July - December 2006 Minutes

July - December 2006 Meeting Minutes

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, July 17 2006

Meeting was opened by President in Due Form.

Members present: (note: this information is a compilation of the extended hours of all present) Brother's R. Etienne, D. St John, S. Cordes, D. Haney, T. Reddish, R. McCartney, K. Atwood, R. Jacobs, H. Bailey, J. McDaniel, M. Fischer, J. Jones, M. Taylor, M. Cousineau, W. Pellens, R. Huelle, K. Kawawaki, T. Jones, A. Nollette, E. Taylor, J. Johnson, S. Hill, P. Patterson, W. Pelham, K. Taylor, J. Blau and D. Green. Also special guest P. Bovarnick.

The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting were suspended account secretary was absent and notes were not processed.

Local Chairman – Rick talked at length about the National Convention that he attended last month. There were no upsets there and no controversial issues brought up. There was a presentation made on handling radioactive materials. We are supposed to start hauling this cargo within about 6 years. Hahs was re-elected as national president. Geiger and McPherson were also re-elected. There was some discussion of contract but nothing is really pending at this time. The floor was opened for discussion.

Division 316 Initiative Passed – The initiative to mandate election of National Officers by member ballot passed. This will wind up costing the union millions of dollars. It will also allow a small percentage of members to elect officers. Historically, less than 35% of ballots are returned. This means a majority of that 35% will decide the fate of the National Division.

Whistling at Crossings – Carrier will dismiss anyone who fails to whistle at a crossing with a whistle board. If you know it’s public, and no board, whistle anyway. Ops failure for not using proper whistle rule 7. 2 longs, a short and a long. Failure for not whistling for at least 15 seconds. Failure for not whistling until engine reaches other side of crossing.

XBD crews from Vancouver going east of Wishram – Please be sure to document and notify this committee any time you are sent east of Wishram for a dogcatch, and called of the XBD for short turn around service.

Short line work – It appears the OE will be handed over to the P&W in August. The same goes for 867 going to the Longview switching company. For some reason the carrier keeps delaying these and only will know when it happens.

Vacation/PLD being used for FMLA – The GCA has asked that time slips be generated each time one of your compensated days are taken when you use FMLA. The claim is a bit long, but this is what they want. Suggest you copy and paste from home when filing these out. GCA says these are the types of claims they will keep for when the court ruling comes down.

Temping & not taking notification – The carrier is accusing us of sharp shooting. They cite the multitudes of employees all temping/bumping to the same turns. They claim we don’t take our notification in a timely fashion. If you temp to a job, get bumped, but don’t take your notification, when the job you had been temped to goes to work, this will be considered your notification, and you will be marked up immediately. If the job you temped to goes to work and you aren’t on it, they will miss call you if you haven’t taken your notification.

Lay off Allocations – Letters have gone out requesting information on why our allocations appear to be tampered with. No response as yet, will let you know.

Purging Lay Offs – Carrier has issued lists of those who keep requesting layoffs and then purging them as the days approach. It is clearly evident who is doing the most purging. We have the choice of policing ourselves, or having the carrier issue another restrictive “policy”. When the allocation is full, everyone after that is denied. When someone purges a layoff, the computer doesn’t go back and approve one of the earlier denials. We need to curb the excessive purges before they restrict us.

Claims – This committee continues to need 816’s for claims to be processed. Also, complete paperwork in order to work the claims. Claims without proper documentation will be returned to claimant. Please don’t leave any claims without the necessary documentation. This causes double handling of claims.

Called for yard job outside working window – If you are called outside the normal working times of the job and it’s not because of rest, your on duty & pay times go back to the original start of the shift, (0730, 1530, 2230). If you are called late because of not being rested, your pay starts, when you get there. If they hold you over for a new job, you are entitled to the first 8 hours of the first job at straight time, the remainder of time you work until dead at OT, and if any time left in the shift, that time at straight time. See a member of this committee for further explanations.

Qualified on territory – Be sure to notify Crew if you are called to work where you aren’t qualified. This is FRA rule. Don’t take any job where you haven’t been over the territory in the last 12 months. If they order you, notify the trainmaster. If he orders you, let us know. Empower yourself if you feel uncomfortable with it.

Assigned cars – The ballots were counted on the current resolution before the membership. The president appointed members Z. Wilson, C. Nibbler and B. Knowles to count the ballots. Total ballots received were 67 by mail and 2 hand delivered. Vote was 47 yes, 13 no, one none vote and 9 disqualified. The proposal passes and will now be forwarded to the carrier by the Local Chairman.

Finances – We currently have 109 members. We will be gaining two members next month. We have a list of personnel that wish to join and applications will be sent out this week. The finances were discussed and bills were presented for payment. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Haney, Seconded by Brother Knowles. Motion passed.

Motion made by Brother Haney, to cancel the August meeting account historically we have a hard time getting anybody to attend. Seconded by X. Wilson. Motion Passed.

The floor was opened for discussions.

Motion to close meeting by X Wilson, seconded by C. Marsh. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1443.

There was no meeting in August 2006.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, September 18 2006

Meeting was opened by President in Due Form.

Members Attending – D. St. John, R. Etienne, S. Cordes, S. Barnes, B. Knowles, T. Reddish, T. Jacobs, R. Collins, J. Bennett, D. Haney, H. Bailey, C. Ruza, J. McDaniels, R. Moore.

Minutes of the July meeting were read since there was no meeting in August. No amendments were made. Motion to accept by Brother Haney, Seconded by Brother Knowles. Motion passed.

Finances – We currently have 111 members. We should be gaining more members over the next months. We have a list of personnel that wish to join and applications have been sent out. The finances were discussed and bills were presented for payment. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Haney, Seconded by Brother Barnes. Motion passed.

Special Guest Paul Bovarnick – Paul urge’s everyone to get out and vote. Many of the issues important to labor along with those who support us are on the Ballot this year. Patty Murray is in a close fight and has been a great friend to railroaders. He asked us to support her in any way we can. No matter what ---- PLEASE VOTE. There is also a move in our area to place extremely right wing judges who wish to change the laws and interpretations of them into office. Please be aware and be very informed before you vote for these positions. FMLA – there are still problems out there. If you want advise from Paul, he would like to see your application and he will look at them. You must be denied, fired or disciplined for these cases to be actionable. Insurance – Anyone with automobile insurance should look at increasing their Personal Injury Protection as high as you can. This insurance pays for lose of wages or injury to yourself or anyone in your vehicle. This insurance pays first. If you are underinsured you could easily be out with no income. Minimum is not enough; the amount you may save is not worth the loss you may have. He recommends a minimum of 50K on PIP and One million minimums for Uninsured and Underinsured Liability. This will help insure you against the loss of your house and belongings.

Legislative Rep – Bill Knowles recently attended a Clark County Labor Roundtable meeting which included the Port and various labor and business people. He learned that the Port has been approved to open a methanol plant. When the carrier was approached on this they only wanted to know where he had gotten the information. He would like us to join this group at a cost of $60 per year. This would give the Legislative rep a great opportunity to network with other people we work with on a daily basis.

Safety Rep – Terry Reddish talked about Cab Condition issues. An outbound crew sent a report to the mechanical desk about an issue that has not been forwarded to the cab committee. The committee can’t go after the roundhouse unless they have the information. Anytime there is an issue with the cabs; it needs to be reported! We can’t do anything about it if we don’t know about it. The committee is going to be doing a video here locally. They will be doing this next week over at 12^th Street. We may be seeing this in the next few months. The FRA has taken the Railroads to task on their new systems as not being adequate. We will let everyone know how this develops. There has been testimony in Congress concerning fatigue and human error accidents. Again we will let you know more as this develops but both seem to be good news for us.

Nominations for Officers.

President opened the floor for nominations.

Third Alternate Delegate to the ND committee - C Ruzsa by H. Bailey, seconded by D. Haney.

Second Alternate Delegate to the ND committee E Taylor by S. Barnes seconded by H Bailey

First Alternate B Knowles by D. Haney seconded by S. Barnes

Delegate to National committee R Etienne by S. Barnes seconded by D. Haney

Alternate Delegate to State Leg Board B Knowles by S. Barnes seconded by T. Reddish.

Legislative Rep J. McHenry by D. Haney seconded by S. Barnes.

Chaplain K. Fox by R Etienne, seconded by B Knowles

Guide S Barnes by D Haney, seconded by R Etienne

Vice Local Chairman D Haney by S Barnes seconded C Ruzsa

R Jacobs by S Cordes seconded by T Reddish

H Bailey by D Haney seconded by S Barnes

Local Chairman R Etienne by D Haney seconded R Jacobs

Alternate Sec D St. john by S Barnes seconded by D Haney

Sec/treas R Pratt by H Bailey seconded by W Knowles

Vice President C Ruzsa by S Cordes seconded by D Haney

R Jacobs by R Etienne seconded by S Cordes

R Collins by D Haney seconded by S Barnes

President S Cordes by R Etienne seconded by C Ruzsa

Nominations closed by Barnes seconded by Bailey.

Due to change in Secretary-Treasurer, the Budget and Audit committee will meet to audit the books of the Division after the December 18^th meeting but prior to the January 15^th.

Local Chairman –

Calling out signals. Please remember that it is only east of SP&S Jct. where you don’t have to call out block signals. Ops testing are being done at Hover. West of west approach signal to Washougal westward is other zone.

Qualifying on Territory. Please be sure to ask for a pilot if you are required to go on territory you haven’t been on in the last 12 months. This includes North of Vancouver Jct. North. Don’t take extra work on territory you are not qualified on.

Assigned cars. We have been waiting for the new Supt. to come to Pasco. Have told Jeep we need a meeting with both of them at first opportunity. We no sooner voted in the change when Hein was made a lame duck supt. at Pasco.

Whistling at Crossing. Whistle if there is a whistle board. Regardless of time of night – give 15-20 seconds of blow. Your job may depend on it.

XBD crews from Vancouver going east of Wishram. Please be sure to document and notify this committee any time you are sent east of Wishram for a dog catch, and called off the XBD for short turn around service.

HOS Relief inside of Yard Limits – Carrier has a bad board award allowing them to use dog catch crews to dog catch trains that die HOS inside yard limits. This award lets crews finish the work of the road crew that died and then go do their original dog catch. Pierce has signed an agreement allowing this. The purpose was to prevent the carrier from attacking our 2b on other dog catches. Carrier implied they were going to go after that next. This means you can dog catch a train, then when you get back, if a train is dead HOS entirely inside yard limits, you can finish the work of that train. Compensation is basic day with OT after 8 hours total for the work.

Vacation/PLD being used for FML. This committee has seen very few tickets for having PL/Vac days used for FML. Suggest you copy and paste from home when filling these out. GCA says these are the types of claims they will keep for when the court ruling comes down. If you don’t fill out the claims, you won’t have any say so when the court ruling comes down our way.

Claims. In order for a claim to be processed the following is needed: Copy of working timeslip, Copy of decline timeslip, Copy of delay report, Copy of 816 showing what was earned on that day of claim. Claim should also state a time of the violation. Purpose is to prevent stall tactics by LR in conference. This is the new tactic, be anal and stall.

Excessive on Duty times. This committee is asking carrier to explain why crews are on duty 15 or more hours. Their reply is they don’t have a delay report. We would like to have a copy of the delay report for any crew on duty 15 or more hours. This way we can demand an explanation and they can’t say they don’t know.

Called for yard job outside working window. If you are called outside the normal working times of the job and it’s not because of rest, your on duty and pay times go back to the original start of the shift, (0730, 1530, 2330). If you are called late because of not being rested, your pay starts when you get there. If they hold you over for a new job, you are entitled to the first 8 hours of the first job at straight time; the remainder of item you work until dead at OT, and if any time left in the shift, that time at straight time. See this committee for further explanations.

Swapping pool car positions or XBD cycles. This committee has drafted a side letter for approval along with the Avery Agreement to allow for the L/C to request the occasional pool car position or XBD cycle swaps. Currently Crew says no agreement – no swap. This side letter will provide the agreement necessary to allow the change. Changes will not be excessive, and will only be done with the L/C approval.

The floor was opened for discussions.

Motion to close meeting by B. Knowles, seconded by T. Reddish. Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1530.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, October 16 2006

Meeting was opened by President in Due Form.

Members Attending – D. St. John, R. Etienne, S. Cordes, B. Knowles, T. Jacobs, R. Moore, C. Nibler, K. Atwood, R. McCartney, B. Black, M. Cousineau, W. Pellens.

Minutes of the October meeting were read. No amendments were made. Motion to accept by Brother Knowles, Seconded by Brother Jacobs. Motion passed.

Finances – We currently have 111 members. We should be gaining more members over the next months. We continue looking at personnel to join and application have been sent out. The finances were discussed and bills were presented for payment. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Atwood, Seconded by Brother Moore. Motion passed.

Special Guest Steve Thompson – Mr. Thompson is a partner at Kirklan and Folawn. He talked about accumulative trauma injuries. An injury that occurs due to the continuing damage caused over and over again with your body not able to recover. This also includes hearing loss. Sitting in a seat under vibration in a continuous environment until your disk collapses. He then gave a brief presentation on this issue. Most importantly, COMPLY with all the rules concerning injuries. If you are injured on the job, MAKE SURE YOUR DOCTOR KNOWS THIS IS NOT WORKERS COMP! You have the right under FELA to doctor patient confidentiality. That is not true under Workers Comp. The Railroads are attempting to convince all doctors that we are covered under workman’s comp. And they will keep copies of all records they collect and may use them YEARS down the road. The statutes of limitations for FELA are three years from the time of the incident.

Legislative Rep – Bill Knowles reports that the legislative committee is attempting to put some legislation into play forcing state agencies to fully comply with all laws in effect. They are going to be putting in dwarf blocks for westbound movement out of Pasco. They apparently can't move large blocks so will try to make this work. He gave printouts with the endorsements for the state election this November. We will make copies of this available. He will be at the Wishram safety meeting next week and will report what is happening there at the next meeting. There will be a turnover in the State Legislative board this year. It looks like we will get some good people in to replace them, so doesn’t look to bad.

Local Chairman –

Assigned cars - We have a tentative meeting set up next week. We hope to convince the new Supt. to allow the changes. Have met Mr. Ruby Jr., seems like a decent person. Time will tell.

Whistling at Crossings - Whistle if there is a whistle board. Regardless of time of night – give 15-20 seconds of whistle. They are checking for 15 seconds before entering Xing.

HOS Relief inside Yard Limits – Carrier has a board award allowing them to use dog catch crews to dog catch trains that die HOS inside yard limits. This award lets crews finish the work of the road crew that died and then go do their original dog catch. Pierce has signed an agreement allowing this. The purpose was to prevent the carrier from attacking our 2B on other dog catches. Carrier implied they were going to go after that next. This means you can dog catch a train, then when you get back, if a train is dead HOS entirely inside yard limits, you can finish the work of that train. Compensation is basic day with OT after 8 hours total for the work.

Vacations/PLDs being used for FML – This committee has seen very few tickets for having PL/Vac days used for FML. Suggest you copy and paste from home when filling these out. GCA says these are the types of claims they will keep for when the court ruling comes down. If you don’t fill out the claims, you won’t have any say so when the court ruling comes down our way.

Claims – In order for a claim to be processed the following is needed: Copy of working timeslip, copy of decline timeslip, copy of delay report, copy of 816 showing what was earned on that day of claim. Claim should also state a time of the violation. Purpose is to prevent stall tactics that are being used by LR in conference. Their new tactic of be anal and stall.

Called for yard job outside working window – If you are called outside the normal working times of the job and it’s not because of you rest, you are on duty and pay times go back to the original start of the shift, (0730, 1530, 2330). If you are called late because of not being rested, your pay starts when you get there. If they hold you over for a new job, you are entitled to the first 8 hours of the first job at straight time; the remainder of time you work until dead at OT, and if any time left in the shift, that time is at straight time. See this committee for further explanations.

Swapping pool car positions or XBD cycles – This committee has drafted a side letter for approval along with the Avery Agreement to allow for the L/C to request the occasional pool car position or XBD cycle swaps. Currently Crew says no agreement – no swap. This side letter will provide the agreement necessary to allow the change. Changes will not be excessive, and will only be done with L/C approval.

Shoving car violations – Carrier continues to rack up violations on shoving rule. We don’t want to be part of those violations. Before moving you need three things; who’s watching, how are they watching the shove, and how far is the shove. Insist on the ½ + 1 and the 25ft and “stop”.

Vacations – Vacation request forms are out. Please be sure to get them back by November 12. As always, please don’t enter your requests in TSS.

Calling the NOC – There is too much calling the chief asking to be flipped back to Vancouver. Anyone working the 201 pool has agreed to work ID service. This means portal to portal. If one doesn’t want to go to Pasco, get out of the Pool. It’s embarrassing to have the carrier show how many of our engineers are asking to be flipped. New position of the carrier will be if you ask to flip – and are granted – you will only be paid one way. If they decide to flip you – that’s their decision. If you take a train to Wishram, don’t ask to go back to Vancouver. Expect to go to Pasco. If you have something planned the next day, lay off. Don’t expect them to flip you.

Health Fair – Thanks to all who helped. And thank you to all those who came and participated.

Booking rest on the XBD – Please be sure you don’t book 12 hours rest unless you’ve worked 10 hours minimum.

The floor was opened for discussions.

Motion to close meeting by Brother Nibbler, seconded by Brother Jacobs Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1530.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, November 20 2006

Meeting was opened by President in due Form.

Members Attending – D. St. John, R. Etienne, S. Cordes, C. Nibbler, S. Barnes, H. Bailey, T. Reddish, B. Bocchi, A. Ortmayer, R. Pratt, D. Beckwith, D. Haney, D. Ruiz, R. Collins, H. Allington, R. Huelle, W. Pelham, B. Pellens.

Minutes of the October meeting were read. No amendments were made. Motion to accept by Brother Nibbler, Seconded by Brother Allington. Motion passed.

Finances – We currently have 110 members. Due to late arrival of Sec/Treas there was not a formal finance report. There will be an inclusive end of year report at the next meeting.

Safety Rep – Terry Reddish would like anyone who has a carrier officer come to you and ask you to violate a rule to see what type of response they receive from other members of the crew, please let him or Rick know. This has happened in other areas of the NW. They have told us they have to find more stringent ways of ops testing. He talked about the movies that the carrier has been showing and asked if everyone has seen them. The floor was opened for questions. A number of months ago he and B. Knowles attended a Labor roundtable breakfast meeting. He would again like us to join this organization at a fee of $60. Motion by Brother Reddish for this division to join this organization, Seconded by Brother Haney. Motion passed on the floor.

Cab Committee – Dave Haney meet with the roundhouse recently and discussed the situation on getting the engines at T-6 and Willbridge serviced. Asked if they could get some kind of trash receptacle over there so they can get it off the engines. Also are looking at getting some supplies available. They say that they can not service engines on the main lines anymore so to have an engine serviced, you will have to cut it off and take it into the roundhouse. They floor was opened for discussion. We still are getting very few cab reports. These are necessary to fix the problems.

Local Chairman – The OE is gone as of last week. We need to watch this operation and make sure they aren’t doing any transfer work. They need to comply with all the rules also. Keep your eyes open.

Job 229 G – They are going to put an engineer on this job as there is too much business for a remote. They are also putting a new job on at T-6.

866 – They are going to re-bulletin this job as a 100-mile road switcher. We will keep an eye on this to make sure they don’t try to expand it to another yard road switcher. If you work this and anything funny happens, please let us know.

Assigned cars – Everyone is in agreement as to implementing the assigned car changes. Jobs will be re-bulletined soon. Target date 12-01-06. We will need to watch things for awhile to make sure it works right.

Vacation Allocations – The carrier didn’t argue with us this year as to allocations. They put the allocations into the computer without a fight. Allocations are increased from last year. Summer months will have 11 instead of 10. Thanksgiving and Christmas are increased. Will do vacation scheduling first part of December.

HOS relief inside Yard Limits – Carrier has a board award allowing them to use dog catch crews to dog catch trains that die HOS inside yard limits. This award lets crews finish the work of the road crew that died and then go do their original dog catch. Pierce has signed an agreement allowing this. The purpose was to prevent the carrier from attacking our 2B on other dog catches. Carrier implied they were going to go after that next. This means you can dog catch a train, then when you get back, if a train is dead HOS entirely inside yard limits, you can finish the work of that train. Compensation is basic day with OT after 8 hours total for the work. When you do this, try to find out what time the crew was due to expire. If possible – find out what time the train arrived inside the terminal. We may be able to prosecute time slips on this.

Vacations/PLDs being used for FML – Be sure to submit time slips each time one of your PL or Vac days are used for FML. Claims must include a complete statement of facts detailing the dates in question and which paid leave was involved. Wording on the claim should be: “This claim is being processed without prejudice to the organization’s position that the carrier’s revised FMLA policy is unenforceable because it was implemented unilaterally in violation of the carrier’s status quo and bargaining obligations under the Railway Labor Act and in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The organization is litigating that issue in federal court. The carrier has refused to suspend the requirements of the contract. claims process to work until that dispute is resolved. Therefore, the organization is processing this claim at this time to ensure that the contractual requirements are satisfied in the event the court holds that the dispute must be resolved via the Section 3 processes of the Act.” If you don’t submit a claim, you won’t have any chance of getting these days back.

Claims – Due to the progressive lack of understanding by both Arbitrators and the Carrier, the following needs to be done when submitting penalty claims. When submitting penalty claims, be wordy and very explanatory on the ticket. If you run out of lines, hit “F8” and another set of lines will appear. Explain the moves being done as if talking to your children. Don’t use “built train”. When submitting penalties for the road switcher, explain fully what work was done. Give descriptions -–"doubled XX cars from track XX at XX, to XX cars on track XX and then to the main to make up train XXXXX. Air test train XXXX, depart XXX. Always have a start and stop time. Give locations. If dog catching inside terminal, give location where train was. Station, tracks and car counts for setouts. Be sure to describe fully how the setout was made (set XX cars to track XX at XX, back to main. Took power to.) Who authorized the work? Be sure to keep a train list or switch list. Be sure to give a copy of the working ticket, declined penalty ticket, delay report and 816. If your conductor doesn’t choose to fill out a delay report, do so yourself. Remember, the average penalty ticket at road switcher rate is around $200.00. It’s your money if you want it.

Shoving Car Violations – We continue to have members cited for the shoving rule. Be sure to follow the rules. Your employment may depend on it.

Booking Rest on the XBD – Please be sure you don’t book 12 hours rest unless you’ve worked 10 hours minimum.

Santa Steam Train coming on 12-16-06, plan to bring the kids or grandkids. There will be Santa, candy and hot drinks. The SP&S 700 will be there too. A good time for all.

The floor was opened for discussions.

Motion to close meeting by Brother Huelle, seconded by Brother Barnes Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1425.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, December 18 2006

Meeting was opened by President in Due Form.

Members Attending – D. St. John, R. Etienne, S. Cordes, D. Haney, T. Jacobs, T. Reddish, J. McHenry, C. Gunther, K. Atwood and retired member Wes.

The president asked for volunteers to count the ballots for officers. T. Reddish, K. Atwood and J. McHenry were appointed for the count. Recess was take while the count was done and the floor was opened for discussion. Total ballots received was 72, six of these were not countable. There were two positions that were disputed, the results are as follows: Vice President, Russ Collins 20 votes, Todd Jacobs 19 Votes, C Ruzsa 27 Votes. Vice Chairman, Local Committee of Adjustment, H. Bailey 37 votes, D Haney 35 votes, T. Jacobs 35 votes. H. Bailey is elected and we will have to have a runoff election between the two in accordance with the constitution.

Minutes of the November meeting were read. No amendments were made. Motion to accept by Brother Jacobs, Seconded by Brother Atwood. Motion passed.

Finances – We currently have 110 members. Secretary made presentation on current finances. The bills were presented for payment. Motion by Brother Haney to pay the bills, seconded by Brother Jacobs. Motion passed. There was discussion of when the audit for change of Secretary. It was decided that we would contact the Dept of Labor and request them to do a audit. Dennis will check into this and try to get it done ASAP.

Safety Rep – Terry Reddish says there was a nice letter sent from Rose and Doug Jones thanking every one for the great job during the storms. No injuries and the freight still moved. Doug Jones will be in the terminal tomorrow.

Local Chairman – Assigned Cars – In order to allow crew members to go to the respective boards in Pasco, new boards had to be created. This allowed for the 51,52 and 53 boards. All engineers desiring those jobs need to put them on their job selection sheet. When jobs were moved to the pool, it became apparent that crews would be unable to book 8 hours uninterrupted rest at Pasco. Entire pool would have to have it. 8 hour uninterrupted rest rule prohibits that at AFHT. There are complaints about the pool having to wait for these jobs to go to work. This was all talked about prior to the voting. Those crews always went to work at those times, but their trains didn’t show in the pool lineups. The only change is the 52/62 car, which used to go to work around 0100-0230 now goes to work a little earlier.

Job 229 G – They are going to put an engineer on this job as there is too much business for a remote. They are also putting a new job on at T-6.

Vacations/PLDs being used for FML – Be sure to submit time slips each time one of your PL or Vac days are used for FML. Claims must include a complete statement of facts detailing the dates in question and which paid leave was involved. Wording on the claim should be: “This claim is being processed without prejudice to the organization’s position that the carrier’s revised FMLA policy is unenforceable because it was implemented unilaterally in violation of the carrier’s status quo and bargaining obligations under the Railway Labor Act and in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The organization is litigating that issue in federal court. The carrier has refused to suspend the requirements of the contract claims process until that dispute is resolved. Therefore, the organization is processing this claim at this time to ensure that the contractual requirements are satisfied in the event the court holds that the dispute must be resolved via the Section 3 processes of the Act.” If you don’t submit a claim, you won’t have any chance of getting these days back.

Shoving Car Violations – We continue to have members cited for the shoving rule. Be sure to follow the rules. Your employment may depend on it.

Booking Rest on the XBD – Please be sure you don’t book 12 hours rest unless you’ve worked 10 hours minimum.

Santa Steam Train coming on 12-16-06, plan to bring the kids or grandkids. There will be Santa, candy and hot drinks. The SP&S 700 will be there too. A good time for all.

The floor was opened for discussions.

Motion to close meeting by Brother Huelle, seconded by Brother Barnes Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 1425.