Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers

 

M.W. Geiger Jr.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENT 
BNSF/MRL

                            VICE  CHAIRMEN
                                D. R PIERCE
                                S. J.  BRATKA
                                M. 0. WILSON

General Chairman

            500 THROCKMORTON, SUITE 1820
                FT. WORTH, TX 76102 4237
                TEL (817) 338-9010 · FAX (817) 338-9088

                                 J.H. NELSON
           SECRETARY-TREASURER
                           ORCHARD DRIVE
                    GALESBURG, IL 61401

January 19, 2001                                                                         File: 2000 Contract

 

ALL LOCAL CHAIRMAN AND
ASSISTANT LOCAL CHAIRMAN
BNSF NORTHLINES (FORMER
CB&Q, GN, NP AND SP&S)

Dear Sirs and Brothers:

This Office has been receiving inquiries as to the status of our current contract negotiations. I have not sent anything out recently account there is not a whole lot to report.

This Committee is in a two track negotiation process as we were in 1996. Certain common issues are being negotiated at the International level and we are negotiating specific BNSF issues on-property. Most of our earlier meetings with BNSF involved a new pay system for unassigned service as that was number one on the carrier’s list. So we were not surprised when the trip rate pay system showed up in the UTU tentative agreement.

‘I will not go into the national negotiations as I am not a part of that bargaining team and, further, I note that a report on this subject is included in the latest Engineer Journal.

As for on-property negotiations, we met eight times last year for a total of 16 days. Many issues have been discussed but no resolution on any at this time. That is not unusual. Normally things start coming together at the end of the process and then you have a package.

Since the UTU agreement was initialed talks regarding major money issues have come to a standstill. The carrier will not negotiate against themselves until ratification or rejection of the UTU proposal is determined. We are still discussing many issues with BNSF and will continue in that regard. The only major money issue that the BNSF wants to discuss, awaiting results of the UTU proposal, is guaranteed extra boards, as the carrier has grave concerns over the cost of same.

As you can see there is very little to report at this time. Once it is determined whether the UTU proposal is accepted or rejected, the process will then move forward. Once that is determined and things start to come together, we will have a better idea of where we are at in this process and that information will be made available. As always, I remain,

Fraternally,

Merle Geiger Jr.

General Chairman