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The Republican tax bill would result in millions in dollars of cuts to the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
December 16, 2017 By
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| The Republican tax bill would result in millions in dollars of cuts to the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and take funds away from out-of-work employees. Tell your senators and representatives to VOTE NO.
Next week, the House and Senate are expected to vote on a tax bill that is expected to add $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion to the federal deficit in the form of corporate and individual tax cuts. According to estimates, the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund could lose as much as $9 million without any subsequent action by Congress under a 2010 budget process known as sequestration. “Required spending reductions would significantly exceed the total resources available to be sequestered,” said Michele Neuendorf, an RRB labor member counsel, in an email. “This would have the practical result of a 100% sequestration of all non-exempt direct spending accounts including the funds from the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund which is used to pay unemployment and sickness benefits.” Under the federal “Pay-As-You-Go” (PAYGO) Act of 2010, changes in federal spending are required to balance or offset any increases to the federal budget deficit (also known as sequestration). As a result, the tax bill would trigger automatic budget cuts across all federal programs including the RRB’s Railroad Unemployment Trust Fund, which is targeted for a 6.6 percent cut or approximately $9 million in the 2018 fiscal year by the administration. “This tax proposal is Robin Hood caught in reverse,” said SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director John Risch. “It would take from the poor and give to the rich. If the tax bill becomes law, the railroads will still be able to deduct money that they spend on union-busting lawyers while our members will no longer be able to deduct their union dues. The corporate tax rate for the big railroads will go from 35% to 21% while ours will stay the same with fewer deductions.” It also means that $9 million intended for ailing and unemployed rail workers doesn’t go where it was supposed to. Instead it will go into the pockets of corporations and the well-to-do. “Every person in America should be outraged that the Republican tax bill will borrow $1.5 trillion to $2.5 trillion to fund tax cuts for the wealthy while leaving no room for future federal investments toward infrastructure projects such as airports, transit systems, and passenger railroads,” Risch said. “I’ve been in the business of government policy since the 1980s and this is simply the worst tax proposal I have ever seen. Economists across the political spectrum are condemning this plan and the Republicans are so desperate for some sort of “win” they are moving forward with little to no transparency or accountability to their constituents.” Time is running out. A vote is planned for next week. Call your senators and representatives and urge them to vote against the tax bill. Find out who your members of Congress are by accessing the SMART-TD Legislative Action Center by clicking here or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. |
General Chairman Burkert’s Weekly “HOT TOPICS” News
December 16, 2017 By
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) The Carrier is going to start a test program of the new electronic HOS keypads in Atlantic City this coming week with select crews. Those crews will be instructed when to report for the extra training. The extra training will be reflected in your wages above and beyond your normal assignment.
B) The Carrier has mailed out 3 new batches of GAS MILEAGE Checks to Members. Please review the accuracy of the checks and all the information.
C) The NJTPD Officers are all wearing BODY CAMERAS while on duty. The camera will capture all activity when they respond to our train crews request for assistance. The cameras record video and sound, including all conversations that take place during the interaction.
D)This past week we had a CTP new class, # 17-04, start the Conductor Training Program. I met the new class and welcomed them to our family. I explained what our job duties entail and our expectations of them.
E) I have met with the Carrier over Morrisville yard assignments and will do so again after the holidays. There will be no changes made until after the New Years Holiday, this will allow our members to rest easy about family plans already established.
F) I met with Executive Director Santoro, NJT Chief of Police Trucillo, Ron Sabol SMART TD NJSLD and Bob Lavell over the recent assaults. We will meet once a month going forward to review all incidents and get progress reports. I am going to request that NJT claims department gives a monthly report for unpaid medical bills.
G) The Carrier has informed me that they will be using the same uniform company, THIS & THAT Uniforms next year.
Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com
Fraternally,
Stephen J. Burkert
General Chairman
By-Laws For Vote
December 8, 2017 By
Railmen for Children train ride
December 1, 2017 By
All are volunteers, including a retiree who helped found the organization and who also served as one of its first Santas.
“We wanted to take the kids that weren’t going to have a Christmas a ride from Hoboken. We started and now we get kids from all over,” said Joseph Phalon, co-founder and retired NJ Transit conductor.
The 2017 Santa Claus is actually his son, who says many of the 300 plus students on the trip have special needs or are from underprivileged homes.
“We buy them whatever they want. They write down a list and we go out and by all the stuff for them, wrap everything, put it on the train,” said Michael Phalon, Santa Claus and NJ Transit conductor, who has participated in the special event for the past 29 years.
Moving from car to car, you meet students and teachers from different schools.
“They come from all over Essex County and they’re in a program called Transition Center. We do community-based instruction so they’re out, they’re learning how to travel, they have bank accounts,” said Marianna Caballo, teacher at Essex Regional School in Newark.
Jilah, one student on the train, said, “For Christmas, I want new clothes and an Amazon gift card.”
Another student, Monique, said, “I have fun and I make my teacher proud.”
“It makes my heart melt. I love these kids, and like I said, I’ve been working with them for a while and they need us as much as I need them in my life. So, it was good to be able to celebrate the holidays with them,” said Michelle Brewer, also a teacher at Essex Regional School.
As the presents are handed out, noise and excitement fill the air.
One little Islander fan, Matt, was happy to get some hockey cards.
He said, “I don’t celebrate Christmas, I celebrate Hannukah, but I got a gift so it’s good.”
Riding through New Jersey and spreading some holiday cheer.
https://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/transit-employees-make-kids-wishes-come-true/
General Chairman Burkert’s Weekly “HOT TOPICS” News
December 1, 2017 By
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) After a request that I put forth to the Carrier, President Jerome Johnson, will be allowed to perform his duties as Local Chairman in the aspect of Hearings and Waiver consultations effective as of today. Brother Johnson may be dismissed as per NJT but his Union officer duties are still in effect and I made sure that the Carrier respected his elected position.
B) There are 3 new batches of gas mileage checks processed and in the mail to Members. If you have a problem with the amount of the check or any missing information please file it electronically on our Local 60 website as you would a payroll shortage.
C) I attended Labor Relations meeting this week to deal with members claims and to clean up outstanding issues. There will be claims paid, and mailed out to Members before the end of the month.
D) I was in the NY Penn Station crew base on Thanksgiving Day speaking with crews working the holiday. I met with Members in NY again on Wednesday after an appeal hearing. I listened to the members concerns and answered their questions. I want to thank the members for taking the time to speak with me and let me know what are the current issues that concern them.
E) I want to thank all of our Members from both Divisions, and other departments that assisted the RAILMEN for CHILDREN Santa Train that took place this morning. I was in Hoboken at 530AM this morning and there was already finishing touches being done to the equipment. There will be 330+ children in need, along with over 200 adult chaperones, that got to meet Santa and Mrs Claus today along with a large group of other costumed characters. Every child received the special gift that they requested from Santa. NJ Transit provided the train for this very special event. Job well done by all departments for making a child’s holiday very special.
F) This week we also made substantial progress in the Monocular Vision Acuity Testing. Matt Darby, SMART TD DLC, took a deposition from NJT Medical Review Officer at NJT HQ. This was in conjunction with the FRA process of trying to get a field test for monocular vision for our members. I will keep you informed as we go forward in this endeavor.
G) There is a Local 60 Union meeting this Sunday at the Linden VFW Hall adjacent to the station, start time is 10AM.
Please email me feedback or suggestions, I am here for you the Members. sburkert@utulocal60.com
Fraternally,
Stephen J. Burkert
General Chairman
NJT Policy 3.31 Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
November 29, 2017 By
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