P. 0. Box 96130
                                                                                                                        2600 Lou Menk Dr.
                                                                                                                        Ft. Worth, TX 76131-0030
                                                                                                                        Phone (817) 352-1082
                                                                                                                        Fax (817) 352-7653
                                                                                                                      

Dear Rick,

Thank you for your letter of May 6, 2000 expressing concerns about correspondence from Crew Support Director Bobby Pechal describing a pilot project on the Twin Cities Service Region. Bobby in a subsequent letter to UTU General Chairman John Fitzgerald, advised that the specific initiative was designed to:

· address crew calling claims in a more expeditious manner

· improve the documentation process for use in educating Crew Support Specialists and Supervisors on proper handling of the agreements

· improve the claims routing process

In addition to the Twin Cities pilot project, 16 Divisions are participating in an arbitrary / claims review process with a 48 hour turn around to expedite claims investigation and handling. When a local supervisor indicates that a claim should be declined, all of the information provided by local supervision is included on the decline so that the employee and supervisor can discuss the claim further if necessary.

In some instances, after the receipt of a decline, employees have contacted their timekeepers and supplied the additional information to validate the claim and pay it. By using the proper constructive code and supplying pertinent information, routing of the timeslip is expedited, new information given and the employee paid.

Operating Timekeeping works closely with Crew Support and division supervision to investigate claims where additional information is needed for validation. We are setting up electronic routing to further enhance this part of the claims process. In some instances, where the validation response is delayed we have based our decline on the information at hand. I believe this new, more efficient process that we are now using will provide us with all of the information we need to pay or decline claims. Of course, when we do decline a claim, we will send the details that we have received from Crew Support or division supervision to the employee with the decline.

I have provided Crew Support Director Bobby Pechal with a copy of your letter so that he can address your Crew Support process concerns.

Once again, I appreciate you sharing your concerns as well as the opportunity to let you know what we are doing to alleviate them. As always, my team and I are available to discuss any of this further with you at your convenience.

Respectfully,

Marka Hughes

Cc: David Dealy
Merle Geiger Jr.
John Fitzgerald
Jay Schollmeyer
Kathy Johnson
Bobby Pechal
Maggie Prellwitz
Dennis Mead