News & Notes

Railroad Retirement bill
introduced as H.R. 1140
UTU urges members
to contact lawmakers
WASHINGTON, D.C. ­ The Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2001 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 1140 late last month by members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The measure, nearly identical to one which last year came within hours of approval by the 106th Congress, includes all the benefits and funding improvements agreed to last year by rail management and a coalition of organizations representing labor and retirees. -- Full story.

UTU, BNSF work for safety
CLEVELAND, Ohio ­ In response to an initiative launched last month by UTU International President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) officials have agreed to a summit meeting that will include participation of representatives from the UTU and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE). -- Full story.

Report cites Amtrak flaws
WASHINGTON, D.C. ­ Amtrak suffers from "fundamental institutional flaws," and shouldn't be expected to balance business and governmental responsibilities, according to the Amtrak Reform Council's (ARC) second annual report. -- Full story.

"Team West Colton" established
ONTARIO, Cal. ­ The UTU and the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) have jointly announced that they will formalize a long-term plan to establish a working group to be known as "Team West Colton." As a result of the commitment of local management and union officials to such a process, and its individual members, a federal lawsuit filed by the UP against UTU Local 1813 based in West Colton, Cal., and pending since May 2000, will be dismissed. -- Full story.

SEPTA committee chooses officers
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. ­ Members of UTU Local 61 employed as commuter rail workers by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have elected Geoffrey T. Johnson, Sr., to serve as their general chairperson. -- Full story.

W&LE workers reaffirm UTU
BREWSTER, Ohio ­ Workers on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway have reaffirmed the UTU as their bargaining representative in a close representation vote, according to the National Mediation Board. The members of Local 693 at Brewster, Ohio, chose the UTU over a group identifying itself as the Customer Service/Crew Dispatcher Steering Committee that sought UTU decertification. -- Full story.

NJ Transit reporting violations found
NEWARK, N.J. ­ In a review of record-keeping procedures involving accidents and injuries at New Jersey Transit (NJT), the Federal Railroad Administration has uncovered 91 violations by the agency over the last several months. Most of the violations were for not reporting accidents or incidents involving rail equipment, but 23 of the violations were for "willfully not reporting on-duty employee injuries." -- Full story.

Economics slows bus, van contracts
CLEVELAND, Ohio ­ While UTU representatives continue to make progress on first contracts for newly organized van-service and bus operators, some management representatives are using economic issues to slow the negotiating process. -- Full story.

Martin, 56, succumbs to cancer
CLEVELAND, Ohio ­ UTU Alternate Assistant to the President-Yardmasters Jerry D. Martin, 56, succumbed to cancer March 14, 2001, at All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth, Tex. -- Full story.

Much to do at Regional Meetings!
Diversity is the theme of this year's UTU/UTUIA Regional Meetings, and that theme is reflected in the diversity of workshops, speakers and social events planned for the meetings. -- Full story.

UTU offers VISA card
The UTU VISA cards, issued by National City Bank, are available to members, family and friends with an introductory 3.9% APR for the first six billing cycles. -- Full story.

National rail
talks continue
CLEVELAND, Ohio ­ UTU and National Carriers Conference Committee negotiators were refining the language reflecting their respective positions and continuing to work toward completion of a tentative national rail agreement as this issue of UTU News reached deadline.
UTU International President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., chairperson of the UTU National Negotiating Committee, indicated that talks continue to focus on health and welfare issues and the date of the elimination of entry rates.
Negotiators are also awaiting details of the pending Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) settlement which, according to reports, may contain offsets of up to 50% in future wage increases to be applied toward health care costs.
"I haven't seen the full document," Boyd said, "so I am hesitant to comment on the BMWE proposal at this time."

Senators reject
campaign curbs
WASHINGTON, D.C. ­ The Senate voted last month to reject an amendment to campaign-finance legislation which would have curbed political activity by unions, a provision favored by the Bush Administration.
The vote was a crucial victory for organized labor, which remains opposed to the McCain/Feingold campaign-finance bill.
At issue was the question of whether unions should get members' written approval before using their dues for political purposes, such as voter registration or television advertisements.
(The UTU does not use members' dues for political activity. Its lobbying efforts on behalf of members are financed through voluntary contributions to the union's Transportation Political Education League.)
Corporations do not have to get such approval from shareholders before using corporate funds for lobbying, opponents argued.

Accident takes
member's life
WILLMAR, Minn. ­ Terry Weyh, a 36-year-old Burlington Northern Santa Fe switchman and member of Local 1000 at Minneapolis, Minn., was killed Saturday, March 3, about 7:30 p.m. at the carrier's Willmar, Minn., yard.
Weyh was discovered fatally injured beneath a rail car by fellow crewmembers. Investigation into the fatality continues.
Weyh had recently transferred to Willmar from the BNSF Northtown Yard in Minneapolis because of labor cutbacks there.
He is survived by a young daughter and his parents.

Monthly winner
This month's lucky winner of his choice of any item of apparel bearing the UTU logo is Paul L. Pratt of Local 196, Beardstown, Ill., which represents workers on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. 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.