The floor was opened for discussion.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, September 16, 2002

Meeting opened by the President in due form.

Members present: D St John, R Etienne, R. Balkowitsch, W. Knowles, R. McCartney, T. Jacobs, K. Atwood, J. Johnson, R. Collins, H. Bailey, C. Gunther and D. Haney.

Minutes of previous meeting read. No corrections made. Motion to accept by Brother Jacobs, seconded by Brother Bailey. Motion passed.

Finances: Presentation of current status made by sec/tres. Current membership is 108 plus one trainman. The current balances of accounts were discussed and several questions were asked from the floor. The bills due for payment were presented and discussed. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Johnson, seconded by Brother Collins. Motion passed.

Discussion was held towards making a donation to the State Legislative board, towards a Billboard to educate the public about Remote Control issues. Issue was tabled by motion by Brother Knowles, Seconded by D. Haney. Motion passed.

Local Chairman: The following topics were discussed:

1. Insurance ($2000.00) from Metlife for each rail hired after 1967. There is a policy in effect for all railroad workers hired after 1967 that pays benefits in the event of death. An active employee may be insured up to $2000.00. This is coverage through Union membership. If you haven't filled out a beneficiary form designating your beneficiary, you need to call 1-800-310-7770 to get updated.
   
2. Supplemental Health Insurance for retirees. GCA has more packets. Currently there is a plan for those who opt for early retirement that will provide medical coverage. This is called CARE (Consolidated Associations of Railroad Employees). This is the former SF property hospital association. Information is available for those interested. Be sure to let this committee know if you are interested.
   
3. Washington State Legislative Board Meeting was held in Kennewick WA in July. This rally was hosted by Brother Will Amaya from Pasco. He is the IWC Chairman. The rally was also organized by Brothers Kent Confer and Jeff Cheney. Topics discussed were:

•   IWC Remote control rally. This went off without a hitch. There were plenty of members and family present to demonstrate. Our Teamster brothers and sisters were there also. Quite a turnout.

•  International Officer Q&A in Kennewick. President Hahs held a Q&A session. 

•  Maggie Jacobson left the NMB on July 31. We have new members now, and they may be more favorable to 

•  BLE. President Hahs also told us that the arbitration appeal on RCO is progressing. 

• Also, the lawsuit against Secretary Mineta is still pending. Currently, 

• FRA does not wish to talk to BLE about RCO. They seem to be content to put out "guidelines" rather than rules for RCO. 

• BLE now holds the representation rights on the Tex-Mex. As you know, UTU won the single craft representation issue 2 years ago. Guess memories run deep. UTU no longer represents anyone on that railroad. A two year waiting period was enforced after the NMB ruled that BLE engineers could not vote for representation after the single craft ruling.

5.    New train makeup rules. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the new rules. If in doubt ask. If you aren't sure where to place a pickup in your train, ask the dispatcher. If he/she tells you they don't know, make sure someone in authority advises you where to place that pickup before you do it. If no one wants to step up to the plate and tell you where to put it, empower yourself and don't do the work until proper authority instructs you properly. Remember, it is their own rules that require a full job briefing prior to the job being done.

7     Empowerment. Remember, you have been given the right of empowerment. Use it wisely.

8.    Safe Workplace. Be sure to follow the rules. The carrier wrote them, therefore they shouldn't get upset if we observe them. Don't chase the quit. That's when things happen. Be sure to work safe. Don't make your family members grieve for you.

9.     Meal Period on switch engines. The carrier is adamant about running beans. Don't chase the quit and then complain you didn't get beans. Be sure to ask who authorized the meal period. Make sure they put you on the list. Be sure to put the trainmaster's name on your timeslip. Contrary to what some carrier officers say, the 20 minute penalty is only a penalty the carrier pays for not allowing you to eat within the time limits of 4 hours 30 minutes, and 5 hours 40 minutes. If you are not allowed a meal period during the shift (8 hours) you are still entitled to the basic day penalty.

10.    Unannounced Yellow flags. The carrier is pushing the testing on unannounced yellow flags. Be vigilant. Remember, after encountering one, you are required to go 10 miles an hour AND ascertain from the dispatcher that there are no restrictions at that point, for the distance of 4 miles from the unannounced yellow flag. Don't let the carrier tell you good job, and then tell you you can pick up the speed. That may only be done after the rear of the train has traveled 4 miles past the unannounced yellow flag.

11    Collision at Vader. Due to the continuing ongoing investigation by BNSF, FRA, and NTSB, opinions and statements by fellow union members should not be made. Since none of know what happened, opinions should be left unsaid. We need to stand by our brothers and sisters, not beat them down. Remember, some day, it may be you in this position. A true miracle occurred. None of the crew members were seriously injured.

12    Attendance Guidelines going again. The carrier is enforcing the attendance guidelines again. If you receive an investigation notice for attendance, you need to do the following:

Determine if you want representation, then notify who you want to represent you.
Determine if you want the investigation, sign a waver, or opt for alternative handling.
Currently, most attendance guidelines by Div. 758 members have been reversed by Labor Relations due to the fact they don't want us to have a good case to take to arbitration. At this time, almost all of the prior investigations have been reversed here.
If you choose an investigation, unless your record is truly bad, it will probably be reversed on appeal. Remember, a waver, or alternative handling does not have any option for appeal. While alternative handling is an option, the requirements would be for absolute compliance for the next 3 months, or the case reverts back to an investigation.
If you opt for having the investigation, and you want this committee to represent you, please provide documentation (816's) that show how long you were on duty for each shift during the 3 months in question. Also, provide any explanation for layoffs that were necessary for family events, weddings, funerals, graduations, anniversaries etc.

13.     Billboards at Vancouver-RCO. Currently the WSLB is going to put up billboards in Vancouver about RCO. As a division it would be nice to help defray the cost of these. Yes, we don't have RCO's in Vancouver, but that can change at any time. Please talk it over, and let us know if we should donate to their fund or not. The 3 sites in question are:

NE 72nd Ave, north of 99th St.
Washington St, south of 12th.
W. 4th Plain Blvd. east of Roosevelt.

The floor was opened for discussion. If you see something wrong with track or mechanical devices on engines or cars, TURN IT IN. Fill out unsafe condition report, they must respond to these. We are in a good position to expose the lack of interest in safety currently being shown on this division. Be sure to keep a copy for the division.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, October 21, 2002

Meeting opened by the President in due form.

Members present: Brothers D St John, R Etienne, R. Balkowitsch, W. Knowles, D. Richardson, T. Jacobs, S. Cordes, W. Wasnoska, H. Bailey, J. Jones III, guest M. Montgomery, guest D. Jeremiah, designated BLE safety rep., guest P. Bovarnick, designated BLE FELA lawyer and his associate Phil Bentley.

Minutes of previous meeting read. No corrections made. Motion to accept by Brother Knowles, seconded by Brother Richardson. Motion passed.

Finances: Presentation of current status made by sec/tres. Current membership is 107 plus one trainman. The current balances of accounts were discussed and several questions were asked from the floor. The bills due for payment were presented and discussed. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Richardson, seconded by Brother Cordes. Motion passed.

Discussion was held towards making a donation to the State Legislative board, towards a Billboard to educate the public about Remote Control issues. Issue was tabled by motion by Brother Knowles, Seconded by D. Haney. Motion passed.

Presentation made by special guest Dale Jeremiah, BLE Safety Representative: Gave brief outline of his job and what they have accomplished so far. Printout handed out to discuss. Engineers have the third highest injuries on the division. Human factors are 45% of injuries. Largest cause of injury are sitting and walking. Short 10-minute movie was shown. Floor opened for discussion. Video was shown on family awareness of safety concerns

Presentation made by special guest P. Bovarnick: Document all instances of unsafe conditions or unsafe workers. Document any instances of unsafe attitude by management. This is to the benefit of all of us. Everyone should get disability insurance. Make sure they will cover you before buying. Floor opened for discussion.

Discussions were held regarding current injured or sick members. Those include:
 Larry Blanco, injured in Eugene some time ago. Last word was he was having surgery probably this week. We will call him to see how he is, and offer support.
 Dean Richardson: He is recovering from injuries, is looking pretty good, and hopefully will be back to work in the foreseeable future. 
 John Jones:. Haven't heard much, but should be recovering from knee surgery.
Karrie Huelle will be off for a while recovering from surgery. Be sure to visit her or send cards. Word is she likes money too.

Local Chairman: The following topics were discussed:

1. Accidents: The NWE division has had a rash of accidents recently. Actually, the entire system has had a run of them. Please be careful. Please don't take shortcuts or act on improper instructions. Please do everything according to the rules. Don't make your family mourn you over the holidays.
2. Attendance guidelines: They are alive and well. If you are cited, please decide what you want to do quickly, and notify whomever you want to represent you. Remember these are being overturned by LR regularly.
3. Ops testing: The carrier is increasing their ops testing. Be careful and comply.
4. LVJ flip: A new local has been put on originating in Centralia. They will work down and then take our formerly LVJ flip back with them. This means we loose 6 trains a week from our extra board. The MPASLVJ out of Pasco will be re-named the MPASVAW Monday through Saturday.
5. Temp Vacancies; When ruling to temp vacancies, be sure to check to make sure the job has been filled by the extra board for at least 7 days. Currently, option 20 does not do that. It simply shows the last day the engineer worked, and not the first day the assignment went to the extra board. Take the extra few minutes to save being pulled of these rules.
6. Job selection sheets: Remember that you are responsible for keeping your job selection sheet updated. No one else can do it, and if you wind up on a job that you really didn't want, there is nothing we can do about it. This also applies to keeping new jobs on, and taking off jobs that are no longer valid. We re talking about your means of income. Don't short change yourself!
7. Albany: Who knows? Nothing has been sent out yet, while Marketing is saying the first of December. This can't happen without the 60 day notice, and that hasn't happened yet.
8. Increase in business: The carrier doesn't seem to want to keep us in the loop as to how much or how long the surge in business will last. Guess we will regulate on what has happened, and let them hunt for crews.
9. VRU Markup: Creative marking up has been on the increase, please don't. Remember that we are all brothers and sisters. This is like family. Let's not cause our "family" grief.

The floor was opened for discussion. If you see something wrong with track or mechanical devices on engines or cars, TURN IT IN. Fill out unsafe condition report, they must respond to these. We are in a good position to expose the lack of interest in safety currently being shown on this division.

Motion to close by Brother Bailey, seconded by Brother Cordes. Motion passed.

Members present: D St John, R Etienne, S. Barnes, P. Fahey, D. Richardson, R. Williams, M. Montgomery, D. Haney, J McHenry, W. Boomgaarden and D. Haney.

Minutes of previous meeting read. No corrections made.

New members: Two new members have applied for admission, Jeff McHenry and Max Montgomery. Motion to accept new members by D. Haney, seconded by C. Nibbler, motion passed unanimously.

Finances: Copy of GCA financial statement presented and discussion and questions were raised and letter will be sent to address these issues. Presentation of current status made by sec/tres. Current membership is 109 plus one trainman, this includes the two new members. The current balances of accounts were discussed and several questions were asked from the floor. The bills due for payment were presented and discussed. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Bailey, seconded by Brother Haney. Motion passed.

S. Barnes requests that in the minutes a thank you to the Sec-Treas D. L. St. John for dealing with and resolving the IRS issues that have been brought to this Division.

Local Chairman: Old business, billboard donation un-tabled and discussed. Motion by brother D. Haney to donate $500.00 to the WSLB to go towards billboards on remote control. Seconded by brother Richardson. Motion passed unanimously. This money will be sent to the Washington State Legislative Board for use in anti Remote Control Policies.

The following other topics were discussed:

1. Vacations - After a vacation scheduling meeting with the carrier, it was determined that we would loose 1 slot for the last 2 weeks of October but we would pick up an additional slot in the week of Christmas.
2. Remote issues with the UP - A meeting was held with out brothers on the UP. This was hosted by our designated counsel Paul Bovarnick. Many issues were discussed regarding the impending insertion of remote units at Albina Yard after the first of the year. Gotta hand it to our UP Brothers. They are on the ball when it comes to organizing! A game plan is being implemented, and will be put in effect. We have been invited to continue participating with them, time and scheduling permitting. This promises to be an interesting proposition.
3. Work Practice Observations. Motion made by Brother Bailey, seconded by Brother Haney to look further into our participation and compensation on this matter. Report to be made at the next meeting and decision to be made at that time. Remember that the current alternative handling agreement does ask for participation in work practice observations. This agreement is in effect for 2 years, but if the organizations don't participate in some manner, the carrier will cancel this agreement. It was discussed and decided that the benefits of being able to offer alternative handling in some discipline cases outweighed the negative aspects of WPO's. Please remember that the following apply to WPO's:

•     These work practice observations will be done solely    by scheduled employees only. They will never be done along side a carrier officer.
•     All observations will be done as a blind study- no dates, times, locations, names etc. will be included.
•     Only a total of observations, and the results thereof will be made.
•     These will be sent to the Safety Coordinator (Dale Jeremiah) and he will give that information to the carrier.
•     The purpose of these WPO's is to determine areas where training may be deficient, physical conditions exist that may be hazardous, practices may need      correcting, etc.   
•     Remember that the purpose of these observations is to ensure that all of our members, (and other employees) will continue to be able to go home healthy  safe and employed.

4. Sick and injured: 

• Karrie Huelle is still recovering from Surgery. She should be back around the end of the year.
•  Frank Colton is doing well.
•  Larry Blanco is recovering from Surgery that was a result of his terrible injury. We have no information on possible return time. 
• Goerge Norvell is doing well. He should be back to work around the end of the year.
• Anyone wishing to contact any of these employees, please feel free to do so. I'm sure they would all appreciate any contact with our brothers or sisters

5. $2000.00 Death Benefit- Any current or past Railroad worker who has hired out after 1967 has a $2000.00 death benefit policy currently with Met life. In order to activate/ensure proper beneficiary can call 1-800-310-7770. They will send you a beneficiary form and make sure the policy is in effect for you. Be sure to call and take care of this. Better this money in your survivor's pocket than theirs.
6. Track Warrants - Recent events in other areas have brought the need for heads up attention to track warrants. Please be sure to watch them carefully, Make sure of your limits!
7. New Haz-Mat section is in effect - make sure you have one. These supercede the old Haz Mat section in your rule book. You may obtain a set of these from any carrier officer
8. Albany - still not final. The GCA from both unions are looking into any benefits that may help those employees who may be displaced. More info to follow
9. New abilities in TSS - Job selection and days off are affected. You now have the ability to control your rest days through the computer. Anyone who doesn't have the information on how to use this function please let this committee know.
10. New air brake module - Everyone should have taken this. New power brake rules not in effect yet, but they should go into effect after the first of the year.
11. HPT (Horsepower per Ton) - The carrier is looking closer at this, along with other "flags" Remember that all of the dash 9's along with those other locomotives retrofitted with the computer downloading system have the ability to broadcast the data from the locomotive at almost any time. All the carrier has to do is request the info from the readers and it will be done. Flags have been set up to automatically signal certain events. These include power braking, stalls, loss of telemetry between Fred and Mary, heavy reduction, dynamiting train, and several others including HPT. The carrier has the right to make rules that must be followed, and as long as they are not in conflict with schedule agreements, we must follow them. HPT is one of these. If your train is designated for a certain HPT, and you are over horsepower, you are required to isolate engines in order to comply with HPT, as long as you don't exceed over 400 tons per dynamic brake. With the new engines, you can isolate them by placing them in DB mode only, thus allowing use when using dynamic brakes. It doesn't matter whether or not you are able to make track speed; if you are scheduled for a lower HPT, the only one that can allow the increase is the dispatcher. We are paid to follow the rules set by the carrier, whether or not we like them, as long as they don't violate any scheduled agreement. Please comply with these rules.

The floor was opened for discussion.