from UTU.org news

FRA issues Emergency Order to Metro-North
December 6, 2013

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Dec. 6 issued an Emergency Order (EO 29) to Metro-North Commuter Railroad (MNCW) to take specific, immediate steps to ensure its train crews do not exceed speed limitations. The EO requires Metro-North to modify its existing signal system to ensure speed limits are obeyed and to provide two qualified railroad employees to operate trains where major speed restrictions are in place until the signal system is updated. [Read more…]

Ask your lawmakers’ support for two-person crews
November 19, 2013

from UTU.org

Two-person_crewmembers of the SMART Transportation Division and all of rail labor have the opportunity to make it federal law to have two qualified persons working on all freight trains operating in the United States a reality.
BBC
Now is the time to contact your legislators in the House of Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 3040. [Read more…]

From Mike Reilly
Members:
 
This weekend will be a busy one for NJT and our members.
 
Saturday will be the Steeple Chase in Far Hills
 
Sunday will be a 1:00 PM Jets Football Game
 
Monday will be a 8:20 PM Giants Football game
 
These games and events bring our members a lot of extra work and overtime opportunity.
 
Just asking our members to protect OUR work, so we will know it will be here in the future also.
 
Thank you and be careful..
 
 
Michael J. Reilly
General Chairman – UTU/Smart

from Mike Reilly:

Members:   I am very pleased that Angel Soto, Patty Siano, Cookie Doyle and myself worked together to offer the below options for our members. As you know, we had some issues with our “other than passenger” members recently pertaining to ordering of items other than passenger uniforms. You will notice that a member can now choose a passenger uniform OR use $500 in credit toward the listed items (prices are also listed below). You may choose to get a passenger uniform OR the yard clothing in any one (1) year. NJT requires all 2013 orders placed by the end of November for accounting purposes. Year 2014 orders can begin in January.   These orders for the yard items can start immediately, if you did not place your 2013 order.   Also, in spring of 2014, NJT will be requiring all yard/flagman to wear some type of hi-visibility shirt or vest on while performing duty.   The number for this & That uniform is 609-646-1522.   Please assist in getting this posted.       Michael J. Reilly General Chairman – UTU/Smart

On this week’s Trainman Bulletin, will be the additional qualifications for the NY Conductor’s Extra List to include West End-Meadowlands.
 
In preparation for Super Bowl NJT is adding this qualification. Listed below are some of the provisions:
 
A) Anyone on the NY Conductors extra list between now and January 15, 2014, will be given the opportunity to qualify from West End-Meadowlands. 
 
B) Compensation will be one day’s pay. (or earnings of current assignment)
 
C) Employees will be allowed to do this qualifying on their “relief day” and earn time and one half payment.
 
D) After the Super Bowl week, the requirement for the qualification between West End & Meadowlands, will BE REMOVED from the NY Conductor’s extra list.
 
E) Maps and Study Guides for the test are available. They can be obtained in Hoboken, or any officer and myself can email them upon request.
 
F) The NJT supervisor assigned to monitor the qualifying is Trainmaster Sean Kushnir, and he can be reached at cell – 973-951-2319, office 973-863-4640 or email skushnir@njtransit.com

Traffic nightmare? Pulaski Skyway to be closed for entire weekend

Story at NJ.com

From Mike Reilly:
 
All:
 
I had discussions with A. Soto, M. Jablonskyj and L. Barone of NJT today pertaining to not filling 63 positions this past weekend. (June 14 thru June 16)
 
NJT is short of manpower which is a combination of the busy summer season with vacations and the creation of 32 assignments on the NEC due to trackwork. They want to fill these positions, however, they must protect the Conductor and Rear Brake assignments first, before the TC assignments.
 
NJT will be looking at options to protect filling all the above assignments.
 
If you desire to work your relief days, please inform the crew caller in advance. Members can apply to the supplemental list for work on their relief day(s). 
 
We don’t want to lose any assignments by not being able to fill them, and at the same time, we do not want the carrier to over hire for when times are a bit slower.
 
I understand that some members only want to work passenger, others only yard and flag  work, but if you are NOT being called for work on relief days, please let me know ASAP with the details. Please keep in mind that TC assignments will be the first to be blanked.
 
 
Thank you, 
 
Michael J Reilly
General Chairman – United Transportation Union

During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks. According to KCS, each locomotive will have two cameras – one behind the engineer focused on the control panel, and one across the cab focusing on both crew members. (Some locomotives with cameras installed already are in use in Mexico; others are being fitted for cameras in Shreveport.) The carrier told the two presidents that it has “management prerogative” to take these actions and does not have to, and does not intend to, bargain with the unions over the use of these cameras, or the effects of this dramatic change on its operating craft employees. Without notifying the unions, that same day KCS filed suit in federal district court in Shreveport, La., to obtain a ruling allowing it to implement its plan. Upon learning of these developments, BLET National President Dennis Pierce and Mike Futhey, President of SMART Transportation Division, together told the carrier that both unions vehemently disagree that the carrier has the right to install and use inward-facing cameras unilaterally without exhausting the bargaining processes of the Railway Labor Act. The two presidents and the leadership of both unions view this as a serious change in working conditions and have agreed to work closely to resist its implementation. A coordinated effort is being undertaken in response. Not only will both unions be fervently opposing KCS’s lawsuit, they will be asking the court to enjoin the carrier from going ahead with its plan. As of now, and until the court has issued a ruling regarding the parties’ respective rights, the carrier has agreed not to turn on or use the cameras. Union members who work for KCS on a locomotive that has a camera installed should request assurances from the proper carrier officials that the camera is not turned on and not in use. Any instance where that assurance is not given should be immediately reported to your general chairperson. Also, to avoid any possibility of discipline, no member should attempt to move, cover or otherwise tamper with the cameras they encounter. Cooperation in this manner is vital. Lastly, train and engine employees can be assured that their unions are diligently working to protect them and their interests in this matter. No legal stone will be left unturned in opposing the carrier on this issue.