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Local 4, Charny, Q.C.
Secretary and Treasurer Louis-François Garceau, legislative representative and secretary of the Quebec Legislative Board, recently celebrated 25 years as a UTU officer. He first won office as chairperson of Local 1288 in Senneterre, Q.C., and has held offices since.
Local 23, Santa Cruz, Cal.
Best wishes are extended to J. David Lyall, known locally as "Chairman Wow," who took early retirement from the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District one day after his 51st birthday. One of the local's founding activists, Brother Lyall still works on the local's website at <http://www.local23.org/>.
Local 168, Chicago, Ill.
Secretary and Treasurer L.T. Channing, an Operation RedBlock captain, recently completed two days of specialized post critical incident stress management (PCISM) training with fellow Amtrak conductor Anne Sedlack (L-1525, Carbondale, Ill.). "Our local is especially sensitive to these issues," Channing said. "The incident in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, where two of our members were brutally slashed by a knife-wielding passenger, had a tremendous effect on the rest of the crew."
Local 324, Seattle, Wash.
A tentative agreement for part-time bus operators at Evergreen Trails was put out for ratification as this edition reached deadline. The agreement places part-time operators in the same contract with full-time operators, according to Vice President and Bus Department Director Bernie McNelis, who noted negotiations will re-open in September.
Local 465, Gillette, Wyo.
Following the local's regular monthly meeting in January, members held a chili feed in honor of Larry Timkar, who retired after 42 years of rail service, according to Local President Billy Montgomery. Timkar began working on the Rock Island Railroad in 1958. Best wishes are extended to Timkar and his wife Jo.
Local 770, Heavener, Okla.
The annual Christmas party raised support for the Women's Crisis Services Shelter in Heavener, Okla., according to Legislative Representative Tommy Robinson and his wife Kim. In 1998, the local collected $250 for the shelter, and this year held a drive to donate canned foods, turkeys, hams and candy. More than 100 attended this year's event, and plans are being made for a family picnic.
Local 771, Needles, Cal.
Brakemen and conductors working a BNSF combination extra board are reminded by Douglas R. Gordon, editor of their newsletter, Bake Head News, that monthly meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Tri-State Alanon Club Bldg., 801 B Street in Needles, Cal. Members also can stay abreast of developments by accessing the local's website, maintained by Glen A. Williams, at <http://www.bakehead.com/utu/utu771.htm>.
Local 1042, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Members are mourning the death of Merrl Moody, a long-time UTU member and strong supporter of the union, who passed away January 19. Brother Moody, well liked and respected, will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife Judi and his children.
Local 1413, Jersey City, N.J.
Members have offered suggestions for a Section 6 package to be served soon to Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) management, according to General Chairperson Raymond E. Arenas. Members recently helped win the property its second consecutive Outstanding Achievement Award from the American Public Transit Association. Meanwhile, plans are coming together for a joint New Year's 2001 ball to be held with the conductors working on New Jersey Transit.
Local 1462, Boston, Mass.
Members offer their best wishes to conductor Earl L. Fiske, who has decided to take a well-deserved retirement, said Secretary and Treasurer Dave Bowe. Meanwhile, the local is co-sponsoring with Local 262 (Boston) the Third Annual Billy Flaherty Railroaders' Hockey Championship on April 22, pitting Amtrak MBTA Commuter employees against Amtrak InterCity workers to raise funds for Amtrak employees battling cancer and other diseases. This year's game is dedicated to Local 262's Dave Fowkes and others who recently passed away. Those interested in playing or helping out should contact E.B. Radovich (L-1462) at (617) 823-4407, or Paul Torosian at (508) 528-3965. Donations should be made payable to BF HOCKEY and sent to 420 Chestnut St., Franklin, MA 02038.
Local 1582, Albany, N.Y.
Custodians, building maintenance personnel and operations and parking employees of the AGI group overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement last month that brings a $1-an-hour wage increase retroactive to December 1999 and a similar increase over the next two years, as well as pension enhancements, safety payments and other improvements.
Local 1778, N. Vancouver, B.C.
Members recently ratified a three-year pact along with others working under the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) banner, said Secretary and Treasurer David Moorhouse. The pact, retroactive to December 31, 1997, came in the wake of a nine-day lockout that ended January 5, 2000, when BC Rail came to terms with the CTU, whose Chairperson Robert Sharpe also serves as UTU general chairperson and UTU alternate international vice president.
Local 1957, Silsbee, Tex.
Among the roughly 100 who attended the local's recent barbecue, raising more than $400 for the Silsbee Fire Department, were General Chairperson Paul Tibbit, UTUIA's Lawrence Chappell, Operation Lifesaver's Robert Ivey, and Steve Young and Andy Corolla of sponsoring Designated Legal Counsel Helm, Fletcher, Bowen and Saunders, said Local President Mike McCauley. Details about the upcoming educational seminar are available from McCauley by calling (409) 755-4601 or by referring to the local's website at <http://www.local1957.org>, where an article notes BNSF conductor James Holmes, featured in these pages last month, was misidentified as a UP employee.
Go-049, Jacksonville, Fla.
Members of the B&O general committee of adjustment (GCA) are mourning the death of former Vice General Chairperson John S. McGary, who passed away January 25. Brother McGary's 30 years of service included 16 as chairperson of Local 1374, New Castle, Pa. He also was secretary and vice general chairperson of the B&O GCA until his retirement in 1985. He is survived by three sons.
Auxiliary of the UTU
Members are mourning the death of Past International President Catherine I. Smith, who passed away at age 84 on January 13. Auxiliary president from 1967 through 1994, she worked for the organization's goals for many years prior to holding office. Meanwhile, e-mail can now be sent to the organization's headquarters by addressing it to <AUXILIARYED@aol.com>.
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