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

A) On Wednesday I addressed the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors at their October monthly meeting. The first concern I brought to their attention was the OPEN DOOR POLICY which needs to be reevaluated based upon passenger counts and time of day of the train travel. The second concern was to remove the SENIOR/DISABLED Ticket from the NJT TVM machines to cut down on the abuse. The full text of my speech is listed on this webpage from yesterday.

B) FLAG JOBS – ALL MEMBERS must inform the Chief Dispatcher whether your assignment was COVERED SERVICE or UNCOVERED SERVICE at the end of your assignment. The Carrier will begin to list the assignment as COVERED SERVICE unless you indicate otherwise. Please comply with this instruction as it was a very long and tedious battle to get this work properly labelled again under HOS.

C) All crews who are operating on AMTRAK territory, during the low-level platform time please take note. AMTRAK locks on the gates use a #102 key, please have the correct key available to assist the passengers without causing undue delays.

D) All crews who experience a delay due to weather such as the leaves on tracks or morning ice must note it on their 1155 form. It is the same with mechanical delays, if you have a breakdown and it cause a delay list it on the 1155. WHEN YOU SUBMIT the 1155 everyday, as is required and the Carrier is checking them, if you do not list the reason for the delay it is labelled as a crew delay for unknown reasons. Please be very specific in why your train was delayed and then hand in your 1155 daily.

E) I also had multiple meetings this week with the Carrier over safety issues such as the low-level lighting at Rahway Station and other issues affecting Members. Ticket Collection onboard trains, especially on weekends, was discussed and debated on how to improve it. OJT assignments were again discussed and improvements made for better coverage.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman

Good Morning Chairman Hammer, Board Members, Executive Director Santoro and  NJT Staff.

I am Stephen J. Burkert , General Chairman of SMART TD Local 60 which represents the Conductors, Rear Brakes and Ticket Collectors that work here on our trains.

I would like to discuss 2 items that merit attention from this board.

The first has to do with New Jersey Transit’s “OPEN DOOR POLICY”.  It states that ALL DOORS must be open on ALL COACHES at ALL TIMES.This statement looks good on paper but is not practical even during rush hour. The platforms in NY Penn Station are not all straight lines, some are curved not only on the ends but, on the higher tracks, closer to the middle of the train set. These curves leave gaps between the train and platform. I have witnessed passengers leaping over 24 inch gaps after doors were ordered to be open. We also have trains that are longer than the length of the platform. Some doors that are in the middle of the train but within feet of stairs actually cause more of a bottleneck on the platform. Passengers will stand in the doorway looking for a seat thus totally blocking the door and the platform itself plus the stairs leading to the platform level.

The door next to the engine should always remain closed when boarding due to the open space between the engine and the coach doorway creates a large space to fall into when it is crowded.

When it is NOT RUSH HOUR, the policy creates a different type of condition. Crews are still ordered to open all cars, but the passenger counts don’t warrant all cars to be open. When you have a 8-9 or 10 car multi-level train with 200 passengers or less spread out it is not the safest option. First, the trains in OFF PEAK times do not have the train crews the way rush hour trains are staffed. There are less crew members dealing with passengers that are sleeping, new to our system like tourist, possibly impaired due to alcohol at dinners or sporting events. Don’t even get me started on the use of headphones. We also deal with certain passengers that are looking to take advantage of any opportunity to do illegal activities.

By painting the entire system with one broad stroke you are actually doing a disservice to our passengers and crews. Due to the policy passengers have already missed connecting trains, missed station stops because the entire train didn’t fit on platform, couldn’t get off because doors didn’t open or have had  to run through coaches just to find a crew member for an emergency.

The train crews are thoroughly trained in safety and compliance issues. They know how to safely operate these trains at all times of day or night, in any type of weather. You must be able to trust your front line employees that work these trains when they are telling you it is an accident waiting to happen.Please revisit the policy at this time to make revisions where necessary. I always strive for the safest course and believe this issue needs to be addressed.

Secondly, I am asking that the SENIOR/DISABLED tickets please be removed from all NJT TVMs immediately. My crews are reporting that at least 25-33% of all tickets collected are reduced fare tickets.

This issue is not aimed at discouraging Seniors from travelling, in fact I would welcome them to buy their ticket onboard from a crew member. The onboard purchase would give my crews the interaction of answering any questions they may have about trains or schedules. The train crews and ticket agents should be allowed once again to ask for proper ID when these tickets are being purchased. We are not allowed at this time to ask for an ID card for disabled nor proof of age for seniors but yet NJT list those requirements in the public timetable.

I have people in their 30s give train crews SENIOR tickets and the disabled ticket is even more abused by passengers.

Dover to NY- $15.25 verse $7.10. Trenton to NY $16.75 verse $7.65. This is a lot of money that is being scammed or outright stolen from NJT by passengers who know how to play the system simply by using a TVM.

I have stood at this podium before with the same core message. The employees that work here, both Union and Non Union, are family. Please give these 2 items some thought, when your family is trying to improve the safety of  passengers travel and close a loophole concerning cash fares, it is worth investigating the options.

If you have any questions I would be more than happy to help answer them. Thank you.

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

A) I attended our monthly Local 60 Union meeting this past Sunday. I gave a full report on my activities for the past month to the Members assembled. I would encourage more members to attend our monthly meetings. I congratulate the Members who were nominated and then won positions as Union Officers by acclamation. The treasurer position is the only position so far going out to the members to vote.

B) Anyone attending BOR or RECERT class, please be prepared to go out into the yard for instructions, This includes the proper footwear, if you wear sneakers to class you will be sent home without pay.

C) I, along with some fellow officers attended Chief Trucillo’s SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF OUTING. I had the opportunity to discuss Member issues with some of the Carriers other employees and try to find some solutions. The cost to attend was my own not the Local’s or GO-610. It was a great day and very satisfying to spend helping others in need. I look forward to next year and a return visit.

D) I attended a seminar this week at NJT HQ on Asbestos remediation. This was a direct result of the Carrier working on the MU cars and I requested what safeguards were in place for our Members.

E) I had multiple meetings with the Carrier on various issues that are affecting Members. FMLA is being looked at more closely so please be cognizant of exactly what are the parameters set forth by your doctor for you to be excused from work.

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

A) I attended the NJ State Hearings at the Capitol Building in Trenton, these hearings concerned PTC, Portal Bridge, Gateway Project and other NJT issues. I had the opportunity to speak with Senators Weinberg and Gordon, along with Assemblyman McKeon on issues affecting you the Member. Again proper train staffing, safety and designated funding for Operations, which is non-existent at this point, were heavily discussed.

B)I attended a meeting with the Carrier over the PINK AMNESTY MILEAGE PROGRAM. If you submitted forms and have not been paid, or been paid partially please email me with full details.    sburkert@utulocal60.com

C) I again discussed the Flag HOS 24 Hour issue with the Carrier, as of yet I have not received an email from members detailing when they were erroneously forced to take 24 or 48 hours rest when it was not necessary. Please send me an email so I can further the claim.

D) I attend the inaugural meeting of the Morris County Joint Labor Council, this was on Wednesday in Parsippany. We were asked to attend due to be so active already politically across the state and our office is Netcong. The Brothers and Sisters assembled were teachers, trade unions, Police and rescue. the goal is to speak with one voice in matters that affect decisions being made not only in Morris County but also the entire state when we band together with other councils throughout the state.

E) I am attending an event tonight in Belmar for Assemblyman DeAngelo 14 District, who is also the Deputy Speaker. This event will also be attended by numerous other political persons, and gives me a chance to speak with them to make them understand the daily issues that our Members face while working. I will be attending the event with NJSLD Ron Sabol, we will work together to get our message across to proper attendees. 

F) I will be attending the Railroad Retirement Board Seminar on Friday morning, to keep current on issues for the betterment of the Members.

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 Membership here is the ” HOT TOPICS” for this week.

A) I worked with Labor Relations on Managers Level of Appeals and also outstanding claims that we are still in discussions to resolve informally.

B) I attended our monthly meeting concerning the Conductor Training Program or CTP. We discussed the mentor side of the program and how to improve the communication between crews and students. We also discussed what ongoing training the students must have during the CTP. The issue about students not having radios while on OJT was discussed and should be resolved going forward.

C) I was involved in 2 separate issues this week alone where our Members reported either an unsafe condition, unsafe equipment or unsafe practices while they were working. The quick action of the members notifying me, in these cases with pictures, undoubtedly saved members and the public from serious injuries or worse. I urge you to please report something that is unsafe, don’t think it was already turned in or it is someone else’s job. The saying that the “life saved could be your own” is always accurate in our profession.

D) I would like all Members who were forced to erroneously take 24 or 48 hours rest under NJT HOS FLAG time period to email me full details of those days. Please include your name, emp#, job symbol you were forced off for the day and full lost earnings. I have already discussed this claim with Labor Relations and we are progressing it forward. Please send your email to sburkert@utulocal60.com

E) Nominations for Local Officers will be held at our next Local 60 meeting on Sunday Oct. 1st, next weekend. The offices up for nomination are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, (3) Trustees and Alternate Legislative Representative. You can be nominated at the meeting or have 5 Members sign a sheet nominating you for the spot desired, the sheet must be handed in at the meeting.

F) Next week I will be very busy again with Hearings in Trenton involving NJT. I will also be having meetings with other elected officials and those who are seeking elected positions to discuss Members issues. Train staffing, Member safety and Designated Funding for NJT will be discussed.

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

Fraternally,

Stephen J. Burkert

General Chairman