May 15, 2002

UP BLE GENERAL COMMITTES OF ADJUSTMENT SEEK INJUNCTION TO STOP REMOTE IMPLEMENTATION

In a lawsuit filed today in the US District Court of Colorado, all six (6) BLE Union Pacific General Committees of Adjustment joined together seeking an injunction to halt the use of remote technology on Union Pacific Railroad. The suit was filed on behalf of the membership of all 6 Committees and the general public in an effort to stop the use of remote locomotives until safety concerns regarding remote operation can be addressed. Currently no regulations are in place governing the use of remote controlled locomotives. The FRA has only issued “guidelines” for the railroads to follow. It is the belief of all 6 Committees that this “slipshod” implementation is not only hazardous for all railroad employees but the general public as well. Newly trained employees are operating remote control locomotives in yards today handling extremely hazardous chemicals putting both railroad employees and the general public unnecessarily at risk. In addition to safety concerns regarding remote operation, BLE also has contractual concerns relating to work assigned to locomotive engineers by agreement being improperly transferred to other crafts. While a court mandated arbitration regarding the controversy is proceeding at a snails pace due to stonewalling by Union Pacific, locomotive engineer jobs are being eliminated daily. During a recent meeting in February, Union Pacific completely refused to engage in serious negotiations in reference to the implementation of remote technology or its obvious impact on locomotive engineers. The suit was filed by Susan Tyburski of the law firm Boyle and Tyburski out of Denver, Colorado. Continue to monitor this web page for the latest information concerning this important matter. (Click HERE to view the lawsuit in PDF format)
Click HERE to view article in the Omaha World Herald.
Click HERE to view the press release on BLE site.
Click HERE to view the press release in the Denver Post.
Click HERE to view the press release in the Houston Chronicle.
Click HERE to view the press release in the St. Louis Dispatch.
Click HERE to view the press release in The New York Times.