler Jr., R.J. 811 San Bernardino, CA Rehfeldt, Phillip M. 811 San Bernardino, CA Wiebe, William D. 867 Des Moines, IA Maxey, Gerald W. 1933 Washington, DC DIAMOND CLUB ($300.00 or more per year) NAME LOCAL CITY/STATE *Yeamans, Charles K. 83 Houston, TX Daniels, Richard R. 113 Winslow, AZ *Johnson, Carrol E. 283 Portland, OR Tucker, Charles V. 511 Atlanta, GA Lawler, Thomas J. 832 Superior, WI *Shea, James J. 891 Whitefish, MT *Kenny, Edward C. 1375 Philadelphia, PA *Steiger, Gerald L. 1503 Marysville, KS Lambert, Ronald J. 1836 New Orleans, LA GOLD CLUB ($100 or more per year) NAME LOCAL CITY/STATE *Hunter, Henry L. 48 Norfolk, VA Byron, John J. 64 Huron, SD Craig, Phillip J. 64 Huron, SD Hanson, Robin D. 64 Huron, SD Iles, Joseph M. 64 Huron, SD Pepples, Robert C. 64 Huron, SD Schlicht, Barbara J. 64 Huron, SD Schlicht, Dale M. 64 Huron, SD Tuchel, Monty T. 64 Huron, SD Mileham, Mark C. 113 Winslow, AZ Thomas, Richard M. 113 Winslow, AZ Armas, Victor 200 North Platte, NE Freimuth, Kenneth E. 200 North Platte, NE Giesenhagen, David A. 200 North Platte, NE Hurley, Christopher P. 200 North Platte, NE McGahan, Bernard T. 200 North Platte, NE Miller, Donald F. 200 North Platte, NE Ravenscroft, Ray F. 200 North Platte, NE Richardson, Adam D. 200 North Platte, NE Richter Sr., James L. 200 North Platte, NE Ryan, Joseph P. 262 Boston, MA Prepster, Dennis L. 322 Milwaukee, WI Goldsbary, Robert E. 385 Croton/Hudson, NY Adams, Robert C. 464 Arkansas City, KS Baughman, Melvin C. 464 Arkansas City, KS Brewer, Phillip C. 464 Arkansas City, KS Rudolph, Larry D. 464 Arkansas City, KS Schandorf, Darrell W. 464 Arkansas City, KS Ward Jr., Donald R. 464 Arkansas City, KS Coates, David R. 493 Waterloo, IA Peterson, George J. 493 Waterloo, IA Mundorf, Greg W. 500 Grand Jct., CO Saunders, Kamron T. 508 Smithville, TX David Jr., Albert 511 Atlanta, GA Dodd, J.H. 511 Atlanta, GA Spinks, John W. 511 Atlanta, GA Dotson Jr., Terry O. 662 Richmond, VA Williams, Carroll E. 744 Frankfort, IN Rutledge, Robert D. 756 San Antonio, TX Peevy, Malcomb D. 762 Montgomery, AL Urban, Adrian D. 762 Montgomery, AL Weekley, James M. 762 Montgomery, AL Cole, Emmett E. 762 Montgomery, AL Thompson, Donald R. 762 Montgomery, AL Croft Jr., Harry L. 830 Harrisburg, PA Carlson, Bruce A. 832 Superior, WI St. George, Robert A. 832 Superior, WI Albert, Ronald A. 847 Birmingham, AL Martin, Joseph P. 847 Birmingham, AL Murphree, Michael S. 847 Birmingham, AL Whitfield, Richard A. 847 Birmingham, AL *Fox, Charles E. 898 Boston, MA *Bass Jr., J.O. 903 Jacksonville, FL Justus Jr., Marion B. 980 Enderlin, ND *Tucker, Killian E. 1011 Hamlet, NC *Holub, John 1074 Freeport, PA George, Mark T. 1175 Duluth, MN Bailey, David L. 1188 Oklahoma City, OK Carter, John B. 1245 Atlanta, GA Heintzelman, R.R. 1258 Elgin, IL *Montoney, Franklin 1397 Columbus, OH *Walker, Samuel F. 1458 DeQuincy, LA Voss Jr., Herbert E. 1462 Boston, MA Barber, Murray A. 1470 Edmonston, MD Braxton, Earl R. 1470 Edmonston, MD Brown, Michael R. 1470 Edmonston, MD Clark, Lloyd L. 1470 Edmonston, MD Dodd, McKinley G. 1470 Edmonston, MD Harrison, Harry H. 1470 Edmonston, MD Kelly, Kevin F. 1470 Edmonston, MD Marshall, Paul J. 1470 Edmonston, MD Martin, Joanne J. 1470 Edmonston, MD Riggs, Robert P. 1470 Edmonston, MD Summerset, Susan Y. 1470 Edmonston, MD Williams, Clarence L. 1470 Edmonston, MD Wilson, Gaylord 1470 Edmonston, MD Winston, Alice L. 1470 Edmonston, MD Crudup Jr., Albany 1501 Baton Rouge, LA Frye Jr., Gerold 1501 Baton Rouge, LA Green, Vernell N. 1501 Baton Rouge, LA Harden Jr., Revonne 1501 Baton Rouge, LA *Barnes Sr., Alvin R. 1518 Indianapolis, IN Hovis, Fred R. 1518 Indianapolis, IN O'Neil, James R. 1518 Indianapolis, IN Spencer, Richard F. 1518 Indianapolis, IN Stecher, John E. 1518 Indianapolis, IN Woodward, James A. 1518 Indianapolis, IN Appler III, C.R. 1522 Washington, DC Cox, Patricia A. 1522 Washington, DC Pough, Timothy E. 1522 Washington, DC Fuller II, Carroll C. 1532 Kansas City, KS Anderson, Harold E. 1637 Wishram, WA Carter, Mark C. 1637 Wishram, WA Schollmeyer, Jay L. 1637 Wishram, WA Walters, Gerald R. 1637 Wishram, WA Allen, Tony D. 1715 Charlotte, NC Baylor, Leon M. 1715 Charlotte, NC Ellerbe, Osborne L. 1715 Charlotte, NC Ervin, Clare M. 1715 Charlotte, NC Evans, Richard K. 1715 Charlotte, NC McCain, Darlene 1715 Charlotte, NC Miller, Clarence B 1715 Charlotte, NC Smith, Edwin D. 1715 Charlotte, NC Smith, Michael E. 1715 Charlotte, NC Sturdivant, Lizzie 1715 Charlotte, NC Sullivan, Michael 1715 Charlotte, NC Wakefield, John A. 1715 Charlotte, NC *Barbarich, Robert C. 1780 Kansas City, MO Dally, Shawn C. 1780 Kansas City, MO Blankenship Jr., P. 1836 New Orleans, LA Dumas, Renwick D. 1836 New Orleans, LA Long, Edward J. 1836 New Orleans, LA Geter, Steven D. 1933 Washington, DC Guyton, Arthur D. 1933 Washington, DC Jiles, Christopher I. 1933 Washington, DC Prince, Donald A. 1933 Washington, DC Watkins, Victor T. 1933 Washington, DC Williams, Wallace W. 1933 Washington, DC *Thompson, Ann Lathe R Schulenburg, TX FELA UPDATE --Consult a lawyer for non-railroad claims .....##BB If a railroad employee is hurt in an automobile accident, what should he or she do? If family members of a railroad employee feel they have a justified complaint against a doctor or a hospital, how should it be handled? If you are injured because of a defective product in your home, where do you go for help? IN ALL CASES WHERE YOU MAY NEED THE ADVICE OF A LAWYER, YOU MAY CALL UTU DESIGNATED LEGAL COUNSEL WITHOUT CHARGE OR OBLIGATION. They can give you some assistance, perhaps help you with your claim or refer you to someone else who can assist you. While UTU Designated Legal Counsel spend most of their time working on railroad cases, all of them do some other work and have a number of other lawyers in their offices who specialize in many different fields of law. Take advantage of this unique opportunity and call a UTU Designated Legal Counsel. Monte Bricker, Coordinator Designated Legal Counsel 1-888-241-7076 NOTICES --Open enrollment for retired, furloughed .........##CC Group Policy GA-23111 holds an open enrollment period in December of every even calendar year. Coverage for individuals enrolling in December 1998 will be effective January 1, 1999. No proof of insurability is required. There are no pre-existing condition limitations. The following individuals may enroll in December 1998: Employees and dependents whose coverage under GA- 23000 ended because of furlough or retirement. Amtrak employees and dependents whose coverage under Amplan ended because of furlough or retirement. Employees currently covered under GA-23000, GA-23111, GA-107300 or Amplan may enroll any parent or parent-in- law who is eligible for Medicare. There are three GA-23111 plans available: Plan E covers individuals who are also eligible under GA-46000, or Amplan Early Retirement Benefits. Plan D covers individuals who are eligible for Medicare. Plan C covers individuals who are not eligible for GA-46000, Amplan Early Retirement benefits or Medicare. Complete details of the GA-23111 eligibility and benefit provisions can be found in the booklet titled "Group Health Insurance Plans for Furloughed and Retired Railroad Employees and their Dependents." You may obtain this booklet from the UTU International headquarters, or by calling United HealthCare toll-free at 1-800-842- 5252. Following is a brief summary of the current coverage under each GA-23111 plan. Benefits under any of these plans may change in the future. PLAN C For individuals not eligible for GA-46000, Amplan early retirement benefits or Medicare. MAJOR MEDICAL BENEFITS: Maximum amount per lifetime = $150,000 Cash deductible per calendar year = $500 Out-of-pocket maximum per calendar year = $5,000 Percentage of covered expenses payable = 75% (65% if Medical Management is not called when required) Percentage of covered expenses payable after out-of- pocket maximum is reached = 100% PLAN D For individuals eligible for Medicare -- Hospital Benefits reimburse the Plan A Medicare deductible and coinsurance amounts in full for hospital confinements up to 90 days, and for the 60 Medicare lifetime reserve days. -- Skilled Nursing Facility Benefits reimburse the Part A Medicare coinsurance amounts in full for skilled nursing facility confinements up to 100 days. -- Treatment Center Benefits cover Treatment Center confinements, up to $55 per day, for up to 30 days per lifetime. MAJOR MEDICAL BENEFITS: Maximum amount per lifetime = $300,000 Cash deductible per calendar year = $100 Percentage of covered expenses payable: All expenses other than out-patient treatment of mental and nervous disorders = 80%; Out-patient treatment of mental and nervous disorders = 65%. PHARMACY BENEFITS: Card Program = up to a 21-day supply for a $5 co- payment for generic drugs and $10 for brand name drugs; Mail Order Program = up to a 120-day supply for a $10 co-payment for generic drugs and a $20 co-payment for brand name drugs Maximum amount per calendar year = $3,000. PLAN E For individuals eligible for GA-46000 or Amplan early retirement benefits MAJOR MEDICAL BENEFITS: Maximum amount per lifetime - $200,000 Cash deductible per calendar year - $100 Out of-pocket maximum per calendar year - $5,000 Percentage of covered expenses payable: all expenses other than out-patient treatment of mental and nervous disorders = 70% out-patient treatment of mental and nervous disorders = 50% Percentage of covered expenses payable after the out- of-pocket maximum is reached = 100% Treatment Center benefits cover Treatment Center confinements up $55 per day, for up to 30 days per lifetime. For more information, including payment rates or to obtain an enrollment form, call United HealthCare toll- free at 1-800-842-5252. --Dates, locations for meetings, convention ....##DD WESTERN REGIONAL MEETING May 24-26,1999 Wyndham Hotel at Los Angeles Airport 6225 West Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 Reservation number: (310) 670-9000 Cut-off date for room reservations: April 13,1999 Room rate: $109 double/$99 single Parking rates: $7 self park/ $12 valet (all rates are per day) Overflow hotel for Los Angeles meeting: Sheraton Gateway Hotel (next door to Wyndham) 6101 West Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045 Reservation number: (800) 445-7999 Cut-off date for room reservations: April 13, 1999 Room rate: $109 double/$ 99 single Parking rates: $9 self park/$13 valet (all rates are per day) CENTRAL REGIONAL MEETING June 14-16, 1999 Regal Riverfront Hotel Downtown St. Louis 200 South 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102 Reservation number: (314) 241-9500 Cut-off date for room reservations: May 2, 1999 Room rate: $99, single or double Parking rates: $11 (all rates are per day) EASTERN/CANADIAN REGIONAL MEETING July 12-14, 1999 Hyatt Regency Washington (on Capitol Hill) 400 New Jersey Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20001 Reservation number: (202) 737-1234 Cut-off date for room reservations: June 1, 1999 Room rate: $99, single or double Parking: $22, valet only (all rates are per day) UTU 1999 QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION Delegates from locals will meet to elect officers and amend the UTU Constitution August 23-27, 1999 Fontainebleau Hilton Resort and Towers 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL 33140 Reservation number: (800) 548-8886 Cut-off date for room reservations: July 20, 1999 Room rates: $125, single or double $250 to $ 375 for suites $153, Tower with bay view $180, Tower with ocean view Parking: $13, valet only (all rates are per day) --Monthly apparel winner announced ................##EE This month's lucky winner of his choice of any item of UTU-logoed wearing apparel is James E. Kinard of Lawson, Mo. Brother Kinard is a retired member of Local 1435 in Kansas City, Mo., which represents workers employed on the Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. These items are awarded every month in thanks to the many members who have supported the UTU throughout the years. Congratulations to Brother Kinard! Brother Kinard will be receiving by mail a gift certificate redeemable for any one of the many fine quality union-made UTU jackets, shirts or caps available through the International. (Many new items are now available; write to the UTU Supply Department for details). This program, in which active and retired members' names are drawn at random, is a way to thank the many men and women who make this union great. A catalog and price list of UTU-logoed items is available from the UTU Supply Dept., 14600 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44107. --Changes affect Aetna patients ................##FF Members participating in Aetna U.S. Healthcare's managed care services should note three changes recently announced by the firm: Aetna U.S. Healthcare members in Charleston, S.C., will no longer be covered for services received at Columbia Trident Regional Medical Center. They should instead go to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, or the East Cooper Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant; Four Primary Care Physicians in the New Albany, Ind., area will no longer be participating in the program. They are William V. Croft, Anna Marie Fisher, Howard A. Pope and Thomas W. McKain. Members who have selected these physicians as their Primary Care Physicians will be notified by mail of the change. Marion Community, Tyler Memorial and MidValley Hospitals have agreed to continue serving Aetna U.S. Healthcare members in the Northeast Pennsylvania area. They, along with Wayne Memorial, had notified Aetna U.S. Healthcare in June that they no longer wished to participate in the insurance company's programs. An agreement has been reached with all but Wayne Memorial. --UTUIA Permanent Life makes a lasting gift .......##GG ATTN: Parents! Grandparents!! This Christmas, Give Your Children or Grandchildren a Lasting Gift... A Gift That Will Keep on Giving... Have you ever stopped to think about what you could have done with the money you spent on Christmas gifts in the past? If you're like most parents and grandparents, you go overboard. But what usually happens to those gifts? Do they end up in the corner, rarely played with -- or worse yet, broken? Why not give your little ones a lasting gift this Christmas? Permanent life insurance provides living benefits and is a wonderful way to provide a legacy for your youngsters. What better way to show them you care? Permanent life insurance is very inexpensive at young ages, and premium-paying choices are endless, since premiums can be paid in one lump-sum payment, over a five- or ten-year period, for the whole life, or anything in between. Give a gift that keeps on giving! For information and personal service, call (800) 558- 8842, Ext. 211 today, or write to: UTUIA Marketing and Sales Dept., 14600 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44107- 4250. --Officers extend season's greetings ...........##HH On behalf of the officers and employees of the United Transportation Union, we want to wish you and your family the most joyous of holiday seasons. May the new year bestow upon you and yours a bounty of health, prosperity and good will. 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