Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Division 758

Richard E. Etienne
Vancouver, WA
rick@etnsplace.com

 

D L. Mead Dir. Oper. Timekeeping
BNSF Railroad
Operating Timekeeping North
P.O. Box 1738
10th Floor General Office Building
Topeka, KS. 66601

July 19, 1999

Mr. Mead,

It is becoming increasingly clear that the present system of conferencing claims at a local level is not working. This letter is written in an attempt to arrive at a jointly acceptable solution to the growing problem.

Through various changes in company policy, Labor Relations has effectively removed the Director of Administration from running interference in any meaningful way. The whole premise was to provide a middle ground to take the load off your office in the growing claims conference arena. Labor Relations has regulated the DOA to a position that takes his office out of the decision making loop.

The DOA will almost always side with the decisions of the Division Superintendent, regardless if the application of schedule agreements states otherwise. The time limits are not even suspended while awaiting a conference with the DOA. If it takes an exceptional amount of time to gain a conference, and that conference is not successful, the possibility of expiration of time limits is a real concern.

This committee has on many occasions, sent an appeal to your office, laying out the various arguments for a claim, quoting schedule agreements, only to have the claim come back with a form letter declining the claim. The whole purpose of a claims conference is to be able to have a one on one with the conferencer, being able to present and argue the merits of the case. The present system does not allow for this "conferencing".

A possible solution to this issue is to schedule a claims conference with the Manager of Operating Timekeeping for the specific area, as was done long ago. This could be done through teleconferencing, and include all the local chairmen at one time. This could be accomplished at a regular interval to allow for time limitations. This would allow the various committees to actually present their claims and argue the validity of the various points. As it stands now, this is not possible

As you are aware, with the new system looming on the horizon, the DOA will almost always be cut out of the loop. The system is not working, and there are no indications of it getting any better. Any suggestions your office has would be appreciated.

Respectfully,
Richard Etienne
Local Chairman
BLE Div. 758
Vancouver WA.