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) John Lineman is hospitalized at this time with a serious medical matter. If any Member wants to send a card here is the address. John Lineman – Kingsbrook Medical Center- 585 Schenectady Avenue Winthrop, Brooklyn, NY 11203. Room #202

B) I was invited to speak with our new Executive Director Kevin Corbett on Monday March 12th. I discussed  Sleep Apnea and how the NJT program has been so detrimental to our Members and how it can be done more efficiently. I explained about crew shortages and how unsafe overcrowding has become the norm. We will be speaking again in the upcoming weeks.

C) I attended the NJ Transit Board of Director’s Meeting on Wednesday March 14th. Governor Murphy attended and spoke about dramatically improved funding of NJT. Our new DOT Commissioner Dianne Gutierrez Scaccetti praised our Members. Kevin Corbett spoke about a new direction and more hiring of Conductors. All three praised Local 60 Members for their efforts over victory parades and snow storms.

D) There is an issue concerning FELA and what are NJ Transit’s intentions going forward. This issue has been known to me since the end of January. I have been working with the Carrier,our DLC Matt Darby and SMART TD to better educate the Attorney General about the ramifications this move would have on our Members. We are covered under the RAILWAY LABOR ACT and NJT was told directly by myself and Ron Sabol  NJSLB that we would consider this a MAJOR DISPUTE if they continue this course. I will keep you informed as we progress.

E) NJT had a payroll issue this week with deductions, please read the notice that is posted on this site.

F) The NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade is tomorrow. If any Member wants to work their relief day please contact the crew caller today. NJT will be running extra trains from Dover, Long Branch, Morrisville and Port Jervis. they will also have extra ticket collectors out on all regular and extra trains.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

Please be advised that the NJ Transit New York Penn Station Trainmen’s Lounge will be closed tomorrow for extermination. The room will be cleaned prior to reopening on Sunday morning.

Our Brother and co-worker is in need of some help

https://www.gofundme.com/qagw6x-johns-long-road-to-recovery

“My brother John is presently going through a health crisis. He has a long and complicated health history which took a turn for the worst in Oct. 2017. Let me give you a little bit of his background, he was diagnosed with diabetes in his teens and approx. 18 years ago he mysteriously developed a blood clot that traveled to his Spinal cord leaving him completely paralyzed from the upper chest down and told he would be in a wheelchair. With GOD and our dearly departed mother’s spirit by his side, he worked hard at his recovery for 3 years and miraculously walked away from his customized wheelchair and back to work as a conductor.
He has been on dialysis a little over 6 years and anxiously awaiting a kidney transplant, yet again thrown another curve ball last year when he developed a callous on his left heel. Even though he was under a great doctors care, the wound got progressively worse resulting in a fever and 2 serious infections. He was admitted to the hospital and after a series of tests (including a bone biopsy) found that the infection had spread to his heel bone. He was treated with aggressive antibiotics and thankfully the infection did not spread and the antibiotics began to work.
In the mean time, he found that the leg was not getting good blood flow and surgery was done to help correct that and didn’t. It was then discussed and tentatively scheduled for a below the knee amputation but by the good grace of GOD the doctors were surprised that the blood flow was better than expected and decided to put the amputation on the back burner. The plan to save the leg is to do daily hyperbaric treatment, aggressive wound care, physical therapy and of course continued dialysis. Once the infection was gone he was looking forward to going home and preparing to continue his recovery and yet again more bad news. Horizon Blue Cross cut off his insurance with no advance notice telling him to apply for Medicare.
The hospital discharged him with a fever and another infection which newly developed sending him home with nothing in place, no home care, no assistance in getting him to his most important treatments, no wheelchair, no shower bench, nothing! With this being said, my brother is in need of not only your prayers but also some financial assistance. It seems he may need to purchase a customized wheelchair (not just a regular one) for his special needs along with a shower bench and some help with his day to day bills until he applies and gets approved for disability and Medicare ( his phone appointment is in 2 weeks). Any and all donations would be greatly appreciated allowing him to focus on his healing and not stress so much on finances. Thank you in advance for your kindness, compassion and contribution. May GOD Bless you!”

NJ Transit will be running regular train service tomorrow. All crews are to report to their normal terminal at their required sign up times. Any Member on a relief day for tomorrow, if you wish to work, please contact crew caller asap and make yourself available. Please be safe travelling and during your assignments.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

I am in regular communication with NJ Transit over storm damage. There will be a meeting later today for an update on what rail service will be up and running tomorrow. Work crews are out on all lines clearing debris and getting the rails and catenary in shape for safe travel. The new Executive Director, Kevin Corbett, asked me to personally thank all of the Local 60 Members who are working today moving passengers or working in the yards. I will send out more information as it becomes available.

Please be safe in your travels going to work or home.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

All crews are to report to work tomorrow at their normal times and locations. New Jersey Transit is requesting all crews who are slated to work please show up on time to your normal sign up locations. Managers will be on site to give further instructions as the events unfold as per the weather forecast.

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

Due to possible flooding the Hoboken sign up room will be relocated upstairs to the previous sign up location, please use that area to sign up and retrieve paperwork.

They are hoping to have SU location downstairs reopened by Sunday

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) As per our Collective Bargaining Agreement with New Jersey Transit, starting today March 1, 2018 we have a general wage increase of 2%. The next wage increase will take affect on November 1,2018.

B) There will be a Local 60 union meeting this Sunday March 4 in Linden at the VFW starting at 10AM.

C) Working in conjunction with Anthony Stevens GC of TCU, NJTRO and myself, we will be getting additional help in the payroll department. The extra help will be tasked with eliminating the backlog of gas mileage payments. The extra help will be starting within the next week or so and results are expected to reduce the turn around time of submitted gas sheets to under 4 weeks.

D) On June 1, 2018 there will be another gas mileage amnesty period. I will provide more details when we get closer to that date but please start to collate any gas slips that were mailed back to members. Please start to gather all documents for gas mileage that are still missing or were not paid.

E) The Railroad Retirement Board will be having a seminar on Friday April 13, 2018 in Paterson for any Member who is looking to retire within the next 5 years.  The seminar will provide information on what you and your spouse should be doing now so you are prepared to retire. Please print and fill-out the paperwork and return it to the RRB if you plan on attending the seminar.

F) If any Member is interested in working their relief day this Saturday please call the crew callers and notify them. The Hoboken LEPRECON is taking place Saturday. I have requested extra help on the regular trains and all of the extra trains. There will be extra police officers available for any incidents on our trains and also in Hoboken Terminal.

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 Tuesday February 20th I was in Hoboken crew base talking with Members. One of the main talking points had to do with the loss of tax deductions, overcrowding and the poor condition of the train equipment.

B) I am waiting on word from the Carrier about when the revised OPEN DOOR POLICY will go into effect. The information about an accelerated LETP program for conductors is also waiting on the Carrier.

C) I have had discussions with SMART TD in Cleveland about the loss of tax deductions and what recourse we have at this point. They are working the issue and will get back to me shortly with a game plan for going forward.

D) I have a meeting set up for next week with the new NJT Executive Director Kevin Corbett. I will be discussing all of the important issues that are effecting our Members now and the issues that will present themselves in the future.

E) I have requested our Safety Department to be fully engaged in the ASBESTOS removal in Hoboken Terminal. They will be posting updates of progress and monitoring air quality while this construction is in progress. The issue was brought to light at our last Union meeting and I immediately requested answers from the Carrier.  This is a perfect example of letting me know of an issue so I can correct it for our Members. Thank You! 

F) There has been no notification from the Carrier on when ROLLOVER will happen. They are required to let me know 30 days in advance.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman