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) TRAIN CREWS the Carrier will be on the property talking to crews about ” On Board PA Announcements”. The Carrier will be discussing the rules and requirements so passengers are informed when trains are delayed due to mechanical failure, signal issues or trespasser fatalities. Conductors please designate an employee to inform passengers of the ongoing issue if you are involved in the incident yourself.

B) Gas Mileage Update, the verification clerks are through mid February in processing the forms. They hope to be finished  with all of February by working overtime this weekend. The checks should be sent out from Accounts Payable Department next week. Please list on our utulocal60.com site under “payroll shortages” tab if your payment is incorrect or short.

C) Members if you are notifying crew callers that you are available to work your relief days and then find out that assignments were blanked, please fill out a PENALTY SLIP for a mishandled Rule 20. Please have the time card date stamped at ticket relievers send copy to my office fax at 973-527-7019.

D) I was in NY Penn Station in the afternoon last week and in Dover early morning this week. I appreciate the feedback from the crews on issues that are affecting their daily assignments. I plan on visiting all locations to speak with the crews in the coming months. If a Member has a pressing issue with a terminal please email me at sburkert@utulocal60.com

E) I attended a Carrier inspection of the DOVER facility after talking with crews. The Carrier will be making some upgrades and improvements to the facility that are long over due. When I have a final version of action items I will list them here in the future.

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) On April 3 I had another meeting with the Carrier over SLEEP APNEA as it relates to our Members. I am trying to get a more direct line of communication to the medical department for questions and assistance during the process. We asked that the forms being given to our doctors be updated so our doctors can approve an “opt out option” for the MWT test. I am also pushing for all Members who are negative to be absolved of any deductibles. I will keep you informed of the progress made on these issues as I get answers from the Carrier.

B) I have a meeting set up with our Designated Legal Counsel Matt Darby concerning our petitions over the SLEEP APNEA cases. If any Member has not contacted me yet about their case please do so soon.    sburkert@utulocal60.com

C) I met with Safety Department over the removal of Asbestos on the MU cars. We reviewed the Carrier’s safety bulletins and process for alerting our Members of locations and types of Asbestos that are present. The asbestos removal will be discussed in the annual BOR class for all Members.

D) I met with the Carrier on Monday at NJT HQ over payroll, DH and gas mileage issues. I explained AGAIN, that the delay in our Members getting paid properly is unacceptable. In attendance was the Chief Financial Officer Livharcik who stated they will be putting more clerks in payroll department to handle our requests in a more timely manner. He agrees that the system in place is not working properly and adjustments need to be made for a better result for our Members. I will continue to push for improvements from the Carrier on these issues.

E) I attended the NJT Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday April 10. I did have a chance to speak with Executive Director Corbett on several subjects of concern to our Members. I will be sitting down with him in the near future to discuss these issues in a more in-depth setting.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

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If you would like expense checks direct deposited please print out form and mail to address provided

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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) Gas mileage payments are rapidly increasing due to getting extra hours for the clerks, in fact the last two weekends the clerks worked overtime exclusively on our backlog. The gas mile sheets are now about 5 weeks behind instead of 16 weeks.

B) Next week I have a meeting with The Carrier concerning Sleep Apnea and the adverse effect it is having on our Membership.

C) Next week there will be a team of Members on the property explaining the proper way to cut out coach doors when they become defective. We have had an increase in delays due to malfunctioning doors.

D) I attended a public forum last night in Hackensack NJ. The forum concerned Senate Bill No. 630. I gave testimony about how the NJ Residency Law affects our Members. Senator Gordon who is the author of the Bill 630 along with Senator Weinberg were in attendance to hear all of the testimony. If passed into law it would give an exception to NJ Transit employees from being forced to live in the state.

E) I will continue to take advantage of any opportunity to speak with our elected officials about issues that affect our Members. I have spoken to Governor Murphy, Senators, Congressional Members, Assembly Members, NJ DOT commissioner, Local Mayors. The elected officials welcome the insight I provide them on Member’s issues, because we all want a better NJ Transit. The contacts and relationships I have made so far as your General Chairman will only further elevate our craft in the future.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

ATTENTION ALL T & E CREWS

Assured Environments will perform a follow up treatment in Trainmen’s Lounge on Saturday, March 31, 2018

The Trainmen’s Lounge WILL BE CLOSED AND LOCKED ALL DAY SATURDAY  to facilitate the extermination and will re-open on Sunday, April 1, 2018

No personal items should be left in the area when you leave.

Sheldon L. Booker

Assistant Superintendent

New York Penn Station

All proceeds will be given to Convenant House

$5 for kids and $10 for adults at the door only

Organized by Brother Elijha Ingram

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) All Members are to report to their normal sign up locations at their required time on Wednesday. If a Member is ordered to do otherwise by the crew callers please email me with details at sburkert@utulocal60.com If you are on your relief day and want to work on Wednesday please let the crew callers know asap.

B) Gas mileage verification has improved dramatically after the Carrier, TCU GC Stevens and myself worked out an aggressive “catch up plan.” Verification Department this past week has verified gas slips that were submitted in middle of January. This cuts the backlog in half from where it was 3 weeks ago. We are now waiting on those checks to be mailed out from Accounts Payable department this week.

C) Ron Sabol State Director SMART TD has been very productive in using your PAC contributions wisely. He has provided a letter from Congressman Gottheimer requesting more money for the National Mediation Board. The NMB is the government agency to provide an arbitrator to hear cases about all of the claims I have filed on your behalf. If any Member needs a PAC form mailed to them please email me at sburkert@utulocal60.com

D) Senator Bob Gordon as quoted today…”Secondly and very importantly I hope a message goes out to the thousands of employees of NJ Transit who have been weathering very difficult conditions over the last eight years, they are going to have to be the foundation in which we rebuild this organization, they are a superlative group of people, to “hang in there help is on the way””

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

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