Those committed to a problem-solving working group known as "Team West Colton" include (from left) UTU Vice Local Chairperson Gary Mayfield (L-1813), UP Senior Director of Terminal Operations Andy Yedlick (W. Colton, Cal.), UTU Local Chairperson Rick Renna (L-1813), and UP General Superintendent Greg Workman (Los Angeles Service Unit).

"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.

The announcement came after a meeting of management and labor officials in which both sides emphasized that the working group will continue to engage in regularly scheduled problem-solving sessions.

UP Executive Vice President-Operations Dennis Duffy and Vice President-Labor Relations John Marchant made the announcement with UTU International President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., and UTU General Chairperson J. Kevin Klein.

"It is important from the union side that the membership at West Colton be supported by the International in the innovative approach being used at West Colton," Boyd said.

"The mutual commitment of Local 1813, Local Chairperson Rick Renna and Vice Local Chairperson Gary Mayfield to the process with local management is to be commended," added Klein.

"The parties' commitment to problem solving at West Colton has made the lawsuit irrelevant," Marchant said.

"UP is committed at the highest levels to see that this locally generated process succeeds," said Duffy.

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