====================================================
                        UTU NEWS                    
                     ONLINE EDITION                 
====================================================
        -------------------------------------
                      AUGUST 2000
        -------------------------------------
====================================================
      -----------PROGRESS THROUGH UNITY-----------
====================================================

    A Service of the United Transportation Union
            Public Relations Department

                Charles L. Little
             International President
                        ---
                Paul C. Thompson
    International General Secretary & Treasurer
                        

                 Editorial Offices:
                      UTU NEWS
                 14600 Detroit Ave.
              Cleveland, OH 44107-4250
                 UTU@compuserve.com
                 http://www.utu.org

The following may be reprinted, or re-posted in 
electronic form, in part or in whole, to any network or 
computer system worldwide, or distributed via disk, 
provided proper credit is included and no alteration of 
text occurs other than for formatting purposes.

NOTE: This text file is best viewed using a 12 pt. 
monospaced (nonproportional) font such as Monaco or 
Courier.
------------------------------------------------------
                      WELCOME TO 
           THE VOICE OF TRANSPORTATION LABOR
   "Charlie, I'm really proud of what you and Byron Boyd 
and your team have achieved in your tenure. There is a 
vigor here (at the UTU), there is an excitement about 
how to make this union stronger. You're a visionary with 
courage."

   -- Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene Molitoris
       July 11, 2000, Birmingham Regional Meeting
------------------------------------------------------

TABLE OF CONTENTS
--The UTU NEWS On-Line Edition takes advantage of the 
search-and-find features in your word processing 
software or on-line editor. For example, to see a sample 
letter urging the Senate to support passage of Railroad 
Retirement legislation ("Contact senators on 
retirement"), have your word processing software or on-
line editor search for the text ##H.

IN THIS EDITION
--UTU scores two big wins ..........................##A
--Molitoris calls Little "visionary" ............##B
--MTA talks continue ...............................##C
--UTU vindicates PATH conductor .................##D
--Drivers, aides pick UTU ..........................##E
--UTU and BLE join forces .......................##F
--Deiser attends hearings ..........................##G
--Contact senators on retirement (H.R. 4844) ....##H

AROUND THE UTU
--News from around the U.S. and Canada .............##I

MEMBERSHIP IN ACTION
--Bus operator wins new outlook on life .........##J

STATE WATCH
--News from UTU State Legislative Boards ...........##K

BUS DEPT. / STREET BEAT
--"Labor Day marks ongoing struggle" ............##L
   Editorial by Bernard J. McNelis
   Vice President and Director, UTU Bus Dept.

YARDMASTER REPORT
--"CSX negotiations set for August 8-9" ............##M
   Editorial by Don R. Carver
   Assistant to the President, Yardmaster Dept.

EDITORIALS
--Thanks to lots of people ......................##N
--Moratorium stands ................................##O
--"History in the Making" .......................##P
   Editorial by Byron A. Boyd, Jr.
   UTU Assistant President
--"80 days to improve Railroad Retirement" .........##Q
   Editorial by James M. Brunkenhoefer
   UTU National Legislative Director
--Voices: Members share their opinions ..........##R

REGIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
--Birmingham celebrates "The Power of One" .........##S

SENIOR NEWS
--Retiree's work pays dividends .................##T
--Railroad Retirement System growing stronger ......##U
--Retired VPs, SLD pass away ....................##V
--The Final Call ...................................##W

TPEL HONOR ROLL
--Contributors' continuing support recognized ...##X

NOTICES
--Monthly winner ...................................##Y
--UTU fees objector policy ......................##Z
--Regional Meeting information ....................##AA
--UTU Travelers Club plans tours ................##BB
--UTUIA offers Ultimate Term flexibility ..........##CC

====================================================

IN THIS EDITION

--UTU scores two big wins ..........................##A

   WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The UTU scored two impressive 
victories -- one political, the other legal -- in the 
nation's capital last month.

   During a whirlwind 24-hour period, a U.S. Court of 
Appeals supported the Surface Transportation Board's 
(STB) 15-month moratorium on railroad mergers, scuttling 
the proposed Canadian National Railway's takeover of 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. The UTU filed a 
legal brief supporting the STB.

   The appellate court's decision dealt a deal-killing 
setback for CN and BNSF, whose merger proposal was put 
on hold by the STB's moratorium after the railroads 
announced their proposed combination through a new 
company, North American Railways, Inc., in December 
1999.

   Then, in Congress, a major Railroad Retirement bill, 
H.R. 4844, was introduced. The legislation is supported 
by a coalition of 13 organizations, including the UTU, 
representing more than three million people. The bill 
would lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 with 30 
years of service plus health benefits, lower the vesting 
requirement for young workers to five years of service 
from 10 years, and give widows parity in pension 
benefits.

   (The bill was expected to pass the House as this 
issue of UTU NEWS went to press. A Senate vote is 
expected sometime after Labor Day.)

   "The UTU took strong, proactive political and legal 
action and we came up big winners, twice," said Charles 
L. Little, UTU International president. "We supported 
the STB's 15-month moratorium on rail mergers, and we 
played a key role in a strong coalition to get a vastly 
improved Railroad Retirement program introduced in 
Congress. These events once again reinforce the UTU's 
political position and influence in Washington, D.C."

   Little praised the decision permitting the STB time 
to study and propose new rail-merger guidelines. "This 
is a major win for North American railroad workers, 
shippers, and the American and Canadian people," he 
said. "This will allow the railroad industry, working 
cooperatively with its union employees, the time to 
focus on solving merger-related service issues. Now we 
will have time to get the rail industry's house in order 
before what many say will be another major round of 
mergers after the STB issues its new guidelines."

   UTU was the first, and only, major transportation 
union that actively supported the STB's merger 
moratorium and strongly opposed the merger of the 
Canadian National and Burlington Northern Santa Fe 
railroads. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and 
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees supported 
the CN/BNSF merger, which would have included some 
layoffs.

   The UTU also is the only operating rail 
transportation union that supports the Railroad 
Retirement bill. The BLE and BMWE oppose the bill and 
are actively fighting the 13 organizations pushing for 
the new law. In an odd twist, the American Train 
Dispatchers Division (ATDD) of the BLE has split from 
its sister organization and is a member of the 
coalition.

   The other labor organizations in the Railroad 
Retirement Coalition include the Boilermakers and 
Blacksmiths; Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; Firemen 
and Oilers of SEIU; Hotel Employees and Restaurant 
Employees; International Association of Machinists; 
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; 
Ironworkers Union; Seafarers International Union; 
Sheetmetal Workers International; Transportation 
Communications International; Transport Workers Union, 
and the National Association of Retired and Veteran 
Railway Employees.

   "All labor organizations which stand for what is best 
for more than three million people support this Railroad 
Retirement bill," Little said.

   In crafting new rail-merger rules, Little said the 
STB should include a rule to end "cramdown." "Those new 
merger rules should include the end of 'cramdown' in all 
future rail mergers patterned after the UTU's historic 
deal with the National Carriers' Conference Committee," 
Little said.

   He said that new merger rules that protect union 
employees, and a new long-term labor contract, would be 
a boon for the railroad industry.

   "We now are in negotiations and have the opportunity 
to sign a forward-thinking labor contract with the Class 
I railroads that could usher in a period of labor 
stability and economic growth in the industry," Little 
said.

   "Today, we stand at crossroads in the future of the 
North American railroad industry. The decisions labor, 
management and government make in the next 12 months 
will shape the industry for the first few decades of the 
21st century."



--Molitoris calls Little "visionary" ............##B

   BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- At the Regional Meeting here, 
Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene Molitoris praised 
UTU President Charles L. Little, calling him the 
"(union) president for the 21st century."

   In her keynote luncheon speech on July 12, Molitoris 
told 700 UTU members and guests that Little was a 
"visionary with courage" and praised the UTU for its 
many successes.

   "Charlie, I'm really proud of what you and Byron Boyd 
and your team have achieved in your tenure," Molitoris 
said. "There is a vigor here (at the UTU), there is an 
excitement about how to make this union stronger. You're 
a visionary with courage. When I heard about Membership 
I and what it was doing, I knew this was a (union) 
president for the 21st Century. Your website is one of 
the most powerful and impactful on the web...Charlie 
Little, I want to tip my hat to you, your team, and your 
union."

   UTU has been a proponent of conductor qualification 
and certification. "UTU is the driving force behind the 
issue of conductor certification," Molitoris said. "We 
believe it is important to recognize the important 
skills and responsibilities of railroad conductors."

   Molitoris also said the UTU has had a "very great 
impact" on the pending alcohol and drug regulations, 
especially on the issue of adulterated samples and split 
samples. She said work is now being expedited on the 
final rule.

   "This is very much your issue," she said. She also 
said that, under a proposed rule, all of FRA's alcohol 
and drug regulations would apply to "foreign railroads, 
foreign-based train crews who engage in train operations 
in the U.S."

   Molitoris praised Little for signing the new social 
compact with CSX while acknowledging that cultural 
change is slow in the railroad industry.

   "I talked about Charlie Little being fearless," she 
said. "I think you are fearless, Charlie, when it comes 
to change because change makes a lot of people nervous."



--MTA talks continue ...............................##C

   LOS ANGELES -- Negotiations between the UTU and the 
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority are 
continuing as this issue of UTU News goes to press.

   The transit agency and union are under a 60-day 
cooling-off period while negotiations continue. The 
cooling-off period expires at midnight, Sept. 3.

   "We have received a comprehensive proposal from the 
MTA and have prepared a response to that proposal," 
General Chairperson James Williams said. "We will be 
meeting with the MTA to try to resolve these outstanding 
issues."

   "We are hopeful we can achieve a resolution to this 
dispute," Williams added.



--UTU vindicates PATH conductor .................##D

   JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- When a passenger fatality 
occurred last September at the Port Authority Trans-
Hudson's (PATH) 14th Street Station platform, it seemed 
a forgone conclusion to management that an employee 
would pay with his job, his reputation, and his future.

   But PATH management was wrong in thinking it could 
callously use a UTU member as its scapegoat.

   In the end, the employee who lost his job was the 
superintendent of transportation who had leveled a 
string of serious rules-violation charges against 
conductor Kenneth Hicks of Local 1413, Jersey City, N.J. 
Furthermore, the superintendent's second in command was 
demoted to trainmaster.

   "Ultimately, the charges were dropped against the 
conductor," said General Chairperson R.E. Arenas, "and 
he was returned to duty with all time and wages 
compensated."

   In fact, Arenas noted that Hicks received 
compensation that included back pay, projected overtime 
pay, and holiday pay totaling more than $12,000. More 
important, though, Arenas feels Hicks received the 
representation and justice deserved by all UTU members 
when threatened with the trampling of "their basic human 
rights as provided by our collective bargaining 
agreement and the Constitution of the United States of 
America."

   The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation is the 
primary transit link between Manhattan and neighboring 
New Jersey urban communities and suburban commuter 
railroads. It carries more than 70% of all passengers 
entering New York City by rail from New Jersey. 
Approximately 225,000 passengers travel PATH each 
weekday and trains run 24 hours a day, every day of the 
year.

   Since 1962, Path has been a rail subsidiary of The 
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Twenty 
different unions today represent the agency's workforce. 
In 1999, the carrier received the Outstanding 
Achievement Award from the American Public Transit 
Association - the nation's highest honor for a heavy-
rail transit system - for the second consecutive year.

SOMETHING WENT WRONG
   But on September 10, 1999, something went wrong.

   "We really don't know if the passenger who died got 
off the train immediately before the accident, was 
trying to get on the train, or got a piece of clothing 
caught and was dragged from the platform," Arenas said. 
"Neither Hicks nor his engineer were aware that their 
train had struck a passenger. PATH management claimed 
that the physical evidence indicated the individual must 
have been dragged. We said, 'Prove it.' They couldn't."

   Documents show the Port Authority police department 
conducted an extensive investigation, including a number 
of interviews with Hicks in September, but no charges 
were filed. It appeared to Hicks that the investigation 
was closed and the incident was behind him. But on 
January 4, 2000, Hicks received a letter from PATH's 
superintendent of transportation charging him with 
failing to comply with a series of rule violations, "and 
this failure resulted in fatality to the passenger."

   The letter also accused Hicks of  "indifference" and 
said that he "allowed the movement of your train away 
from the scene of the accident, compromising critical 
physical evidence, and allowing the releases of persons 
who could have witnessed the accident." Furthermore, the 
letter said he was "dishonest" in his statements to Port 
Authority police.

THE TRUE MOTIVATION
   Alerted to the letter's contents, General Chairperson 
Arenas immediately understood PATH's true motivation and 
jumped to Hicks' defense. Responding to the charges in a 
letter of his own to PATH management on January 8, 
Arenas wrote, "The carrier is attempting to absolve 
itself from any wrongful death lawsuits filed on behalf 
of the victim's family and place sole responsibility for 
the incident on conductor Hicks."

   "The union strongly objected and we began 
preparations for the ultimate battle against the 
carrier," Arenas explained. "We issued our position to 
the carrier, as well as to every major politician in the 
region. We also used the media to bring the incident 
into the public light, since it was kept hidden -  so 
hidden that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) 
was never advised of the incident. The FRA then launched 
its own investigation into the incident."

   Because PATH operates in both New York and New 
Jersey, Arenas sent letters to the governors, senators 
and representatives of both states, as well as the White 
House, outlining the injustice of PATH's intended 
actions and calling for assistance in the battle.

   In his letters to the lawmakers, Arenas said, "This 
situation has racial overtones, since the conductor 
charged is black and the trainmasters involved are 
white...We realize we provide a vital service to the 
region, however, we must utilize whatever means 
necessary to protect our basic human rights."

   Meanwhile, in his response to PATH, Arenas pointed 
out that the "Port Authority Police Department could 
not, and did not, file charges against conductor 
Hicks...You have 'predetermined' that conductor Hicks 
was dishonest in his statements to the Port Authority 
police during the entire investigation."

   Regarding Hicks' alleged indifference to the 
incident, Arenas said someone or something had "tripped" 
the train, bringing it to a stop. After the initial 
"tripping" of the train was reported by the engineer, 
Arenas noted the trainmaster on duty ordered the 
engineer to "charge and proceed" without allowing Hicks 
to investigate the reason for the tripping of the train. 
The train resumed motion, but was "tripped" again, 
Arenas said. Hicks this time had investigated six of the 
seven cars in the consist when the trainmaster again 
ordered the engineer to "charge and proceed."

   "Upon arrival at 9th Street," Arenas' response said, 
"Hicks was ordered to off-load his equipment and wait 
until an operations examiner arrived on the scene. 
Conductor Hicks and his engineer were unaware that their 
train had struck a passenger. However, the carrier was 
well aware of the incident that occurred and 'fouled up' 
when they ordered conductor Hicks to release potential 
witnesses to the incident."

THE SCAPEGOAT CONDUCTOR
   Arenas further asked for copies of the FRA's 
investigative reports and all forms the carrier is 
required by law to file with the FRA when an accident 
occurs, and then pointed out that the collective 
bargaining agreement "states in clear and unambiguous 
language that the carrier has '30 days' after an 
incident to investigate and charge an employee. 
Therefore, as per the C.B.A., the carrier had until 
October 10, 1999, to charge conductor Hicks. The time 
limits expired and the UTU never granted an extension of 
time since the UTU was unaware of a formal 
investigation."

   Arenas concluded his response to PATH's charges with 
the following: "The carrier's violation of the agreement 
and their attempt to make conductor Hicks, a black 
conductor, the 'scapegoat' for this incident is 
unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The organization 
demands that all charges against conductor Hicks be 
dismissed."

   Ten days later,  a general notice circulated by PATH 
noted that the superintendent of transportation had been 
replaced. Two days later, PATH sent a letter to Hicks 
advising that it had reviewed the matter and decided to 
rescind the charges. "You shall be returned to service 
as soon as possible," the letter said.



--Drivers, aides pick UTU ..........................##E

   HESPERIA, Cal. -- Bus drivers and aides employed by 
Laidlaw Transit in Hesperia, Cal., come from many 
backgrounds, but they have some things in common: an 
ethic of hard work and a desire for union 
representation.

   On June 23, approximately 70 of those Laidlaw 
employees chose the UTU to represent them and bargain 
collectively on their behalf, joining the 190 Laidlaw 
employees in Riverside, Cal., who selected the UTU two 
months earlier.

   "Thanks to General Chairperson Karen Belcher's hard 
work in the organizing campaign, the employees now have 
an opportunity to improve their livelihood by speaking 
with a united voice to their employer," said Bus Vice 
President Bernie McNelis. "We look forward to meeting 
with these employees as soon as possible to lay the 
groundwork for their first union contract."

   In related news, McNelis said UTU representatives 
have solicited contract proposals from employees of Alex 
Transportation, Cimarron Coach in Houston, and the 
clerks at TNM&O in Lubbock, Tex.

   McNelis said he would like to thank all of the 
employees who have recently voted for UTU representation 
for their support and patience. "First contracts always 
take longer since we need to negotiate all of the 
language provisions on working conditions as well as 
economic issues."



--UTU and BLE join forces .......................##F

   CLEVELAND --  The UTU and BLE have agreed to work 
together to develop a joint position on the remote 
control operation of locomotives.

   They agreed recently to jointly develop a proposal on 
substantive provisions designed to ensure the safety of 
employees represented by both unions, and to limit the 
use of remote control to those operations currently 
existing. The parties intend to share all available 
data, research, and other work already done individually 
in developing a common position through consensus.



--Deiser attends hearings ..........................##G

   WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rockland Coaches General 
Chairperson Rich Deiser represented the UTU in 
Washington, D.C., at last month's NHTSA meetings on new 
hours-of-service regulations.

   "Everyone who testified agreed that undisturbed rest 
is an important part of any change to the regulations," 
Deiser said.

   The number of hours off for undisturbed rest in still 
is in dispute, he noted. "The unions' concerns were over 
decreased earning power of members, and where the 
drivers would end up if their hours ran out and they 
were required to take 32 to 56 hours of consecutive off-
duty time."



--Contact senators on retirement (H.R. 4844) ....##H

   The future of the Railroad Retirement System is in 
your hands.

   Take a minute to write to your U.S. senator to urge 
his or her support for the Railroad Retirement 
Survivors' Act of 2000.

   This legislation, if passed, will strengthen and 
improve the benefits provided by the Railroad Retirement 
System to you and your family. 

   Below is a sample letter that you may use when 
writing your senator, as well as information allowing 
you to contact your lawmakers via the Internet. Whether 
you send a message electronically or with pen and paper, 
remember to include your name, address and telephone 
number on your letter.

   Lawmakers want, and need, to hear your opinions if 
they are to effectively serve as your elected 
representative. Please, let them know how you feel on 
this very important issue. Take a minute and write your 
senator.

---------------------------------------------------

The Honorable _________________________
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator __________________________:

   I am writing to seek your support for the "Railroad 
Retirement and Survivor's Improvement Act of 2000," 
recently passed by the House of Representatives as H.R. 
4844.

   This historic legislation represents the first time 
in 25 years that labor, management and retirees have 
agreed on a set of changes to benefit those who rely on 
the Railroad Retirement System for a secure retirement.

   A major coalition of 13 rail unions and rail retiree 
organizations representing more than three million 
members has recently reached an historic agreement with 
the railroads represented by the National Carriers' 
Conference Committee to secure the following 
improvements detailed in H.R. 4844:

   -- An expansion of surviving spouse benefits;

   -- Unreduced retirement benefits at age 60 with 30 
years of service;

   -- A retiree health insurance plan at age 60, with 
increases in the lifetime benefit maximum indexed to the 
medical inflation rate;

   -- A guarantee that the railroads will ensure the 
future solvency of the fund by absorbing any necessary 
future tax increases;

   -- A repeal of caps on Railroad Retirement benefits 
for long-term employees; and

   -- Five-year vesting.

   In the wake of this historic agreement between labor 
and the railroads, and with the stability of the 
Railroad Retirement System guaranteed, I believe the 
time has come to make those changes which are long 
overdue and will benefit generations to come.

   I hope I can count on your support of the "Railroad 
Retirement and Survivor's Improvement Act of 2000" when 
this legislation is introduced in the Senate, and I look 
forward to hearing from you regarding your position on 
this important matter.

Sincerely yours,
(your signature)

---------------------------------------------------
SENATORS OF THE 106TH CONGRESS

ALASKA
Murkowski, Frank (R)
http://murkowski.senate.gov/webmail.html
Stevens, Ted (R)
senator_stevens@stevens.senate.gov

ALABAMA
Sessions, Jeff (R)
senator@sessions.senate.gov
Shelby, Richard (R)
senator@shelby.senate.gov

ARKANSAS
Hutchinson, Tim (R)
senator.hutchinson@hutchinson.senate.gov
Lincoln, Blanche (D)
blanche_lincoln@lincoln.senate.gov

ARIZONA
Kyl, Jon (R)
info@kyl.senate.gov
McCain, John (R)
john_mccain@mccain.senate.gov

CALIFORNIA
Boxer, Barbara (D)
http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/webform.html
Feinstein, Dianne (D)
senator@feinstein.senate.gov

COLORADO
Allard, Wayne (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~allard/webform.html
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R)
no e-mail

CONNECTICUT
Dodd, Christopher (D)
sen_dodd@dodd.senate.gov
Lieberman, Joseph (D)
senator_lieberman@lieberman.senate.gov

DELAWARE
Biden Jr, Joseph (D)
senator@biden.senate.gov
Roth Jr, William (R)
comments@roth.senate.gov

FLORIDA
Graham, Bob (D)
bob_graham@graham.senate.gov
Mack, Connie (R)
connie@mack.senate.gov

GEORGIA
Cleland, Max (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~cleland/webform.html
Coverdell, Paul (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~coverdell/webform.html

HAWAII
Inouye, Daniel (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~inouye/webform.html
Akaka, Daniel (D)
senator@akaka.senate.gov

IOWA
Grassley, Chuck (R)
http://grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm
Harkin, Tom (D)
tom_harkin@harkin.senate.gov

IDAHO
Craig, Larry (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~craig/webform.html
Crapo, Mike (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~crapo/webform.html

ILLINOIS
Fitzgerald, Peter (R)
senator_fitzgerald@fitzgerald.senate.gov
Durbin, Richard (D)
\dick@durbin.senate.gov

INDIANA
Lugar, Richard (R)
senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Bayh, Evan (D)
http://bayh.senate.gov/WebMail.html

KANSAS
Roberts, Pat (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~roberts/email.htm
Brownback, Sam (R)
sam_brownback@brownback.senate.gov

KENTUCKY
McConnell, Mitch (R)
senator@mcconnell.senate.gov
Bunning, Jim (R)
jim_bunning@bunning.senate.gov

LOUISIANA
Breaux, John (D)
senator@breaux.senate.gov
Landrieu, Mary (D)
http://landrieu.senate.gov/webform.html

MASSACHUSETTS
Kennedy, Edward (D)
senator@kennedy.senate.gov
Kerry, John (D)
john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov

MARYLAND
Mikulski, Barbara (D)
senator@mikulski.senate.gov
Sarbanes, Paul (D)
senator@sarbanes.senate.gov

MAINE
Collins, Susan (R)
senator@collins.senate.gov
Snowe, Olympia (R)
olympia@snowe.senate.gov

MICHIGAN
Abraham, Spencer (R)
michigan@abraham.senate.gov
Levin, Carl (D)
senator@levin.senate.gov

MINNESOTA
Grams, Rod (R)
mail_grams@grams.senate.gov
Wellstone, Paul (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~wellstone/webform.html

MISSOURI
Bond, Christopher (R)
kit_bond@bond.senate.gov
Ashcroft, John (R)
john_ashcroft@ashcroft.senate.gov

MISSISSIPPI
Lott, Trent (R)
senatorlott@lott.senate.gov
Cochran, Thad (R)
senator@cochran.senate.gov

MONTANA
Baucus, Max (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~baucus/EmailMax.htm
Burns, Conrad (R)
conrad_burns@burns.senate.gov

NEBRASKA
Hagel, Charles (R)
chuck_hagel@hagel.senate.gov
Kerrey, Robert (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~kerrey/pages/webform.html

NEVADA
Bryan, Richard (D)
senator@bryan.senate.gov
Reid, Harry (D)
senator_reid@reid.senate.gov

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Gregg, Judd (R)
mailbox@gregg.senate.gov
Smith, Bob (R)
opinion@smith.senate.gov

NEW JERSEY
Torricelli, Robert (D)
senator_torricelli@torricelli.senate.gov
Lautenberg, Frank (D)
frank_lautenberg@lautenberg.senate.gov

NEW MEXICO
Bingaman, Jeff (D)
senator_bingaman@bingaman.senate.gov
Domenici, Pete (R)
senator_domenici@domenici.senate.gov

NEW YORK
Moynihan, Daniel (D)
senator@dpm.senate.gov
Schumer, Charles (D)
senator@schumer.senate.gov

NORTH CAROLINA
Helms, Jesse (R)
jesse_helms@helms.senate.gov
Edwards, John (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~edwards/contact.html

NORTH DAKOTA
Dorgan, Byron (D)
senator@dorgan.senate.gov
Conrad, Kent (D)
homepage@conrad.senate.gov

OHIO
DeWine, Mike (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~dewine/request_form.html
Voinovich, George (R)
senator_voinovich@voinovich.senate.gov

OKLAHOMA
Inhofe, James (R)
jim_inhofe@inhofe.senate.gov
Nickles, Don (R)
senator@nickles.senate.gov

OREGON
Smith, Gordon (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~gsmith/webform.htm
Wyden, Ron (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~wyden/mail.htm

PENNSYLVANIA
Santorum, Rick (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~santorum/#email
Specter, Arlen (R)
http://specter.senate.gov/webform.htm

RHODE ISLAND
Chafee, Lincoln (R)
senator_chafee@chafee.senate.gov
Reed, Jack (D)
jack@reed.senate.gov

SOUTH CAROLINA
Hollings, Ernest (D)
http://www.senate.gov/~hollings/webform.html
Thurmond, Strom (R)
senator@thurmond.senate.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA
Daschle, Thomas (D)
tom_daschle@daschle.senate.gov
Johnson, Tim (D)
tim@johnson.senate.gov

TENNESSEE
Frist, William (R)
senator_frist@frist.senate.gov
Thompson, Fred (R)
senator_thompson@thompson.senate.gov

TEXAS
Gramm, Phil (R)
phil_gramm@gramm.senate.gov
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R)
senator@hutchison.senate.gov

UTAH
Bennett, Robert (R)
senator@bennett.senate.gov
Hatch, Orrin (R)
senator_hatch@hatch.senate.gov

VIRGINIA
Robb, Charles (D)
senator@robb.senate.gov
Warner, John (R)
senator@warner.senate.gov

VERMONT
Jeffords, James (R)
vermont@jeffords.senate.gov
Leahy, Patrick (D)
senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

WASHINGTON
Gorton, Slade (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~gorton/webform.html
Murray, Patty (D)
senator_murray@murray.senate.gov

WISCONSIN
Feingold, Russell (D)
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Kohl, Herb (D)
senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov

WEST VIRGINIA
Byrd, Robert (D)
senator_byrd@byrd.senate.gov
Rockefeller IV, John (D)
senator@rockefeller.senate.gov

WYOMING
Enzi, Mike (R)
senator@enzi.senate.gov
Thomas, Craig (R)
http://www.senate.gov/~thomas/contact.html



AROUND THE UTU
--News from around the U.S. and Canada .............##I

LOCAL 4, CHARNY, Q.C.
A limited quantity of French UTU pins, ideal for 
collectors, are still available for just US$7, according 
to Secretary and Treasurer LOUIS FRAN‚OIS GARCEAU. Write 
to him at P.O. Box 45005, Charny, QC G6X 3R4 Canada, or 
send him e-mail at <yahwe@total.net>.

LOCAL 324, SEATTLE, WASH.
The contract with Evergreen Trails expires Nov. 1, and 
Chairperson BRIAN DONALD is readying his committee for 
negotiations. Proposals based on suggestions from 
members are being drafted for negotiations on behalf of 
part-time and full-time drivers.

LOCAL 469, MADISON, ILL.
The UTU scored a unanimous win over the BLE in an A-card 
election spearheaded by General Chairperson DAVE WIER on 
the Manufacturers Railway and the Terminal Railroad 
Association of St. Louis, said Secretary and Treasurer 
JOHN I. PAYER. Meanwhile, members are invited to the 
Midwest Railroaders Golf Tournament, sponsored by UTU 
Designated Legal Council LANCE CALLIS and set for Aug. 
15 at the Arlington Golf Club in Granite City, Ill. 
Barbecue and refreshments will be provided, but entries 
must be received by Aug. 9. Contact Payer at 502 Western 
Ave., Collinsville, IL, or call (618) 344-4519.

LOCAL 528, CHICAGO, ILL.
Members, retirees and their families are invited to the 
local's picnic on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 11 a.m. to 6 
p.m. at Busse Woods Grove 2 in the Ned Brown Forest 
Preserve near Elk Grove, Ill., said Secretary and 
Treasurer JACK WEBBER. Food and beverages will be 
provided, and plans call for a horseshoe tournament, 
games for kids, and a raffle. For information, call the 
local's office at (312) 795-0906.

LOCAL 559, ROANOKE, VA.
Virginia State Legislative Director RICHARD JESKEY and 
Retiree Program member CHARLIE ALIFF, both members of 
the local comprised of Norfolk Southern (NS) employees, 
recently arranged a special dinner for WAYNE TAYLOR, a 
former NS engineer who, at age 23, was paralyzed after 
diving into a swimming pool. That evening, Taylor and 
his wife, FAITH, were presented a check in the amount of 
$1,100 which local members raised at their recent mini-
seminar and golf tournament.

LOCAL 577, NORTHLAKE, ILL.
All railroaders are invited to the local's annual family 
picnic, to be held Monday, September 4, from 11 a.m. to 
6 p.m., at Busse Woods Grove #32 in the Ned Brown Forest 
Preserve near Elk Grove, Ill., located off I-290 (IL 53) 
at Biesterfield Road, according to Secretary KENNETH J. 
LARSON, who notes that all food and drink will be 
provided. For information, contact Treasurer DENNIS L. 
McDONOUGH at (708) 481-6465, or send e-mail to Brother 
Larson at <rrnut@pipeline.com>.

LOCAL 631, BRUNSWICK, MD.
Members working for CSX recently presented 67-year-old 
R.R. "BOBBY" SOWER with a plaque to mark his 50 years of 
service and membership in the UTU, said Local 
Chairperson TOM GEORGE. Brother Sower began his career 
June 25, 1950, as a switchtender for the Western 
Maryland Railway. He recently told those at his 50th 
high school reunion that he would see them at the 100th 
reunion if he was not working in the freight pool that 
night.

LOCAL 1161, ENGLEHART, ONT.
Ontario Northland motor coach operators last month voted 
by a 25-to-20 margin to accept an agreement with the 
company that contained a 2% wage increase retroactive to 
Sept. 1, 1999, a 1.5% wage increase effective Sept. 1, 
2000, and a 2% wage increase effective Sept. 1, 2001, 
according to General Chairperson PHIL KONING. The pact 
also sweetened the benefit package and included some 
minor but beneficial changes in contract language 
governing working conditions.

LOCAL 1462, BOSTON, MASS.
Members offer their sympathy and condolences to fellow 
conductor RICK BLASIO, whose wife succumbed last month 
to a rare and fast-spreading cancer, according to 
Secretary and Treasurer DAVID BOWE. Meanwhile, Local 
President and Vice Local Chairperson E.B. RADOVICH 
offered gratitude to all who made the Third Annual BILLY 
FLAHERTY Railroaders' Hockey Game a great success. 
Twenty players were UTU members, including Amtrak Local 
Chairperson and "Most Valuable Player" ROGER LENFEST of 
Local 898, Boston, Mass.

LOCAL 1563, EL MONTE, CAL.
Retired vice president and former director of the UTU 
Bus Department KENNY MOORE, a delegate from Arizona at 
the Democratic National Convention to be held Aug. 14-17 
in Los Angeles, is looking to meet with other UTU 
members attending as delegates to coordinate efforts for 
a labor-friendly platform. Call him at (480) 895-4956. 
Meanwhile, Local Vice Chairperson ALBERTO HINOJOS urges 
all members to attend the local's meetings on the first 
Friday of the month at the Maya Masonic Temple, 278 S. 
Mission Rd., San Gabriel, Cal.

LOCAL 1589, NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.
Alternate Vice President-East (Bus) CAROLYN D. SCARSELLA 
and Chairperson WILLIAM ROBERSON are heading up the 
continuing contract negotiations for Suburban Trails 
part-time drivers. Meanwhile part-time drivers for 
Suburban Transit recently approved their first contract 
agreement.

LOCAL 1594, UPPER DARBY, PA.
Members and their families last month raised $1,300 
participating for the 11th time in the 68.5-mile 
American Cancer Society's Bike-A-Thon, said Local 
Chairperson and President RON KORAN. Retiree FRANK 
BRINGHURST provided food and beverages, and KEVIN 
BALDWIN provided return transportation. Over the years, 
the local has raised about $15,000 through participation 
in the event, which was initiated by Koran and local 
member BERNIE McNELIS, vice president and director of 
the UTU Bus Department. Members who rode were Koran, 
STAN BERNATOWICZ, BRUCE WERTZ, JAY WILBANK, GERRY BROWN, 
TOM SAUSMAN, ANN JORDAN and AL WILLIAMS. Family members 
participating included KERRI BERNATOWICZ, STEVEN KORAN, 
JIM and NICOLE PORTER and KEVIN REILLY.

LOCAL 1697, LUBBOCK, TEX.
Revenue and accounting clerks, along with the auditors 
working for Texas, New Mexico & Oklahoma Coaches, 
recently voted in favor of the UTU as their bargaining 
agent, according to Vice President BERNIE McNELIS, 
director of the UTU Bus Department, who said they will 
be included in the same bargaining unit as the bus 
operators. McNelis expressed gratitude to General 
Chairperson ROY ARNOLD, Vice Chairperson MARVIN WHITE, 
and to the employees for their confidence in the UTU.

LOCAL 1760, DETROIT, MICH.
Treasurer JERRY D'ORTENZIO is again helping to 
coordinate events for the third annual Metro Detroit 
Operation RedBlock Family Picnic, set for 11 a.m. to 7 
p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, at the Parkland Community Park 
(Site C2), 6750 Ann Arbor Trail, Dearborn Heights, Mich. 
D'Ortenzio promises a fun day of free food, exciting 
games and friendship, and encourages all retirees to 
attend. For information, contact him at (734) 522-1043.

LOCAL 1895, CHICAGO, ILL.
Aug. 26 marks the date of the local's first family 
picnic, the "Grill and Thrill," said Secretary and 
Treasurer TOM RADOVICH. To be held at the Lan-Oak Park 
in Lansing, Ill., the event will run from 11 a.m. to 
dusk, and will feature food, beverages, prizes and an 
appearance by the UTU's mobile education and training 
facility MEMBERSHIP I. Contact Radovich at (708) 596-
0574, or e-mail him at <UTU1895@home.com>.



MEMBERSHIP IN ACTION
--Bus operator wins new outlook on life .........##J

   What do TV star Larry Hagman, basketball player Sean 
Elliott and bus operator Roy Arnold of Local 1697 in 
Lubbock, Tex., share in common?

   All are alive due to organ transplants, and all 
recently attended the National Transplant Olympics in 
Orlando, Fla., where Brother Arnold competed in the 
basketball, softball throw, table tennis, bowling and 
volleyball events.

   "This was my first experience at the games," the 47-
year-old Arnold said, "and I loved it! I'm in training 
now for next year's games!"

   With 23 years of experience behind the wheel, Arnold 
has served as chairperson for the employees of Texas, 
New Mexico & Oklahoma Coaches Inc. (including Panhandle 
Trailways) since 1994, and his union background was 
never far from his thoughts during the games.

   "I used the opportunity in Orlando to do some 
organizing for the UTU," Arnold noted. "I made several 
contacts with shuttle drivers who want very much to be 
represented by a union."

   Arnold first noticed physical problems in late 1990, 
and realized the following year a kidney transplant 
would be necessary. The operation in 1992 gave him a new 
lease on life, and a new outlook.

   "I've learned to appreciate life more and not sweat 
the small stuff," Arnold said, "and I thank God every 
day He gives me air to breathe. My hopes and prayers are 
that more will consider organ donation so that others 
may live."

   Arnold didn't win any of the events, but credits the 
fact that he feels like a winner to the director of 
UTU's Bus Department. "I had great moral support from my 
friend and buddy, Vice President Bernie McNelis," he 
said.

   For information about his experiences, or to sponsor 
his participation, reach Arnold at P.O. Box 515, Happy, 
TX 79042, or send e-mail to him at <arnfam@arn.net>.



STATE WATCH
--News from UTU State Legislative Boards ...........##K

COLORADO
   After more than 40 years of union membership, the 
majority of which were spent holding union office, JACK 
SHAVER (L-202) has retired as legislative director of 
the state of Colorado.

   "This union has truly lost one of its greatest assets 
in Jack Shaver," said UTU President CHARLES L. LITTLE. 
"He has given so tirelessly of himself over the years 
and his retirement is well deserved."

   Shaver, who grew up in a rail union family, joined 
the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen as a brakeman with 
the Union Pacific in the fall of 1960. He was elected 
vice president of BRT Lodge 30 in 1962, and was serving 
as the lodge's legislative representative by 1964. 
Following the formation of the UTU in 1969, Shaver held 
the local posts of treasurer and legislative 
representative in UTU Local 202 at Denver.

   In 1984, he was elected to the office of state 
legislative director and held that position to his 
retirement. During his tenure, Shaver served as a 
delegate to all eight UTU conventions since 1971 and was 
a member of the Constitution Committee for the 1983, 
1995 and 1999 conventions.

   He had also served as the chairperson of the National 
Association of State Directors since 1992. "I loved my 
job in the union, but it was just time to go," Shaver 
said.

   Elevated to replace Shaver was former Assistant 
Legislative Director RICK A. JOHNSON, who was elected to 
that post at the board's quadrennial meeting earlier 
this year.

   Johnson had served as local chairperson for UTU Local 
202 since 1991 and currently holds the office of 
legislative representative for that local. He has also 
held the offices of local president and alternate 
delegate.


INDIANA
   In the 100th anniversary year of EUGENE V. DEBS' 
candidacy for the presidency of the United States, the 
Debs Foundation and Indiana State University have 
announced a scholarly conference to assess Debs' 
influence on life in 20th century America, reports 
Legislative Director JAMES E. CARRICO.

   The conference will be held from November 10-11, 
2000, the same weekend as the foundation's annual awards 
banquet. Those seeking more information can contact 
Prof. CHARLES KING of the university's sociology 
department at (812) 237-3443, or send an e-mail to 
<soking@scifac.indstate.edu>.

   Debs, who founded the American Railway Union in 1893, 
was a firm supporter of a single rail union representing 
all of rail labor.


OHIO
   As this edition went to press, Legislative Director 
BILL THOMPSON reported that Gov. Bob Taft had signed 
Senate Bill 207. The measure, approved in late May by 
both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio 
Senate, increases from a minor misdemeanor to a 
misdemeanor of the first degree the obstruction of a 
street, road or highway by a railroad train.

The legislation requires the state to establish a fine 
of $1,000 that must be imposed for such an offense, and 
sets a fine of $5,000 for the abandonment of a 
locomotive. Fines will be used for railroad highway 
grade crossing improvements.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 88-4 and the 
Senate by a vote of 33-0.

NOTE: A photograph in the print edition of this month's 
issue of the UTU NEWS depicts Federal Railroad 
Administrator JOLENE MOLITORIS meeting with UTU officers 
at the Birmingham Regional Meeting. Those officers 
included Vice President Bruce Wigent; CSX General 
Chairperson Terry Reed; Illinois State Legislative 
Director Joe Szabo; Alabama State Legislative Director 
Ron Clements; Local 762, Montgomery, Ala., Local 
Chairperson and Legislative Representative Robert Cobb; 
Assistant National Legislative Director James Stem; 
Local 1129, Raleigh, N.C., Local Chairperson and 
Legislative Representative Glen Lamm; Local 1129, 
Raleigh, N.C., Local Chairperson Richard Westbrook; Ohio 
State Legislative Director Bill Thompson; West Virginia 
State Legislative Director Jack Pennybacker, and 
Assistant Illinois State Legislative Director John 
Burner.



BUS DEPT. / STREET BEAT
--"Labor Day marks ongoing struggle" ............##L
   Editorial by Bernard J. McNelis
   Vice President and Director, UTU Bus Dept.

   Next month we celebrate Labor Day.

   Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894 following 
a tumultuous time in labor history. Here's the story:

   Employees of the Pullman Sleeping Car Company lived 
in Pullman, Ill., near Chicago. Virtually all of the 
residents of Pullman worked for the Pullman Sleeping Car 
Company. The rents were set by Pullman and were deducted 
from paychecks by Pullman. Paychecks were drawn from the 
Pullman Bank.

   In 1893, a national depression set in and many 
Pullman employees were laid off. Those who stayed 
suffered wage cuts, while rents remained the same. The 
workers' take-home pay was reduced dramatically.

   Workers walked off the job and Eugene Debs came to 
help. The strike became a national issue and President 
Grover Cleveland sent in federal troops. The riots and 
killings are a sad chapter in labor history. The strike 
and the unions were dissolved.

   The movement for a national labor day had been 
growing for some time prior to the Pullman strike. 
Workers all over the country took an unpaid day off to 
march in protest of the conditions at Pullman. President 
Cleveland took the brunt of the protests from his 
handling of the Pullman strike.

   Soon after, legislation was rushed unanimously 
through both houses of Congress and arrived on President 
Cleveland's desk just six days after the Pullman strike 
ended. President Cleveland was up for re-election and he 
grabbed at the chance for reconciliation. Labor Day was 
enacted; President Cleveland, however, was not re-
elected.

   Please remember Labor Day and observe it in an 
appropriate way.



YARDMASTER REPORT
--"CSX negotiations set for August 8-9" ............##M
   Editorial by Don R. Carver
   Assistant to the President, Yardmaster Dept.

   Negotiations are continuing on freight, passenger and 
commuter carriers that are not in national handling. We 
remain hopeful for resolution of the national agreement 
prior to the end of this year. The national agreement 
will not settle all of the unresolved yardmaster 
contracts.

   Negotiating sessions with CSXT are slated for Aug. 8 
and 9, 2000. General Chairpersons Doyle Turner, Richard 
DeGenova, Dennis Burke and James Cumby are involved in 
the negotiations.

   Negotiations are ongoing with the managements of 
METRA, New Orleans Public Belt, Indiana Harbor Belt and 
Amtrak.

   The Union Pacific Union Yardmaster Council, (UPUYC), 
which represents Union Pacific yardmasters, has an 
unresolved notice on the carrier.

   Please let your representatives know you support the 
proposed changes in H.R. 4844, the Railroad Retirement 
Survivors' Act of 2000.

   Yardmaster General Chairperson Joseph M. Mercurio, 
from the St. Lawrence & Hudson (former D&H) yardmaster 
committee, is recuperating from major surgery. At last 
report, Joe was regaining strength and doing much 
better. He and Cathy express their thanks for the many 
flowers, calls, cards and prayers.

   Effective Apr. 1, 2000, new rates went into effect 
for the yardmaster retiree insurance plans through 
Trustmark Insurance Company. Any yardmaster planning to 
retire in the near future should contact the Yardmaster 
Department at the UTU International for information. The 
telephone number is (216) 228-9400, ext. 315.



EDITORIALS

--Thanks to lots of people ......................##N

   Thanks to the hard work of many dedicated union and 
political leaders, a new and better Railroad Retirement 
pension will make the lives better for more than one 
million people participating in the system.

   The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass 
H.R. 4844 -- the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' 
Improvement Act of 2000 -- which would increase benefits 
for 50,000 railroad retiree widows, reduce taxes on 
railroad employees, lower the retirement age from 62 to 
age 60 with 30 years service, and cut the vesting time 
in half to five years. A companion bill is expected to 
be introduced in the Senate shortly.

   We want to take this opportunity to thank the union 
and political leaders by name who stood shoulder to 
shoulder with the UTU to do what is right for the one 
million people in the Railroad Retirement system, 
including more than 50,000 railroad retiree widows. The 
unions represent more than three million people.

   This is a great day for us all. Thank you.

   U.S. House -- Bud Schuster (R-Pa.), Bill Archer (R-
Tex), Thomas Petri (R-Ill.), Clay Shaw (R-Fla.), James 
Oberstar (D-Minn.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Nick Rahal 
(D-W. Va.), Bob Matsui (D-Cal.).

   Labor -- ATDD: Leon McCann, Chuck Mundy; TCU: Robert 
Scardelletti, Joel Parker, Howard Randolph, Tony 
Padilla; BRS: Dan Pickett, Dennis Boston, James Padilla, 
Leonard Parker; Sheet Metal: Don Buchanan, Dewey 
Garland, Vince Tanzini; IBEW: Rick Digele, Liz Schuler; 
SEIU: Skip Roberts; IAM: Tom Trotter, Mark Filipovich; 
Firemen & Oilers: George Francisco; TWU: Charles 
Moneypenny; NARVRE: Whitey Westphal.



--Moratorium stands ................................##O

   The U.S. Court of Appeals made a wise decision to 
support the Surface Transportation Board's (STB) 15-
month moratorium on railroad mergers.

   The UTU filed a legal brief supporting the STB and 
opposing the Canadian National Railway's merger with 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Now we will have 
time to try to get the rail industry's house in order 
before what will probably be the next round of major 
mergers after the moratorium ends.

   Working with the STB, the railroad industry and its 
unions must arrive at new guidelines which protect union 
workers from cramdown and other merger-related operating 
changes, including fatigue and other safety issues.



--"History in the Making" .......................##P
   Editorial by Byron A. Boyd, Jr.
   UTU Assistant President

   By the time this newspaper reaches your home, there 
may be significant positive movement in two areas that 
affect your future.

   First, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected 
to have passed the Railroad Retirement bill -- H.B. 4844 
-- and sent it to the Senate for debate and a vote later 
this fall.

   This bill affects one million current and future 
railroad retirees, including more than 50,000 "railroad 
widows" who would immediately get a full survivor's 
pension.

   Second, a national wage and rule proposal could be on 
the way that would end the post-85 and pre-85 
conditions, and end entry rates and the two-tiered wage 
structure.

   This has been the UTU's primary objective in this 
round of negotiations, and we will not make a deal until 
it happens.

   If they both happen -- and we expect to be halfway 
there on Railroad Retirement and making rapid and 
serious progress on the contract -- then the UTU will 
have been successful in obtaining fairness in the 
workplace and in retirement.

   In working to improve Railroad Retirement, the UTU 
cooperated closely with about a dozen other 
organizations which collectively represent more than 
three million workers.

   To the left of this column, we take the opportunity 
in this month's lead editorial to thank some of those 
organizations and their leaders by name.

   It is extremely rewarding that on an issue of this 
magnitude -- enacting the best improvements to Railroad 
Retirement in a generation -- nearly every organization 
cooperated in unity and harmony.

   It is also rewarding that the bipartisan leadership 
in the House agreed that this was an outstanding bill.

   The job, however, is not over. We still must convince 
the U.S. Senate to pass the Railroad Retirement bill.

   That's where we need your help. On the next page we 
provide you with the names of every senator and how to 
contact them. We urge every member - active or retired - 
to contact his or her senators and tell them to pass the 
Railroad Retirement bill.

   As we have said repeatedly, the UTU's main goal in 
national contract talks is to end the dual basis of pay 
and two-tiered wage structure.

   We feel it is imperative that the next generation of 
railroaders - and all new hires - get paid fairly and 
equally for the job they perform and that we end the 
"caste system."

   There are always some that will put their own 
interests above others. There will always be others who 
prefer to be naysayers and criticize what we do just for 
the "sport," without offering solid, real-world ideas.

   But as we look at what is within our grasp in this 
first year of the 21st century, our union stands in the 
middle of what will be regarded as two historical 
accomplishments.



--"80 days to improve Railroad Retirement" .........##Q
   Editorial by James M. Brunkenhoefer
   UTU National Legislative Director

   On January 12, 2000, Charles Little, Byron Boyd and 
the leaders of about a dozen other unions reached an 
agreement in principle for improving Railroad 
Retirement.

   All of the unions, with the exception of the BMWE and 
the BLE, joined together to get Congress to make things 
better.

   In addition to the union coalition, all of the major 
United States railroads, the regional and shortline 
railroad associations, and the rail retiree groups also 
supported the agreement.

   This set of principles was reviewed and shaped by the 
Railroad Retirement Board and several committees of the 
U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. On 
July 13, 2000, H.R. 4844 was introduced and referred to 
both the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and 
the Ways and Means Committee.

   Normally, these committees would hold this 
legislation for weeks or months before it would be 
considered. However, this time things were different, 
and on the afternoon of July 19, the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee voted 62 to 1 in favor of H.R. 
4844 without any substantive changes.

   This was done without the help of the BLE, and in 
spite of numerous efforts on the part of BMWE to derail 
this bill.

   A similar effort is currently underway in the U.S. 
Senate, and we expect action on this legislation before 
Congress adjourns during the first week of October. That 
will only happen if we are able to convince members of 
the U.S. Senate to approve this legislation.

   The best way to do that is for as many people as 
possible to contact their senators and ask them to pass 
H.R. 4844 or similar legislation.

   We must convince the Senate of the urgency of this 
matter.

   It usually takes eight years from when an idea first 
appears in Congress and legislation is introduced until 
it becomes law. We, however, cannot wait eight years. If 
we are to be successful, we must get H.R. 4844 passed 
into law in just 80 days.

   With the help of many other fine people, some of whom 
are mentioned in the editorial above, we can get the job 
done. For UTU members, hard-driving Washington political 
action is not the exception, but the norm. That is 
because thousands of UTU members are politically 
involved and contribute to TPEL.

   The day the Railroad Retirement bill goes to the 
White House for signing is a day we all can enjoy. It 
means your investment in your union's political action 
has been rewarded with a financially stronger and more 
secure retirement program.

   It also means you will be helping out more than 
50,000 surviving spouses of Railroad Retirement 
recipients.

   So, please, don't wait. I know you are one of about 
one million people who are looking forward to seeing 
President Clinton sign our much-improved Railroad 
Retirement plan in the Rose Garden.



--Voices: Members share their opinions ..........##R

   The UTU NEWS regularly contacts members at random to 
report their thoughts on a question of interest to the 
general membership.

   This month's question: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR NEW 
HIRES?

   "I've been in the industry for 24 years. I'm a 
yardmaster, a local president, and I chair the 
Yardmasters' General Chairperson Council, representing 
workers on CSX, Conrail and Amtrak. I think we need to 
invite new hires to local meetings, teach them about the 
union way of life, give them a copy of their contract, 
and answer any questions or concerns they may have. At 
the very least, it's the responsibility of the officers, 
but we should hope all members would try to teach these 
new workers. When a guy starts asking questions and 
wants to get involved, you've done your job."
   -- JAMES R. CUMBY, L-1962, TOLEDO, OHIO

   "I'm a Union Pacific conductor with 29 years of 
experience. Probably 20% of our local has been hired in 
the last two years. We need to get rid of the dual rate 
of pay. We can get the general contract fairly easy, and 
the UTU constitution, but some of the local hub 
agreements are slow in coming to the new hires. 
Everybody in the local should make a point of welcoming 
new members. We need to explain our organization's 
history so they can appreciate the value of UTU 
membership. And they need it in black and white how the 
BLE has started the race to the bottom."
   -- TERRY DONOHUE, L-1043, SPARKS, NEV.

   "I've been a bus operator with Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority for 17 years, and 
serve as local vice chairperson, legislative 
representative and delegate. We have to teach new hires 
to be better union members and workers. They need to 
learn about their contract, about unionism, and about 
the benefits they get from a union. They should know 
that if it weren't for the union, we wouldn't be getting 
the pay and benefits we enjoy. All our members should 
introduce themselves to the new hires and invite them to 
our local meetings."
   -- ALBERTO HINOJOS, L-1563, EL MONTE, CAL.

   "I started with CP Rail as a brakeman in 1985, and 
I'm a conductor today. We got about 10 new hires 
recently right off the street, and the company plans to 
hire another 10 in the near future. It should be up to 
all members of the local to welcome new members and 
encourage them to become better at their craft. Our 
local has an introductory meeting showing what the UTU's 
all about. We supply copies of the UTU constitution and 
our agreement, and explain who to contact with a 
problem. The International supplies some good materials 
to help orient the new hires, so that helps."
   -- KEVIN McLAUGHLIN, L-571, SCHREIBER, ONT.



REGIONAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

--Birmingham celebrates "The Power of One" .........##S

NOTE: The print and web versions of this month's edition 
of the UTU NEWS include a photo spread of images 
captured at the recent UTU Regional Meeting at the 
Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham, Ala. (July 10-12, 2000). 
Below is the text that accompanies that feature.
------------------------------
BIRMINGHAM -- The only thing hotter than the weather 
outside the recent Birmingham Regional Meeting at the 
Sheraton Birmingham in Alabama was the white-hot spirit 
of fraternalism inside the sprawling convention-center 
complex.

More than 700 UTU members and their families attended 
the meeting, which featured nearly 30 educational and 
informational workshops (see UTU News, April 2000, for a 
listing), riveting speeches, great food and 
entertainment, and that special sense of collectivism 
that is the UTU.

Attendees heard Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene 
Molitoris praise the UTU for its many successes, and 
call UTU President Charles L. Little the "(union) 
president for the 21st century."

"There is a vigor here (at the UTU), there is an 
excitement about how to make this union stronger," she 
said.

Participants were entertained by The Pink Flamingos, who 
also will be featured at the Minneapolis Regional 
Meeting at the Minneapolis Hilton and Towers.

The essence of fraternalism and education, seasoned with 
Southern hospitality, made Birmingham a meeting to 
remember.



SENIOR NEWS

--Retiree's work pays dividends .................##T

   People who meet Retiree Program member William 
Newell, Jr., for the first time find the experience to 
be both enriching and memorable.

   It's easy enough to remember his friendly demeanor 
and charitable approach to life. But what really sticks 
in people's minds is the two-dollar bills he uses as his 
calling cards.

   "It's just something I do for fun," said Newell, a 
member of Local 1334 in Hattiesburg, Miss. "I give away 
five two-dollar bills each day, five days a week, along 
with a note reminding people that God loves them. I've 
done that for 10 years, but it really doesn't cost. It 
comes back to you."

   Perhaps the most valuable thing Newell gives away is 
his time, energy and enthusiasm for making the world a 
better place.

   "When I lost my leg in late 1996 and retired, I had a 
lot of time to think," Newell said. "Since then, I've 
started a Cub Scout unit and helped build a mission 
house to feed the homeless in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. I 
raise about $20,000 a year for Habitat for Humanity, and 
work to raise funds for the Billy Graham team," he said.

   Newell also spends about eight hours a week on Al 
Gore's presidential campaign while still finding time to 
go to luncheons attended by retired railroaders "to sell 
the power of one union, as well as the notion of how 
much stronger we can be if we get involved in our 
communities."

   Brother Newell began his career in 1952 as a brakeman 
on the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio after returning from military 
service in Korea. He joined Brotherhood of Railroad 
Trainmen Lodge 373 and immediately got involved in union 
activities. "I think I held every local office possible, 
except for secretary/treasurer," said Newell, who served 
as deputy president under former UTU presidents Charles 
Luna and Al Chesser.

   In 1976, he became a field supervisor, but in 1996, 
as a conductor on the ICG Railroad, the problems with 
his leg forced his "retirement."

   The end of one career marked the beginning of 
another. That summer, he joined with 20 other 
individuals in his community to invest in the creation 
of the Oceanside Bank, a financial institution that 
"treats people in the community like they did 50 years 
ago," Newell said. "We closed out this fiscal year with 
$66.9 million dollars."



--Railroad Retirement System growing stronger ......##U

   The U.S. Railroad Retirement System continues to grow 
stronger, with the 21st triennial actuarial valuation 
finding generally favorable trends and an improvement 
over the last triennial valuation and the two most 
recent annual financial reports.

   At the end of fiscal year 1999, the net position of 
the Railroad Retirement trust funds was almost $18 
billion, up from $16.5 billion at the end of fiscal 1998 
and $15.4 billion in fiscal 1997.

   At the same time, the unemployment insurance account 
held nearly $110 million, up from a balance of $102.5 
million last year and significantly higher than the $85 
million held the year before.

   As in years past, the study's authors examined three 
employment assumptions, using different patterns of 
changes in the rail work force for the 75 calendar years 
spanning 1999 to 2073. Under the optimistic and the 
moderate assumptions, no cash-flow problems were likely 
during the entire 75-year period.

   Under the pessimistic assumption, the report showed 
no cash-flow problem anticipated until the year 2035, an 
improvement of 13 years over the result shown in last 
year's annual report, which found the pessimistic 
assumption produced an actuarial deficiency in 2022.

   Similarly, the report detailed a promising prognosis 
for the unemployment insurance fund. Even though maximum 
benefit rates are scheduled to rise 50% (from $46 to 
$69) from 1999 to 2010, the account is expected to 
remain solvent, even under the most pessimistic 
employment assumption.

   The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is required by 
law to submit annual financial reports and triennial 
actuarial valuations to Congress on the retirement 
fund's condition, as well as annual reports on the 
unemployment insurance system.



--Retired VPs, SLD pass away ....................##V

   Retired former UTU vice presidents Melvin A. Ross and 
Roy D. Heape, and retired former Colorado State 
Legislative Director Earle Gile, passed away recently.

   Brother Ross, who died June 26 at age 87, began his 
rail career in 1942 as a fireman for the St. Louis-San 
Francisco Railroad, earning promotion to engineer in 
1945.

   A member of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & 
Enginemen Lodge 414 in St. Louis, Mo., Ross served in 
local positions from 1945 to 1955, when he was elected 
general chairperson on the 'Frisco. He served in that 
capacity until his election as vice president in 1959. 
He was re-elected to the post at succeeding conventions, 
including the 1971 UTU convention. Ross also served as a 
member of the unification committee that drafted the 
merger plan creating the UTU.

   Ross retired in December 1978 as a member of Local 
1388 in St. Louis, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Lela, 
a daughter and a son.

   Brother Heape, who died July 10 at age 82, began his 
rail career in 1941 as a yardman with the Terminal 
Railroad Association of St. Louis. He was promoted to 
yard conductor and worked in that capacity for about 19 
years.

   A member of Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (BRT) 
Lodge 943, he later became a charter member of BRT Lodge 
1076 when it was organized in 1949. He served as 
insurance representative, legislative representative and 
lodge chairperson, and was assigned as organizer and 
deputy president at intervals in the 1950s. He was 
elected an alternate vice president in 1960 and was 
elevated to vice president in 1963. He was re-elected to 
the post at subsequent conventions, including the 1971 
UTU convention.

   Heape retired in February 1978 as a member of Local 
469 in Madison, Ill. His wife, Freda, passed away in May 
1997, and he is survived by two sons and two daughters.

   Brother Gile, who died June 19 at age 81, began his 
rail career in 1951 as a brakeman on the Milwaukee Road 
and joined BRT Lodge 30. In 1957, he relocated to 
Arvada, Col., where he went to work on the Colorado & 
Southern Railroad.

   A member of Local 202 in Denver, Col., Gile was 
elected Colorado State Legislative Director in 1976, a 
post he held until his retirement in January 1984. He is 
survived by his wife, Ruth, one son and one daughter.



--The Final Call ...................................##W

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
R       Winter, Christie J.    Jacksonville, FL
0002    Kusser, Emmett P.          Sandusky, OH
0002    Roepke, Cornell C.           Toledo, OH
0018    Shultz, Jos. Charles    Albuquerque, NM
0113    Cleaver, Edwin O.           Winslow, AZ
0202    Gile, Earle                  Arvada, CO
0221    Ratcliff, Charles H.   N. Ltl. Rock, AR
0238    Bon, Gerald H.                Nampa, ID
0262    Perry, Thomas L.            Taunton, MA
0329    Hendricks, Charles L.        Dayton, IN
0469    Heape, Roy D.         Fairview Hts., IL
0496    Meade, Walter S.           Prichard, WV
0577    Olds, Glen A.                 Pekin, IL
0629    Clemons, Homer L.             Salem, VA
0630    Bennett, George W.         Wurtland, KY
0662    Nuckols, James F.          Richmond, VA
0800    Taylor, Robert F.         Lakehurst, NJ
0971    Bowden, Raymond T.         Victoria, VA
1033    Mitchell, George C.      Greenville, GA
1292    Coombe, William T.          Eveleth, MN
1337    Bozzelle, Clement A.         Gretna, LA
1376    Davis, Jack M.          Westerville, OH
1388    Ross, Melvin A.            Wildwood, MO
1403    Duff, Thomas G.       Sunrise Beach, MO
1447    Vogel, Clifford J.         Lakeland, FL
1494    Rowley, Walter H.              Peru, IL
1518    Eversole, James W.      Greencastle, IN
1549    Cox, Jr., P.A.          Springfield, OH
1557    Pollan, Aubrey L.           Memphis, TN
1883    Taylor, Donald F.        San Pierre, IN
1892    Arfele, Anthony T.           Spring, TX



TPEL HONOR ROLL
--Contributors' continuing support recognized ...##X

Listed below are Individuals who began contributing to 
TPEL or increased their donations to $100 or more per 
year during June 2000.

* = Retired Member

PLATINUM CLUB
($1,200 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
Farris, Gregory N.      78    Pocatello, ID
Yarger, Shane R.       265    Pocatello, ID
Minton, Jeffery J.     582    Stevens Pt., WI
Iannone, Costantino A. 838    Philadelphia, PA
LeNeave, Cortney      1000    Minneapolis, MN

DOUBLE DIAMOND CLUB
($600 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
Smith, David L.        265    Pocatello, ID
Chidester, Michael R. 1366    Salt Lake City, UT

DIAMOND PLUS CLUB
($400 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
Barrett, Robert L.      78    Pocatello, ID
Nicholls, Melvin G.     78    Pocatello, ID
Price, John W.          78    Pocatello, ID
Rodriguez, Roberto      78    Pocatello, ID
Ingerick Jr, Ronald E. 782    Asheville, NC
Evans, Craig A.        951    Sheridan, WY
Bottles, Raymond C.   1638    Cleveland, OH

DOLLAR-A-DAY CLUB
($365 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
Ward, Randall C.        78    Pocatello, ID
White, Robert S.        78    Pocatello, ID
Whitworth, Wilma E.     78    Pocatello, ID
Hoepker, Keith H.      199    Creston, IA
Ingram, Donald G.      265    Pocatello, ID
Teshima, Melvin K.     265    Pocatello, ID
*Van Vleet, Edward V.  311    La Crosse, WI
Wehr, Charles E.       498    Allentown, PA
Childs, Larry A.       623    Clifton Forge, VA
Ellis, George W.       781    Shreveport, LA
Matheny, Michael E.    781    Shreveport, LA
Wright, Robert E.      781    Shreveport, LA
Moody, Larry D.        904    Evansville, IN
Drummond, Bruce M.     951    Sheridan, WY
Michelena, Gale D.     951    Sheridan, WY
Ungricht, Terry L.     951    Sheridan, WY
Hunegs, Richard       1000    Minneapolis, MN
Stone, Robert         1000    Minneapolis, MN
Croonquist, Willis G. 1177    Willmar, MN
Evans Jr., Horace O.  1252    Fresno, CA
Gilkison, Gary L.     1377    Covington, KY
Brownawell, Gerald D. 1532    Kansas City, KS
Doyno, Robin          1544    Maywood, CA
Winslow, Pat J.       1554    Ogden, UT
Lowe, Joseph P.       1760    Detroit, MI
Randolph, William R.  1883    Riverdale, IL
Vargas, Michael G.    1883    Riverdale, IL
Rodgers, Thomas H.    1973    Chicago, IL
Sternquist, Roger D.  1976    St. Paul, MN

DIAMOND CLUB
($300 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
McFadden, Ian           23    Santa Cruz, CA
Price, Robert R.        78    Pocatello, ID
Temple, Richard P.     171    Aurora, IL
Peck, Gerald R.        265    Pocatello, ID
Winterbottom, Jerry    265    Pocatello, ID
Saunders, Kamron T.    508    Smithville, TX
Miracle, David L.      573    Danville, KY
Thompson, Jeff         582    Stevens Pt., WI
Smith, Robert O.       613    Austin, TX
Keel, Donald E.        866    Rawlins, WY
Moon, Stephen M.       866    Rawlins, WY
Richardson, Ronald K.  953    Victoria, TX
Gonzalez, Anthony J.  1252    Fresno, CA
Dumas, Renwick D.     1836    New Orleans, LA

GOLD CLUB
($100 or more per year)
NAME                  LOCAL   CITY/STATE
McConnell, Morris L.     7    North Platte, NE
Nielson, Frank A.        7    North Platte, NE
Peal, Theodore I.        7    North Platte, NE
Clayton, Michael C.     23    Santa Cruz, CA
Staples, Bruce A.       78    Pocatello, ID
Vanhorn, John E.        78    Pocatello, ID
Brooks, Michael E.     145    Columbus, OH
Bright, Roosevelt      171    Aurora, IL
Cox, Kevin J.          171    Aurora, IL
Cutrano, Joseph J.     171    Aurora, IL
Fick, Elmer S.         171    Aurora, IL
Hamlet, Kenneth        171    Aurora, IL
Hammond, Robert A.     171    Aurora, IL
Harwood, Richard T.    171    Aurora, IL
Jablonski, Richard     171    Aurora, IL
Kiro, William J.       171    Aurora, IL
Mendola, Stephen       171    Aurora, IL
Robertson, Ronald J.   171    Aurora, IL
Smethurst, S. K.       171    Aurora, IL
Gross, Dennis C.       199    Creston, IA
Shafer, Francis A.     200    North Platte, NE
Abeyta, John E.        201    Trinidad, CO
Osborne, Michael C.    240    Los Angeles, CA
Grimm, David M.        258    Savanna, IL
Livingston, John L.    258    Savanna, IL
Weideman, David H.     259    St. Joseph, MO
Hall, Joseph F.        262    Boston, MA
Critchlow, Paul D.     265    Pocatello, ID
Jones, Kenneth S.      265    Pocatello, ID
Miller, Franklin M.    265    Pocatello, ID
Simons, Newell C.      265    Pocatello, ID
Bowman, Tom            298    Garrett, IN
Jarrett, Steven R.     298    Garrett, IN
McIntosh, David L.     298    Garrett, IN
Handley, Kenneth B.    303    Springfield, MO
Scaggs, Howard W.      322    Milwaukee, WI
Scott, Lee F.          363    Roanoke, VA
Leister, Robert J.     378    Cleveland, OH
Hakola, Richard L.     421    Conneaut, OH
Kauffman, Anna B.      421    Conneaut, OH
Poff, William R.       421    Conneaut, OH
McMurtry, Bernard L.   446    Cheyenne, WY
Schmechel, John G.     446    Cheyenne, WY
Simon, William C.      446    Cheyenne, WY
Tibbetts III, Roy W.   446    Cheyenne, WY
Wiedeman, Rick L.      446    Cheyenne, WY
Adamove, Leroy F.      469    Madison, IL
Jewell, Charles E.     496    Portsmouth, OH
Custer, Larry W.       559    Roanoke, VA
Hargrove, Damon R.     559    Roanoke, VA
Watts, Woodrow W.      573    Danville, KY
Krueger, Brian J.      583    Fond du Lac, WI
Lefeber, Michael C.    583    Fond du Lac, WI
Peachy Sr., Craig C.   583    Fond du Lac, WI
Zerkle, Stewart A.     586    Willard, OH
Bera, Donald L.        590    Portage, WI
*Jugo, Alfred          590    Portage, WI
Miller, David R.       602    Williamsport, PA
Moore, John B.         622    Birmingham, AL
Garrett, Rex A.        643    Ft. Madison, IA
*Hanson, Raymond C.    643    Ft. Madison, IA
Arrant, Troy           781    Shreveport, LA
Baylor, Ronnie C.      781    Shreveport, LA
Bigby Jr., William J.  781    Shreveport, LA
Broussard, Ragon E.    781    Shreveport, LA
Buffin, William R.     781    Shreveport, LA
Charles, Jeffery L.    781    Shreveport, LA
Coleman, Frankie L.    781    Shreveport, LA
George, Jack P.        781    Shreveport, LA
Green, Rogers          781    Shreveport, LA
Jones, Gregory E.      781    Shreveport, LA
Jones, Michael A.      781    Shreveport, LA
Laughlin, Gregory D.   781    Shreveport, LA
Martin, Demetric D.    781    Shreveport, LA
Matthews, John A.      781    Shreveport, LA
Matthews, Terry K.     781    Shreveport, LA
Maxwell, Charles N.    781    Shreveport, LA
Meek Jr., Aubriton     781    Shreveport, LA
Metcalf Jr., Lester    781    Shreveport, LA
Meyers, Michael E.     781    Shreveport, LA
Mills III, Jake        781    Shreveport, LA
Mims, Danny L.         781    Shreveport, LA
Montgomery, Troy V.    781    Shreveport, LA
Ogletree, C.P.         781    Shreveport, LA
Osbon, Paul D.         781    Shreveport, LA
Oswalt, Carter C.      781    Shreveport, LA
Peek, William S.       781    Shreveport, LA
Phiffer, Stanley C.    781    Shreveport, LA
Phillips, Jason S.     781    Shreveport, LA
Pugh Sr., Paul W.      781    Shreveport, LA
Richardson, P.A.       781    Shreveport, LA
Rushing, Bobby W.      781    Shreveport, LA
Scott, Jerald L.       781    Shreveport, LA
Stewart, Ronnie W.     781    Shreveport, LA
Wilemon, Ricky J.      781    Shreveport, LA
Bratcher, C.J.         785    Paducah, KY
Howard, Ralph G.       807    Tucson, AZ
Blaine, Jimmie L.      816    Harrisburg, PA
Kruhm, James H.        816    Harrisburg, PA
Garcia, David J.       866    Rawlins, WY
Hamilton, Timothy M.   866    Rawlins, WY
Hunter, Henry C.       866    Rawlins, WY
Keil, Gary J.          866    Rawlins, WY
Keitt, Maurice H.      866    Rawlins, WY
*Fox, Charles E.       898    Boston, MA
Caswell, Rickey J.     951    Sheridan, WY
Degel, Michael A.      951    Sheridan, WY
Phinney, Daniel Scott  951    Sheridan, WY
Brigman, Calvin E.     953    Victoria, TX
Mushinski, Justin C.   953    Victoria, TX
Weems, James J.        965    Dallas, TX
Bosch, Allen A.       1137    Fargo, ND
McNeill, Russell F.   1183    Pt. Huron, MI
Murray, Robert E.     1190    Ludlow, KY
Moses, Cecil R.       1205    Kingsville, TX
Davis, Samuel M.      1261    Atlanta, GA
*Denman, Leroy G.     1280    Casper, WY
Panici, David G.      1290    Chicago, IL
King, Ronald L.       1313    Amarillo, TX
Huye, David W.        1337    New Orleans, LA
Braun, James E.       1376    Columbus, OH
Hough, Wayne A.       1376    Columbus, OH
Knight Jr., R.D.      1376    Columbus, OH
Peele, Curtis L.      1376    Columbus, OH
Stover, David E.      1376    Columbus, OH
Melvin, Timothy E.    1377    Covington, KY
*Lewman, Ralph L.     1381    Hammond, IN
Williams Jr., S.C.    1388    St. Louis, MO
Holland Jr., James F. 1418    Conway, PA
Pavao, Russell J.     1462    Boston, MA
Sullivan III, R.F.    1534    Chicago, IL
Olsen, Allan          1554    Ogden, UT
Quist, Larry J.       1554    Ogden, UT
Strejc, Jack          1597    Chicago, IL
Weston, Christopher   1597    Chicago, IL
*Miller, Donald Q.    1732    San Jose, CA
Abate Jr., Charles V. 1836    New Orleans, LA
Blanchard, Chad J.    1836    New Orleans, LA
Dupard IV, Cornelius  1836    New Orleans, LA
Kennedy, Michael G.   1836    New Orleans, LA
Nyblom, Eloy R.       1836    New Orleans, LA
Faris, Kim C.         1857    Green River, WY
Herrmann, David M.    1857    Green River, WY
Arsement, Leonard J.  1947    Lake Charles, LA
Gibson, Gerald D.     1947    Lake Charles, LA
Ledoux, Ray E.        1947    Lake Charles, LA
Simon, Donald R.      1947    Lake Charles, LA
UTU Auxiliary Lodge    523    San Bernardino, CA



NOTICES

--Monthly winner ...................................##Y

   This month's lucky winner of his choice of any item 
of apparel bearing the UTU logo is H. Phillip Magee of 
Local 1088, Madison, Miss., which represents workers on 
the Illinois Central and Kansas City Southern.

   These items are awarded every month by random drawing 
as a show of appreciation to the many members who have 
been supportive of the UTU throughout the years.



--UTU fees objector policy ......................##Z

   1. Any person covered by a UTU union shop or an 
agency shop agreement in the United States who elects to 
be a non-member has the legal right to object to 
political and ideological expenditures not related to 
collective bargaining, contract administration, or other 
activities germane to collective bargaining. Each non-
member who objects shall pay the reduced fees.

   To the extent permitted by law, a non-member cannot 
participate in Union elections as a voter or as a 
candidate; attend Union meetings; serve as delegate to 
the Convention, or participate in the selection of such 
delegates; or participate in the process by which 
collective bargaining agreements are ratified.

   2. The objecting non-members shall provide notice of 
objection by notifying the International General 
Secretary-Treasurer of the objection by first-class mail 
postmarked during the month of September each year or 
within thirty (30) days after he/she first begins paying 
fees and receives notice of these procedures. The 
objection shall contain the objector's current home 
address. Once a non-member objects, the objection shall 
stand until revoked. Objections may only be made by 
individual employees. No petition objections will be 
honored.

   3. The following categories of expenditures are 
chargeable:

   a. All expenses concerning the negotiation of 
agreements, practices and working conditions;

   b. All expenses concerning the administration of 
agreements, practices and working conditions, including 
grievance handling, all activities related to 
arbitration, and discussion with employees in the craft 
or class (or bargaining unit) or employer 
representatives regarding working conditions, benefits 
and contract rights;

   c. Convention expenses and other union internal 
governance and management expenses;

   d. Social activities and union business meeting 
expenses;

   e. Publication expenses to the extent coverage is 
related to chargeable activities;

   f. Litigation expenses related to contract 
administration, collective bargaining rights, and 
internal governance;

   g. Expenses for legislative and administrative agency 
activities to effectuate collective bargaining 
agreements;

   h. All expenses for the education and training of 
officers and staff intended to prepare the participants 
to better perform chargeable activities;

   i. All strike fund expenditures and other costs of 
economic action, e.g., demonstrations, general strike 
activity, informational picketing, etc., that benefit 
members of the bargaining unit or craft represented by 
UTU;

   4. The International shall retain a certified public 
accountant to perform an independent audit of the 
records of the International and subordinate units 
maintained by the International General Secretary-
Treasurer. The International shall also retain a neutral 
referee for the purpose of determining the percentage of 
expenditures that fall within the categories specified 
in Section 3. The amount of the expenditures that fall 
within Section 3 shall be the basis for calculating the 
reduced fees that must be paid by the objector. The 
neutral referee shall also give an opinion concerning 
the adequacy of the escrow amounts maintained pursuant 
to Section 17, and later will verify the existence and 
the amounts of money in any escrow accounts.

   5. The neutral referee shall complete the report no 
later than July 31. This report shall include an 
analysis of the major categories of union expenses that 
are chargeable and non-chargeable.

   6. Each person entitled to receive the referee's 
report may challenge the validity of the calculations 
made by the neutral referee by filing an appeal with the 
International General Secretary-Treasurer. Such appeal 
must be made by sending a letter to the International 
General Secretary-Treasurer postmarked no later than 
thirty (30) days after issuance of the independent 
referee's report.

   7. After the close of the appeals period, the 
International General Secretary-Treasurer shall provide 
a list of appellants to the American Arbitration 
Association (AAA). All appeals shall be consolidated. 
The AAA shall appoint an arbitrator from a special panel 
maintained by the AAA for the purpose of these 
arbitrations. The AAA shall inform the International 
General Secretary-Treasurer and the appellant(s) of the 
arbitrator selected.

   8. The arbitration shall commence by October 1 or as 
soon thereafter as the AAA can schedule the arbitration. 
The arbitrator shall have control over all procedural 
matters affecting the arbitration in order to fulfill 
the need for an informed and expeditious arbitration.

   9. Each party to the arbitration shall bear their own 
costs. The appellants shall have the option of paying a 
pro-rata portion of the arbitrator's fees and expenses. 
The balance of such fees and expenses shall be paid by 
UTU.

   10. A court reporter shall make a transcript of all 
proceedings before the arbitrator. This transcript shall 
be the official record of the proceedings and may be 
purchased by the appellants. If appellants do not 
purchase a copy of the transcript, a copy shall be 
available for inspection at the International during 
normal business hours.

   11. Appellants may, at their expense, be represented 
by counsel or other representative of choice. Appellants 
need not appear at the hearing and shall be permitted to 
file written statements with the arbitrator instead of 
appearing. Such statement shall be filed no later than 
fifteen (15) days after the transcript becomes 
available, but in no case more than thirty (30) days 
after the hearing closes.

   12. Fourteen (14) days prior to the start of the 
first hearing, appellants shall be provided with a list 
of all exhibits intended to be introduced at the hearing 
and a list of all witnesses intended to be called, 
except for exhibits and witnesses that may be introduced 
for rebuttal. On written request from an appellant, 
copies of exhibits (or in the case of voluminous 
exhibits, summaries thereof) shall be provided to them. 
Additionally, copies of exhibits shall be available for 
inspection and copying at the hearing.

   13. The International shall have the burden of 
establishing that the reduced fees set forth in the 
neutral referee's report are lawful.

   14. If the arbitrator shall determine that more than 
one day of hearings is necessary, hearings shall be 
scheduled to continue from day to day until completed. 
The parties to the appeal shall have the right to file a 
brief within fifteen (15) days after the transcript of 
the hearing is available, but in no case more than 
thirty (30) days after the hearing closes. The 
arbitrator shall issue a decision within forty-five (45) 
days after the submission of post-hearing briefs or 
within such other reasonable period as is consistent 
with the rules established by the AAA.

   15. The arbitrator shall give full consideration to 
the legal requirements limiting the amounts that 
objectors may be charged, and shall set forth in the 
decision the legal and arithmetic basis for such 
decision.

   16. If an objector receiving an advance reduction 
wishes to continue objection, he/she shall continue to 
pay the reduced fees that he/she is currently paying 
until the neutral referee issues the report. As soon as 
possible after the issuance of the neutral referee's 
report, he/she shall pay the amount of the reduced fees 
calculated by the neutral referee. Persons objecting for 
the first time shall be sent a copy of the report 
prepared by the neutral referee for the previous year 
and shall pay the reduced fees as soon as possible.

   17. Each month thereafter for all objectors, an 
amount shall be put in an interest-bearing escrow 
account equal to 25% of the reduced monthly fees, or 
such other greater amount as the neutral referee may 
recommend. All objectors from the previous year shall be 
paid the amount of non-chargeable money that is in the 
escrow account as determined by the neutral referee's 
report as soon as practicable after its issuance. The 
appropriate unit of UTU shall not, however, take its 
portion of the monies in the escrow account until 
fifteen days after the conclusion of the period within 
which an objector may appeal the report of the neutral 
referee, or upon the issuance of the decision of the 
arbitrator, whichever is later.

   18. When the decision of the arbitrator is announced 
the monies remaining in the escrow account shall be 
distributed in accordance with the decision.


PERCENTAGE OF CHARGEABLE FEES 
DETERMINED BY NEUTRAL REVIEW 
FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1999

International.................75.9

GENERAL COMMITTEES OF ADJUSTMENT*, 
INCLUDING LOCALS UNDER JURISDICTION

GO 651 Conrail           100.0
GO 953 Union Pacific      99.6
State Legislative Boards**
LO 005  California        77.8
LO 026  Minnesota         93.3
LO 030  Nebraska          86.1
LO 035  New York          82.7
LO 048  Texas             69.9

*)  Unreviewed GOs will have 1999 average of chargeable 
percentages of GOs audited of 99.8 applied to any new 
objectors.

**)  Unreviewed SLBs will have a 0% chargeable 
percentage applied to new objectors.



--Regional Meeting information ....................##AA

   The Minneapolis Regional Meeting will last a full 
three days, with the President's Banquet on the evening 
of the third day. The $125 advance registration fee per 
member or guest includes: Sunday welcome reception; 
Monday lunch and evening buffet dinner and 
entertainment; Tuesday lunch and evening theme reception 
and entertainment; Wednesday lunch and evening 
Presidential reception and banquet, as well as all 
training workshop materials. On-site registration is 
$175 per member or guest. Your name badge will be your 
admission ticket to all events. Children age 14 and 
under are admitted free to all events.

   New this year are one-day registrations for those 
members who would like to attend this meeting but can't 
spare the time away from work or family. The cost of a 
one-day registration for any day is $60. Payments for 
individual events, such as lunches and tours, can be 
made at the meeting. Also new this year are registration 
procedures, with separate registration forms for members 
and guests. Additionally, credit cards are now being 
accepted for payment of Regional Meeting fees. At this 
time, registration is not available on the UTU website.

   Arrangements have been made for a golf outing at the 
Minneapolis Regional Meeting. It will be held Sun., Aug. 
27 at the Majestic Oaks Golf Club, Ham Lake, Minn. The 
registration fee, $80 per golfer, includes the greens 
fee and golf carts, lunch and round-trip transportation 
to the course from the Minneapolis Hilton. Registration 
deadline is Aug. 17. The tee-off time is 7:30 a.m.

   Make all checks (U.S. funds only, please) payable to 
"UTU Regional Meeting." Send your completed forms to UTU 
Meeting Registration, 14600 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 
44107-4250. You may cancel seven full days prior to 
arrival with no penalty. Please fax any changes or 
cancellations immediately to the UTU International at 
(216) 228-5755.

------------------------
August 28-30, 2000
Minneapolis Hilton and Towers
1001 Marquette Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. 55403
Hotel direct reservations: (612) 397-4999
Toll-free reservations: (800) 445-8667
Reservation code: UTU Regional Meeting
Room rate: $119 single/double; additional person $20
Advance registration deadline: August 18, 2000
UTU room-rate reservation deadline: HAS PASSED; other 
rooms may be available at prevailing rates
Parking: self $12.50 per day; valet $20 per day both 
with in/out privileges
------------------------
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., GOLF OUTING
Date: Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000; registration deadline Aug. 
17
Place: Majestic Oaks Golf Club, Ham Lake, Minn.
Tee-off: 7:30 a.m. shotgun start
------------------------
   Below is the tentative daily schedule for the 
UTU/UTUIA Regional Meetings. This schedule is subject to 
change.

-----------
MONDAY
-----------
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
General Session, with International President Charles L. 
Little

10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 a.m-noon
Bus Workshop: Interviewing
Secretary/Treasurer: Open Session
Basic Collective Bargaining
Alcohol and Drug Testing
Historical Perspective: Future
Understanding Fatigue

Noon-1:15 p.m.
Lunch with Guest Speaker

1:15 p.m.-3 p.m.
Bus Workshop: Grievances I
Secretary/Treasurer: Open Session 
DLC Workshop: Off-track transportation.
Renewing the Union Tradition
Election 2000
Railway Labor Act
Auxiliary tour departs

3 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
Bus Workshop: Grievances II
Yardmaster Workshop
General committee meetings
Auxiliary returns 4:30 p.m.

7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Buffet Dinner with entertainment, casual dress


-----------
TUESDAY
-----------
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Bus Workshop I: Open Chairpersons' Meeting
Secretary/Treasurer: One on One
Local Chairperson I: Preparing for Investigation
The UTU and You
Alcohol and Drug Testing
Switching Operation Fatality Analysis Workshop
Auxiliary Open Session I

10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 a.m-noon
Bus Workshop II: Open Chairpersons' Meeting
S&T: One on One
Local Chairperson II: Conducting an Investigation
Race to the Bottom
Equal Opportunity in Workplace
Engineer Certification
Auxiliary Open Session II

Noon-1:15 p.m.
Lunch with Guest Speaker; Evaluation Awards

1:15 p.m.-3 p.m.
S&T: One on One
General Chairperson I: Preparing for Arbitration
Your Money and How it Works
Legislative Workshop I
Women in Transportation
Auxiliary III - Longaberger demonstration

3 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
S&T: One on One
General Chairperson II: Conducting an Arbitration
Health Hazard Prevention
Legislative Workshop II
Balancing Work & Family Life

6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Tropical theme reception, with entertainment, heavy hors 
d'oeuvres, dress accordingly


-----------
WEDNESDAY
-----------
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Bus Workshop: Arbitration I
Railroad Shippers' Association
Financial Planning
Grievance Mediation Arbitration of Rail Labor
Switching Operation Fatality Analysis Workshop
Equal Opportunity in the Workplace
Duty to Accommodate -- Canada

10 a.m.-10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 a.m-noon
Bus Workshop: Arbitration II
CP Pension Workshop
Designated Legal Counsel General Session

Noon-1:15 p.m.
Lunch with Guest Speaker; Evaluation Awards

1:15 p.m.-3 p.m.
How Arbitration Works
Local Officers Training
Understanding Transportation Stock Analysis
Race to the Bottom
Engineer Certification

3 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 p.m.-5 p.m.
State Legislative Board meetings

6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
President's Reception/Banquet, semi-formal dress

-----------
RECEPTION SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY NIGHT
   At the 2000 Regional Meetings, all attendees are 
invited to a welcoming reception the Sunday evening 
before the Regional Meeting formally begins. The 
reception will run from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., and 
refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres will be served. 
Casual dress is suggested.

LUNCHEONS, RECEPTIONS AND BANQUETS INCLUDED
   At each Regional Meeting, all lunches are included.

   On Monday evening, a buffet dinner will be held. 
Cocktails, soft drinks and entertainment will be 
provided. Ample seating will be available for all. 
Casual attire is suggested.

   On Tuesday evening, a tropical theme reception will 
be held at each Regional Meeting. Cocktails, soft drinks 
and heavy hors d'oeuvres will be provided. Entertainment 
will be supplied by The World-Famous Pink Flamingos. 
Recommended dress is tropical casual, so bring your 
Hawaiian shirt.

   On Wednesday the President's Reception and Banquet 
will conclude the festivities of this year's Regional 
Meetings. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the event will include 
cocktails, a sit-down dinner, and closing comments by 
President Charles L. Little. Suggested dress is semi-
formal.

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
   At all Regional Meetings, general chairpersons will 
be gathering with their local officers and members to 
discuss issues specific to their properties.

STATE LEGISLATIVE BOARD MEETINGS
   At all Regional Meetings, state legislative directors 
will be gathering with their local legislative 
representatives and members to discuss issues specific 
to their states.

AUXILIARY MEETINGS
Members and prospective members of the UTU Auxiliary are 
cordially invited to attend a meeting of the group on 
the Tuesday of each meeting from 9 a.m. until noon. A 
continental breakfast will be served.

AUXILIARY TOURS
In Minneapolis, Auxiliary members will be able to visit 
the Mall of America, one of the largest shopping centers 
in the world.

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES ROOM
The Membership Services Department will have 
representatives from Regence BlueCross/BlueShield, 
Magellan Behavioral Health, Aetna/U.S. HealthCare, 
Merck-Medco Managed Care, Inc., MetLife, Railroad 
Retirement Board, United HealthCare and ValueOptions to 
meet one-on-one with the membership and/or their 
spouses. The Membership Services Room will only be open 
the first two days of the Regional Meetings between 7:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. UTU members, as well as their spouses 
and families, are encouraged to stop in.

UTU INSURANCE ASSOCIATION ROOM
At the 2000 Regional Meetings, representatives of the 
United Transportation Union Insurance Association will 
be available from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days to 
answer questions regarding any UTUIA insurance or 
investment products.



--UTU Travelers Club plans tours ................##BB

   The UTU Travelers Club is planning a trip to Ireland 
from October 6-14, 2000, and two tours of Switzerland by 
rail, March 21-29 and March 28-April 5, 2001.

   The cost of the Ireland trip is $1,299 plus $112.37 
tax per person, with two people in a room. The Swiss 
rail tours are $1,799 plus $137 tax per person, two to a 
room.

   Irish itinerary: Fly from Chicago to Shannon, then 
two nights in Bunratty. Visit Cliffs of Moher and Burren 
area of County Clare. Medieval banquet in Bunratty 
Castle. Travel via Limerick and Adare to Killarney for a 
two-night stopover. Ring of Kerry tour; Dingle Peninsula 
tour. Next to Blarney to kiss the Blarney Stone. Then 
Midleton, Waterford and a Waterford Crystal tour. Two 
days in Dublin next, then Galway for a day. Visit the 
ancient monastic ruin of Clonmacnoise.

   Switzerland itinerary: Fly from Chicago or Boston 
direct to Zurich, then two nights in beautiful Lucerne, 
with the Glacier Garden, Covered Bridge and a boat ride. 
Depart by train to Chur and transfer to the "Glacier 
Express" mountain train ride. Overnight in Zermatt. Take 
train to resort town of Interlaken through a 12-mile 
tunnel. Four nights in Interlaken with tours of Eiger 
and Jungfrau mountains, cogwheel train ride and much 
more. Then to Lake Geneva and Chillon castle, Montreaux 
and return to Interlaken aboard Panorama Express. 
Shopping in Brienz before boarding high-speed ICE train 
to Zurich and flight home.

   Both tours include breakfasts every morning, most 
dinners, services of professional guide, most 
admissions, luggage handling, tips and much more.

   For a free color brochure and complete information, 
contact Lynn Westphal Tours toll free at (888) 280-7657, 
or e-mail <lwestphal2@aol.com>.



--UTUIA offers Ultimate Term flexibility ..........##CC

   Wouldn't it be nice to be able to custom-design a 
life insurance policy to suit your needs and pocketbook? 
UTUIA has it!

   UTUIA's Ultimate Term life insurance offers 
tremendous flexibility. YOU select the length of 
coverage, up to age 75. YOU select the amount of 
coverage during that time frame. Best of all, YOU 
control the premium you pay.

   This kind of flexibility is possible with Ultimate 
Term's unique multi-choice format. Select level coverage 
to provide an income for your loved ones, decreasing 
coverage to ensure payment of a mortgage, or increasing 
coverage to protect against inflation. Custom coverage 
allows you to select a combination of all three - plus 
secure your children's education. You determine the 
length of coverage, any changes in coverage, and the 
premium-paying schedule. It's a perfect fit every time.

   For more information, call toll-free 1-800-558-8842 
for the name and telephone number of your UTUIA 
representative.
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provided proper credit is included and no alteration of 
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                        UTU NEWS                    
                     ONLINE EDITION                 
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                      AUGUST 2000
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      -----------PROGRESS THROUGH UNITY-----------
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