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Amtrak boosts CLEVELAND -- Amtrak management and the Operation RedBlock Executive Committee last month agreed to fund and support Phase II Peer Counseling as a means of implementing the first program in the transportation industry that will result in full-time positions for union members to serve as peer counselors. Operation RedBlock is a labor-developed and company-adopted drug prevention and intervention program. It emphasizes awareness, education and prevention via union member peer committees, and aims to change attitudes, to reduce the tolerance of nonusers to job-related drug and alcohol use, and to encourage users to seek assistance. UTU International President Charles L. Little offered congratulations to those who forged the agreement. "Amtrak has had peer counseling on a part-time, voluntary basis for two years," Little noted, "and it works. The RedBlock Phase II Peer Counseling effort has the full support of the UTU." Little also drew attention to the goals of the program. "It is important to remember that it is not the intent of the Operation RedBlock program for its volunteers to become full-time counselors," Little explained. "Rather, they are full-time employees who, in the true spirit of trade unionism, are involved in helping co-workers maintain a healthy lifestyle," Little said. Representing the Transportation Communication Union at the meeting, American Railway & Airway Supervisors' Association President Art D'Alessandro noted his organization also fully supported the effort as a realistic approach to a complex problem. "All research evidence," D'Alessandro pointed out, "indicates that comprehensive programs, which support an initial treatment foundation, and thorough relapse prevention planning, produce the most positive outcomes." Amtrak Employee Assistance Program and RedBlock Director Robert Bonds said, "Full-time peer counseling will allow our professional staff to adequately handle upcoming problems that need attention while effectively treating existing cases that require immediate and intense follow-up." Ed Adams, chairperson at Local 1732, San Jose, Cal., and an Operation RedBlock coordinator, reminded the committee that together, Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and the UTU have sponsored training for 47 peer counselors over the past three years. According to UTU International Vice President Tony Iannone, the agreement has been a goal since 1988, and it couldn't come at a better time. "Managed care has decreased the amount of treatment resources, in some cases has eliminated in-patient treatment, and in most cases has reduced the lengths of stay for treatment," Iannone said. Iannone also noted the UTU is now represented by eight peer counselors on the Amtrak system, including Gary C. "Moe" Carlquist and Natalie Smith (Local 1361, New Haven, Conn.); Lee Channing (Local 168, Chicago, Ill.); Charles Cockrell (Local 1470, Edmonston, Md.); Gary Finnegan (Local 898, Boston, Mass.); Marie Hattenberg (Local 117, Vancouver, Wash.); Ed Isaac (Local 1732, San Jose, Cal.), and Idris Rahim (Local 1933, Washington, D.C.). |
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