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BLE UP
SOUTHERN REGION NEWS.. |
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BONUS CHECKS DELAYED PER NAITONAL AGREEMENT -----Original
Message----- Cc: UP General Chairmen Brothers, I was notified Thursday evening by Terry Olin of UP Labor
Relations that John Marchant, UPVPLR had overnighted a letter to President
Hahs per the below bold text from Side Letter 1 of the national agreement
that UP will not be a If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Fraternally, 2003 National Agreement Language Per Side letter No 1 of the 2003 BLE National agreement, the
carriers have 60 days from "The carriers will make all reasona They have 90 days to pay the longevity bonus per Article I of the
agreement that reads as follows: "ARTICLE I - WAGES Section 1 - Longevity Bonus (a) Not later than three months after the date of this Agreement
each employee who qualifies under subsection (b) shall be paid a Longevity
Bonus of $1,200. Such Bonus shall be paid in a separate check and shall be
subject to withholdings for applica Back Pay due by Longevity Bonus due by |
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COST OF LIVING INCREASE EFFECITVE
These
rate ta .
Click HERE to access the
new rate ta |
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REMOTE ACCIDENT SOSAN YARD SAN ANTONIO TEXAS
!!!!!!!!
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ROBOT RAILROAD – SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT CBS LOS
ANGELES CA. !!!!!!!!
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REMOTE ACCIDENT MILLER YARD DALLAS TEXAS !!!!!!!!
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REMOTE ACCIDENTS HINKLE OREGAN !!!!!!!!
2. MAY 20TH, THERE WAS A NEAR FATALITY WITH A SWITCHMAN THAT
HAD NEARLY THIRTY YEARS OF SERVICE. UP AND THE UTU WERE BRAGGING HOW THE
REMOTE VERY WELL MIGHT HAVE SAVED THE INDIVIDUALS LIFE BECAUSE THE REMOTES
WENT TO EMERGENCY WHEN HE FELL DOWN. WHAT THEY WON'T TELL YOU IS THAT
THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS DISTRACTED BECAUSE OF THE
MULTI TASKING THAT IS NOW REQUIRED WHEN WORKING WITH THE REMOTES AS A
FOREMAN/SWITCHMAN. COULD THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE CAUSED HIM TO
OVERLOOK THE FIRST BASIC REQUIREMENT AND THAT IS TO "LOOK WHERE YOU
WALK"! THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY REPORT YET ON THE CAUSE OF THE INJURY SO
EVERYTHING IS SPECULATION! 3. MAY 21ST, THERE IS ANOTHER TWO CAR DERAILMENT AT THE VERY
SAME SITE THAT WAS REPAIRED FROM THE DERAILMENT ON MONDAY THE 19TH. WORD HAS IT
THAT THE TRACK SHIFTED OR THE GAUGE WAS WIDE AND TWO CARS DERAILED AT THE
SAME SITE. 4. MAY 23RD, THERE WAS YET ANOTHER DERAILMENT IN THE DEPARTURE
YARD. THE RCO'S WERE SHOVING CARS INTO DEPARTURE #5 AND HIT A STANDING SET OF
6 LOCOMOTIVES AT THE WEST END OF THE YARD. SPEED AT THE TIME WAS ESTIMATED AT
10 MPH OR HIGHER. CARS WERE THROWN FROM DEPARTURE 5 AND FOULED 3 OTHER
DEPARTURE TRACKS. THAT MEANS THAT 4
OUT OF THE 7 DEPARTURE TRACKS WERE OUT OF SERVICE. ANOTHER ARTICLE WAS PLACED
IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. HINKLE HAD 4 MAJOR INCIDENTS IN 5 DAYS AND
WORD AROUND HINKLE IS THAT "ALL" CRAFTS ARE MORE THAN A BIT
NERVOUS. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CARMEN OR CLERKS DRIVING THEIR VEHICLES
BETWEEN THOSE TRACKS IN THE DEPARTURE YARD, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! Click
HERE to view slides of
the accident. |
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ANOTHER REMOTE ACCIDENT HINKLE YARD!!!!!!!!
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DISCIPLINE ALERT !!!!!!!!
It
is the perception of many working engineers that you have sixteen minutes
after the “FR NOCOM” light illuminates before you have to reduce
speed. Such is not the case. We have been told that when the “FR
NOCOM” light illuminates the system has already been without
communication for the sixteen minutes.
The delay is built into the system.
The
download was done by one of the new trackside readers and reviewed by a tape
reader in Omaha. The tape reader then
contacted local management to access discipline. Since
the engineer continued to operate the train at 50 MPH he is considered 20 MPH
over the prescribed speed and thus a FRA decertification is called for and
his license is suspended under FRA regulations. Click HERE to view
slides of the demonstration. |
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REMOTE DEMONSTRATION IN HOUSTON ATTRACTS MORE THAN 135
EMPLOYEES AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST Members
of the BLE, were joined by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's representative,
Houston City Council Member Ada Edwards, Chief of Staff. Labor Unions that supported the effort
were: Harris County AFL-CIO officers & staff members, Communication
Workers of America, PACE, HPPOU, Houston Fire Fighters, and Carpenters. In all, over 150 union members and
community activist showed up to distribute literature regarding the upcoming
implementation of remote locomotive technology in the Houston Area. The event was covered by several local TV
and radio stations in the area. Click HERE to view
slides of the demonstration. |
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DEMONSTRATION IN FT WORTH AGAINST REMOTE TECHNOLOGY Members
of the Community, UTU and BLE gathered near Colonial Country Club and Union
Pacific’s Centennial Yard to protest the implementation of remote
technology. Centennial Yard has been
converted to remote control by Union Pacific exposing both Union Pacific
Employees and the general public to dangers associated with remote control
operation. The most serious danger
stems from the lack of training required by both FRA and Union Pacific to
become a remote control operator. With
as little as 80 hours training, crew members are operating remotely
controlled locomotives handling hazardous waste and deadly chemicals in
Centennial Yard located close to both Colonial Country Club and other
residential areas. Click HERE
to view slides of the demonstration.. |
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BLE REQUESTS SERVICES OF MEDIATOR ON NATIONAL CONTACT After
hold an unsuccessful meeting with the NCCC, BLE International President Don
Hahs has requested that the National Mediation Board appoint a mediator as
provided in the Railway Labor Act.
Click HERE to view the request in PDF format. Click
HERE
to view the press release by the BLE
ID. |
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JIM ROSAS WINNER OF BARBQUE PIT RAFFLE IN MEMORY OF
RODNEY STUTES At
approximately 1000 hours on April 15, 2003 at Englewood Yard in Houston Texas
the drawing for the winning ticket in the raffle held in memory of Brother
Rodney Stutes was held. Former
Division 139 Local Chairman and current Alternate General Secretary Treasurer
Jim Rosas was the winner of the pit.
Thanks to Brothers GY Bailey and |
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REMOTE ACCIDENT NEY YARD IN At
approximately 4:00 am on March 23, 2003 there was a accident at Union
Pacific’s Ney Yard in Fort Worth, Texas involving remote
operations. It has been reported that
the RCO kicked a cut of cars down toward a track from the switching
lead. The RCO foreman then crawls up
on the fireman’s side of a 4 car cut riding the point down the
lead. He set the locomotive on a 4 mph
speed. The cut kicked into the track
is still fouling the lead switch on the engineer’s side. The cut impacts the fouling cars and the
“brain on the train” RC locomotive interprets the impact and slow
down as request for more power and
throttles up to maintain the 4mph speed set by the RCO. Either the collision or the subsequent
automatic “throttle up” by the RC locomotive throws the foreman
against the side of the car breaking his collar bone. The foreman subsequently injures his ankle
when he fell from the cut of cars. His
pull away vest ripped off and the belt back unit landed on the ground. Eventually the belt pack unit sends an
emergency shutdown signal, but only after the built in delay in the tilt
feature has timed out. Mean while, the
RC locomotive continues to apply power and shove against the derailed cars. This is truly one of the fallacies of this
technology. The “brain on the
train” cannot distinguish between a collision and a coupling and will
continue to apply power until it reaches the 4mph or whatever speed has been
requested by the operator. THIS MAY BE
CHEAPER… BUT ITS CERTAINLY NOT SAFER!!!!!!!!! |
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PROTEST IN NORTH PLATTE NEBRASKA REGARDING REMOTE
TECHNOLOGY Members
of the BLE, Teamsters and the general public gathered in North Platte
Nebraska today to protest the railroad’s unsafe implementation of
remote control technology in the area. Click
HERE
to view slides of demonstration and press
the play button at the bottom of the page. |
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REMOTE CONTROL ACCIDENT IN BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA
RESULTS IN AMPUTATION A
ground service employee has reportedly been run over by a remote control
locomotive in the Kansas City Southern yard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The operator of the belt pack was riding in
the cab of the locomotive operating the locomotive with the long nose
forward. An employee was riding the
nose of the locomotive. The injured
employee was crossing between tracks in the rain and was struck by the
locomotive resulting in the loss of one foot and a hand. He also suffered a punctured lung, but is
reported in stable condition in the hospital.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. |
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BLE AND IBT DEMONSTRATE IN FRONT OF THE FRA BUILDING
AGAINST REMOTE TECHNOLOGY In
what has been described by some participants as the most powerful moment in their
union experience the BLE and IBT held a joint demonstration in front of the
FRA building in Washington DC today.
Powerful messages were delivered by IBT President Jimmy Hoffa, BLE
President Don Hahs and AFLCIO General Sec-Tres Rich Trumka to some 200 plus
demonstrators and the Federal Railroad Administration on the front steps of
the FRA building. Click
HERE
to view slides of demonstration and
press the play button at the bottom of the page. |
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RRESQ – GIA – ENGINEERS – TRAINMEN
PROTEST NATION WIDE AGAINST ABUSE BY UPRR Protests
were conducted nation wide against UPRR by members of RRESQ, the BLE GIA,
Engineers and Trainmen bringing to light problems with fatigue, absenteeism,
remote operations and lack of lodging provided for members forced away from
home. The demonstrators passed out
flyers and informational packets warning the communities of the dangers of
irresponsible implementation of remote control technology. Reports from protests conducted in the
following locations have been received. Roseville
– San
Antonio – St.
Louis – |
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PINE BLUFF ARKANSAS CITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION BANNING
REMOTE TECHNOLOGY Pine
Bluff Arkansas has joined a growing list of cities across the nation
recognizing the irresponsi |
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FIRST REMOTE ACCIDENT ON BLE UP SOUTHER REGION PROPERTY The
first remote controlled accident has occurred in Ft. Worth at the Crest. Details of the accident will follow. To view
photos of the derailment, click HERE |
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AFL-CIO AND PACE CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF PRODUCTS DUE TO
UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES Coors Brewing Company – All Coors
products which are contained in packaging produce by GPC are being targeted
because: 1. The Coors Family is a major owner and controls
the operation of GPC. 2. GPC supplies all of Coors Brewing’s
paperboard and label packaging requirements (an estimated total revenue to
GPC of $130 million in 2002) 3. The lockout is symbolmatic of Coors
“union busting” practices of the 1970s and 1980s when the
building trades and Teamsters Union were victims of anti-worker, anti-union
policies. 4. The AFL-CIO boycott of Coors in the 1980s
had a dramatic effect on Coors which it is still feeling. As PACE believes the lockout could go on
for many years, it feels public support of a boycott would have the most
impact to bringing this unjust lockout to a speedy resolution. Following is a list of GPC customer
clients and the products of theirs which will be boycotted because they are
encased in packaging produced at the plant: 1. General Mills: Wheaties, Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios,
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Crisp, Total,
Total Raisin Bran, Golden Grahams, Wheat, Rice and Corn Chex. 2. Quaker Products: All flavors of Rice-A-Roni and Pasta-Roni. 3. Kraft Products: Oscar Meyer bacon. |
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We have video available from the remote
demonstration in San Antonio. It comes
in two formats. For medium resolution video click HERE. For high resolution video (larger file and
longer download) click HERE. |
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December 18, 2002 A concerned
group of Locomotive Engineers and other activist from the labor community
gathered at Sunset Station in San Antonio to protest Union Pacific’s
intention to bring remote control operations to the San Antonio area in
February of 2003. The event was well
covered by the media. To view a
slideshow of photos of the protest click HERE
and click the play button at the
bottom of the page to run the show. |
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November 10, 2002 Remote
derailment occurred today at 3:40 am in Kansas City Kansas. RCO was pulling out of the East Bowl and
ran into the side of another train derailing 9 cars and 2 units. More details as they become available. |
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November 1, 2002 Remote
derailment in Lincoln NE occurred on BNSF. To view newspaper article click HERE
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At 4:30
PM the 3pm crest job with Remote's Derailed coming out of the bowl derailing
3 cars dragging them trough the master retarder and turning 1 over. This has
put the hump out of use for at least 24hrs… More details and pictures
to come. |
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On September
25, 2002 members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers joined together
in a demonstration to alert the public to the dangers of remote control
locomotive operations in the DFW area.
Remotes are currently being used in BNSF’s Alliance Yard and are
coming in November 2002 to Union Pacific Centennial Yard in Ft. Worth. The event was covered by TV and newspapers
in the DFW area. To see photos of the
demonstration click HERE . |
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To view
newspaper article in the Star Telegram click HERE . |
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To
view newspaper article in the Advocate click HERE . |
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September 20,
2002 To view
newspaper article in the Advocate click HERE
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September 5,
2002 At approximately
0600 hours this morning, an accident happened that involved remote control
operations at Hinkle, Oregon. It has
been reported that the accident involved a head on collision between two
remote control assignments with extensive damage to unit UP 539. As a result of the accident, a switchman
operating one of the remote jobs has been injured. It has been reported that he was riding on
a car with his arm looped through the handhold operating the remote box. Reports indicate that the switchman may
have shredded the ligaments and tendons in his arm possibly ending his
railroad career. More later as news
comes in…. To
view photos of engines UP 539 and UP 1035 click HERE . |
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To view
article click HERE . |
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To
view article click HERE . |
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It has
been reported to this office that there are currently 3 trainmen in the
Kansas City area working on remote control assignments that are being
harassed and threatened with discipline for not being “productive
enough” to satisfy UP management in the area while handling remote
control technology. Make no mistake
about it, the UTU International leadership responsible for giving the
Carriers the unfettered right to implement remote technology in a cavalier
fashion has placed the safety and welfare of all railroad employees (both UTU
and BLE alike) at risk. Everyone,
except the UTU International leadership apparently, knew that it was only a
matter of time before the productivity lash was unfurled. Now the whippings will commence until the “chart masters” are
satisfied or someone is seriously injured.
The charges read “failure
to comply with instructions given that your lack of productivity would not be
tolerated”.
Unfortunately there are only two words in the English language that
all railroads understand… money and violence. If it doesn’t cost them any money or
saves them a few bucks and no one gets hurt, then it is business as
usual. More later as information comes
in… |
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August 27, 2002 Tilford Yard, Atlanta, Ga at
0930, 08 Aug 2002, Tilford Bowl RCO
job Y192 was pulling a cut of cars out of the bowl down the East Tail track
when it was struck mid consist by an RCO Training Engine, that had been lined
improperly through a crossover, turning over two cars and derailing at least
two other cars. A download of the RCO engine showed that it struck the
consist at 7mph.
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August
26, 2002 To view article click HERE . |
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August 25, 2002 In an effort to keep you up
to date on the latest Labor news around the world, we have added the link above
that will provide continuous news updates from the LabourStart Web site every
15 minutes. This feature will occupy
the top spot on our news page with all other stories listed below in
chronological order for your reference and perusal. We hope you like this feature. To read one of the stories simply click on
the link above. |
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August 22, 2002 The Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers today conducted a demonstration warning the commuters and
public about the hazards associated with Union Pacific’s implementation
of remote control technology in the Sacramento area. The demonstration included approximately
150 people who were BLE members and their families that were joined by
Teamsters from the Sacramento area.
The demonstrators passed out approximately 6,000 informational flyers
to local commuters in the area and in front of the Amtrak station across from
the Sacramento court house. |
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The members of the National
Mediation Board ruled unanimously that there was no blurring of craft lines
between engineers and trainmen on the KCS railroad. They followed their previous decision on
Union Pacific stating that only 4% of the employees were cross utilized on
the KCS. The new members of the Board
have begun their careers on the right foot.
View the NMB ruling by clicking HERE. |
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Two remote control jobs were
involved in an accident in the KCS Yard in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday
August 10, 2002. One job was shoving
the yard and shoved out the other end of the track resulting in a collision
with a locomotive on the lead. More
details as they become availa |
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August 6, 2002 At 2PM CST today, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers will stage an informational protest in
the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) regarding the pending
implementation of remote locomotive technology in the area. The demonstration is a joint action
coordinated with the General Committees of the UP and BNSF and the BLE State
Legislative Chairmen who will be conducting their annual meeting at this same
location. The BLE ran a ¼ page safety
advisory add in Sunday’s Pioneer Press warning area residents of possi (Click HERE to view
photos of the rally) |
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August 6, 2002 The below message was
received from a Brother in the Hinkle, Oregon area regarding a remote
accident that occurred on July 26, 2002. On 07/26/02 the MHKSK-25 was
dog caught by an extra crew. When they arrived at Hinkle they were told
by the Hinkle yardmaster to cut off the PFE cars on the head end and come up
Rita's hill from the receiving yard so that they could set the Hinkle fruit
train with those cars. When they got to the top end of Rita's hill, they
asked the conductor (east end trim foreman) for permission to come off Rita's
hill to go to the departure yard. Trim foreman told the dogcatch crew to come
into the old trim tower pocket and stay in the clear of the power crossover.
There were a number of witnesses to this conversation. An RCO Locomotive was
then lined through the power crossover from the south side of the bowl to the
trim pullback. When the remote locomotive came through the crossover it
sideswiped the standing cut of PFE cars because they weren't in the clear.
Crews were not able to confirm the amount of damage because they never
did see the locomotive or the sideswiped car, and once again, local company
officers denied the incident occurred. We do know the car was bad
ordered and was set to another track and didn't go out with the rest of the
cars. Incident has since been reported to FRA due to likelihood that
the incident was not reported. |
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August1, 2002 Two new members have been
appointed to the National Mediation Board effective August 1, 2002. Harry
Ronald Hoglander, a Democrat and Edward Joseph Fitzmaurice a Republican. Hoglander has a rich labor history serving
as an executive vice president of the Air Line Pilots Association. Fitzmaurice was an airline pilot for
Braniff Airlines. Hopefully these
individuals with the labor background will have the intestinal fortitude to
do the right thing regarding the single craft elections pending a decision at
the NMB on the KCS Railroad. |
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July 23, 2002 In association with
the ICW Regional Meeting in Pasco, WA, the BLE sponsored an informational
demonstration regarding the railroads haphazard implementation of remote
technology in the industry. In
connection with the rally, The UP, BNSF and International Division sponsored
radio spots in the tri-city area to inform the general public of the dangers
associated with this slipshod implementation plan. Over 200 people participated in the
demonstration. The Teamsters provided
one of their “show” trucks from a Local in the area as a back
drop for the speakers at the rally.
Leaflets were distributed to passing motorist as they moved through
the busy intersection by BLE members and their families. Photos will be posted to this page as they
become available. (To view an article
from the Tri-Cities Herald on the demonstration click HERE) (To view photos of
the demonstration click HERE) |
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July 17, 2002 In a letter from FRA
Administrator, Alan Rutter, notice was served that FRA intended to step up
their monitoring of efficiency testing on the nation’s railroads. This letter was responded to by President
Hahs on July 9, 2002. What this means
to all railroad employees is that with this increased focus, train crews will
be tested more frequently. WORK SAFE BY THE RULES!!!!!! YOUR JOB IS AT STAKE!!!! |
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July 15, 2002 Employees on the
Tex-Mex Railroad have selected the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as
their designated bargaining representative.
The vote was 60 – 49 in favor of the BLE. |
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July 15, 2002 Brothers and
Sisters, I must apologize to those who have submitted inquiries to our
Frequently Asked Questions Page in the last 60 days. We set up a separate e-mail account to
handle those questions, and due to an electronic snafu, (operator error) we
were not getting the questions downloaded into the proper account. We are working on getting responses posted
to the FAQ Page as well as responding to the individual members that
submitted the questions. Again, our
apologies for the snafu and we will try to avoid the same in the future. |
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July 11, 2002 The BLE General
Committee of Adjustment on the Kansas City Southern conducted an information picket
regarding the implementation of remote technology in Beaumont, Texas on
Saturday July 11, 2002. The KCS
engineers were joined by members of the BLE Union Pacific Southern Region
GCA. BLE members were protesting the
irresponsible implementation of remote control technology on both Kansas City
Southern and Union Pacific. Click HERE to view photos of the Beaumont Informational Picket |
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June 25, 2002 The BLE Union
Pacific General Committees of Adjustment conducted another informational
picket in North Little Rock / Pine Bluff Arkansas today beginning at 2:00 PM
Central Standard Time. In addition to
the informational picket, the BLE has been running a radio spot 8 times per
day during peak driving time on the three top radio stations in Little Rock
since Friday June 21, 2002. Hear the
recorded spot with Windows Media Player by clicking HERE (the file is over 1 meg in size, so it may take a
while to load onto your computer) A
new web site has also been established (http://www.remoteinfo.org) that
will display information on the implementation of remote control operations
on Union Pacific Railroad. This site
will be updated regularly with new information as it becomes availa Click HERE to
view photos of the NLR Informational Picket |
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June 22, 2002 BLE members must
keep the messages coming to their representatives and President Bush in the
face of the Amtrak Board meeting scheduled for Monday June 24, 2002 per
article in the NY Times. View the
article by clicking HERE |
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June 21, 2002 View the article by
clicking HERE |
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June 21, 2002 View the article by clicking < |