Archives for January 2018

In an effort to better communicate information as quickly as possible to the Local 60 Membership, here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) This past Monday I was in NY Penn Crew base to meet with Members and address their concerns. Gas mileage, overcrowding, understaffing, Governor Murphy’s effect on NJT and assaults were all topics that were discussed. I appreciate all of the Members who took the time to discuss these issues and I am actively working to correct the issues for the future.

B) I have received a few emails from Members about transferring into an engineer’s training program. I do have an Agreement already in place that states if for any reason you can not complete the program, your seniority would remain intact on our roster. I am waiting on further information that Members raised to be answered by the Carrier. If you are interested please send me an email at sburkert@utulocal60.com

C) I urge all Members to please list all mechanical defects on your 1155 forms. If the train is delayed without the explanation that “ door stuck open” or train “wouldn’t take power” it is being listed as Crew Error. I will not stand for anyone making unfounded or derogatory remarks against our Members but I do need information that will prove it was a mechanical defect that caused the delay. Please list also how long the defect has been reported.

D) I met this week with the Carrier about yard and passenger assignments. I have concerns about both areas and spoke about needed changes in the near future. The Carrier is under an audit from Governor Murphy in all aspects of operations including this topic. There will be no changes made until that audit is completed. The Carrier was not opposed to ideas brought to the table that concerned crew utilization and safety. I look forward to meeting again and putting some of the new ideas into fruition.

E) I met with Chief Trucillo and Deputy Chief Clark of the NJTPD this week over current events. We discussed recent events in NYC and how our CODE BLACK needs to be updated for our Members. There is a new poster being sent to local communities with restaurants or bars near our stations. This is a proactive measure to decrease assaults on our train crews. We will see an increase in police patrols onboard our passenger trains to assist in situations that require it. The matter of a NJTPD substation in NY Penn Station was also discussed and I fully support the idea. Our crews that work in that terminal welcome a police presence while boarding. It is a fact that in Hoboken where our own Police officers assist boarding late night trains the assaults and incidents have fallen dramatically.

Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

In an effort to better communicate information as quickly as possible to the Local 60 Membership, here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) I met with the Carrier this week to formulate a revised OPEN DOOR POLICY that meets the safety needs of train crews. I hope to see the revised policy put in effect in the near future,

B) The Carrier is in need of engineers and has inquired if anyone from our roster would consider a change in their craft. Please email me asap if you have interest in training to be an engineer. Please include full name and employee number in a short email.  sburkert@utulocal60.com

C) If any Member is having a problem with attaining their prescription safety eyewear from a vendor, please contact me with details including Vendor name, location and date of incident. Please email me at sburkert@utulocal60.com

D) If any Member has information about sign up locations that do not have a supply of safety glasses in CLEAR or SUNGLASSES please contact me so we can advise Carrier. Email me at sburkert@utulocal60.com

E) I will be in the NY PENN STATION crew base on Monday January 22nd about 1pm. I welcome all Members, if they have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask while I visit the crew base.

F) The Gas Mileage payments are now up to late October/early November. Again please keep track of any shortages and list them on our website utulocal60.com, under the payroll shortage form. I have already spoken to the Carrier, that due to current events I will require another grace period on submission of mileage that has been short or denied. I will announce those details in the next few weeks.

Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

To All Rail Employees:

It’s time to buy your new safety boots for 2018. The shoe truck will begin making its rounds on January 30, 2018. I have attached the full schedule.

Rail employees who wear safety shoes or boots to perform their duties or while on company property will be eligible for a $60 subsidy towards the purchase of safety shoes or boots, provided they use the company chosen vendor. This is a voluntary program.  Safety shoes or boots purchased outside of the company vendor are not eligible for the subsidy.

If you also purchase winter boot style BAF8574, you will be eligible for a separate $60 subsidy off the cost of this particular boot.

There are three ways you may purchase boots:

1. From the shoe truck – see attached schedule

2. From the shoe store:

Saf-Gard Safety Shoe Company

2058 Rt. 27 Nixon Plaza

Edison, NJ 08817

3. Through mail order – 732-287-2010

Finally, I would like to introduce you to our new employee from the Office of System Safety. Bill Feeney, Rail Safety Programs Administrator will now manage the Safety Shoe Program. He is located at Penn Plaza in Newark and can be reached at (973-491-8945) for any questions you may have.

Thanks,

Betsy Stern

Manager of Safety Compliance

Office of System Safety Rail Division NJ TRANSIT

One Penn Plaza East

Newark, NJ 07105

973-491-7953

bstern@njtransit.com

Download (PDF, 246KB)

In an effort to better communicate information as quickly as possible to the Local 60 Membership, here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) On Monday January 8th, I was served with a subpoena, to testify in front of NJ Senators and Assembly Members. There were a wide range of topics discussed. The main topic was on NJ Transit’s failure to properly staff trains, that leave revenue uncollected and creates an unsafe condition for crews and passengers. I did reference the Airline Industry is regulated at 50:1 meaning for every 50 passengers there is a required crew member. On NJ Transit trains that have ALL Ticket Collectors are at 400:1. When there are only a Conductor and Rearbrake it is an average of 1000:1 and when NJT runs a Conductor only crew it can be as high as 2000:1. The safety of passengers and crew are paramount and by NJ Transit knowingly allowing these astronomical numbers to continue is absurd.

B) I did attend the NJ Transit Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was actually postponed after starting time due to the fact that there was no quorum of Board members in attendance. I do not know why they did not show but the assembled audience was not happy with the annulled meeting.

C) On Saturday I was with Governor Elect Phil Murphy and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla at Hoboken City Hall for a meeting on certain NJT issues. We went to Hoboken Terminal to meet crews and passengers. I along with Ron Sabol SMART TD NJSLD and Carlton Williams GC PATH escorted First Lady Tammy Murphy on the Path system to Newark Penn Station. We then took train rides on the NEC and NJCL speaking with crews and passengers. The trip ended in Bay Head where First Lady Murphy thanked SMART TD and all of the other Labor members in attendance at her rally. ( pictured is Ron Sabol, myself, First Lady Murphy and Carlton Williams at Red Bank Station)

D) I wish all Members a safe and peaceful Martin Luther King Day.

Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

On Saturday, as part of the Inaugural 2018 celebrations, incoming First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy will be traveling across the state on NJ Transit. Please join us at the Bay Head Station at 3pm to welcome her at her final stop. We know that in Phil Murphy labor will have a governor that supports working men and women — let’s let the First Lady know that working families support her and our new governor! Please arrive early, I look forward to seeing you at the event. Thank you and travel safe.

In an effort to better communicate information as quickly as possible to the Local 60 Membership, here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) Happy New Year, try to stay warm and please be safe while clearing the snow from your homes.

B) I met with the Carrier this past week on older work issue claims that were waiting for an arbitrator from the National Mediation Board. The Carrier has agreed to pay out on some of the claims instead of waiting. Those Members will be receiving a check from the Carrier in the near future.

C) The gas mileage checks are still an issue, while progress is being made, other issues have arisen and must be fixed. I urge all Members to please keep an accurate record of what was paid or still missing. I will again be asking for an amnesty period so members can be properly compensated.

D) I have been diligent in having the Carrier address the heating issues at sign up locations when I become aware of them. Please email me as soon as possible if there is an issue at any facility that our Members use. sburkert@utulocal60.com

E) The LOCAL 60 UNION MEETING will start at 9am tomorrow at the VFW in Linden next to the train station.

Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

Brother William Gilmartin’s son is having surgery soon and is in a unique circumstance that may require help, if you or a friend can help please take some time Sunday January 7, 2018 to do so

A message from brother Gilmartin’s wife;

“He may need a blood transfusion when he has his surgery in a few weeks (we need blood sooner than later so that’s why we need to do Sunday since Blood has to be tested just in case someone isn’t a match or sick and don’t feel it etc.)

If you are either A OR O (William is A+) you can donate blood for William Sunday between 8am & 2pm In Parsippany address below.

Parsippany Donor Center

1259 RT. 46 east Bldg. #4E Suite 410

Parsippany NJ 07054

Please eat before, if you have Tattoos they must be healed & NOT done at a house party, NO ONE Who is sick, on antibiotic’s, or feels like they are getting sick.

Long story short: As most of you know he suffered from 2nd & 3rd degree burns on his Hands-Feet-Butt & Private area. Unfortunately, an everyday bathtub routine turned horrible wrong when he accidentally grabbed handled & pulled the hot water all the way up. Thank GOD it was only seconds before I walked in & swooped him out😔

When you show up please tell them you are there for William Gilmartin (It’s a direct blood donation) 💙They have the script you do not have to bring anything JUST YOUR LICENSE.

*IF they can’t use you blood or get a overload THEY will put in a general bank & your blood with be helping someone else out”

Thank you for your help,

SMART-TD Local 60