Progress Through Unity

Archives for March 31, 2013

NTSB makes recommendations after investigation

March 31, 2013 By

By UTU news | Mon, 25 Mar 2013

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued 12 new safety recommendations as a result of its investigation of the Sept. 30, 2010, collision of two freight trains near Two Harbors, Minn.

The NTSB recommendations were issued to the following organizations: the Federal Railroad Administration, Canadian National Railway, Union Pacific Railroad, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, Norfolk Southern Railroad, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, BNSF Railway, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the United Transportation Union.

In a letter to SMART Transportation Division (UTU) President Mike Futhey, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman requested that UTU “work with the Canadian National Railway and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, to develop and implement a non-punitive peer audit program for the Canadian National Railway’s North Division, focused on rule compliance and operational safety. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Industry Related

They hire you, then work to fire you!

March 31, 2013 By

By John Previsich UTU Assistant President/ GS&T | Wed, 9 Jan 2013

Discipline in the railroad industry is a curious business. I recall that when I first hired out, I was proud of my new employment. The railroad had selected me over other well-qualified applicants, and I was sent to school and provided extensive on-the-job training before being allowed to mark up.

I thought the railroad that hired and trained me actually valued a good, responsible employee who was loyal to the company and who wanted to give a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay.

And then I marked up. On my first trip for pay, we saw a burning fusee very close to the rail on the outside of the curve. Thanks to the engineer, we stopped short of the burning fusee, with plenty of room to spare. Nonetheless, two company officers climbed on board and told us we got lucky this time, but maybe next time the fusee would be a little harder to see or some other more difficult test might be coming our way. There was not a word of praise for the heads-up performance of the engineer or a welcome aboard to the new guy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Industry Related

Rail random alcohol, drug test-rate static for 2013

March 31, 2013 By

By UTU News | Wed, 2 Jan 2013

Random alcohol and drug testing rates for railroad workers in safety sensitive positions will remain at the same rate during 2013 as 2012.

The Federal Railroad Administration said that because the random alcohol testing violation rate has remained below 0.5 percent for the past two years, the minimum random alcohol testing rate will remain at 10 percent for calendar year 2013.

The FRA also said that because the random drug testing violation rate has remained below 1 percent for the past two years, the minimum required annual random drug testing rate will remain at 25 percent for calendar year 2013.

Individual railroads, however, may require a higher rate of testing.

Filed Under: Industry Related

OSHA, BNSF reach accord over whistleblowers

March 31, 2013 By

By UTU News | Wed, 16 Jan 2013

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed an accord with BNSF Railway Co. announcing BNSF’s voluntary revision of several personnel policies that OSHA alleged violated the whistleblower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act and dissuaded workers from reporting on-the-job injuries.

FRSA’s Section 20109 protects railroad workers from retaliation for, among other acts, reporting suspected violations of federal laws and regulations related to railroad safety and security, hazardous safety or security conditions, and on-the-job injuries.

“This is a tremendous victory for UTU members and all railroad workers employed by BNSF,” said UTU International President Mike Futhey. “The Obama administration’s efforts to stop the harassment and intimidation of employees concerned about safety in the workplace is a win for all workers. It is just one of the reasons why this union supported President Obama’s reelection.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Industry Related

New Passenger Hours of Service

March 31, 2013 By

FACTS ABOUT NEW PASSENGER HOURS OF SERVICE
By: Mike Reilly
General Chairman

I have taken the liberty of taking key components of the new Passenger Hours of Service Regulation and reviewing these important sections.  I wish to extend our thanks to the BLE&T’s General Chairman Dave Decker  and member Robert Davia who assisted in providing information for this document.  This final rule is authorized by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which for the first time in history, gives FRA the authority to replace the existing statutory limitations (first enacted in 1907) with a new set of hours of service regulations governing train employees providing passenger rail transportation.  Freight and Passenger service has always been under the same hours of service requirements.  With the passage of this new law, Congress gave the passenger railroads the opportunity work out a new passenger hours of service requirement.  This required that the Government (DOT / FRA), Railroad Management and Railroad Labor meet to come to a consensus on the language of new passenger hours of service requirement by October of 2011, otherwise the passengers employees would be subject to the same provisions as the freight railroads.  Knowing that the provisions of the freight hours of service requirements would severely hamper our members earning ability, UTU was forceful in molding these new regulations.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News