HORN AND WHISTLE BLOWING RAISED TO LEVEL 3 UNDER NEW DISCIPLINE POLICY

Union Pacific has changed their discipline policy to assess a Level 3 (5 days off without pay) in connection with an incident of improper horn blowing or whistle sounding. Protect your families income by taking extra care to properly sound the whistle and horn at all crossings.
Rules 5.8.1 and 5.8.2 of the General Code of Operating Rules

Click HERE to view the Level 3 Rules.

BLET PROTESTS DOUBLE DIP OF HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS BY UNION PACIFIC

A formal protest has been filed regarding Union Pacific’s double dip of all hospital association members of the BLET UP Southern Region GCA. Those members were not allowed an offset of their hospital association dues against the retroactive health and welfare payments required in the BLET 2003 National Agreement. Vice President Lee Pruitt, with the authority of all 6 UP BLET GCAs, filed the protest on behalf of all Union Pacific Engineers across the entire system. Click HERE to view a copy of the letter.

GEORGETOWN ROCK POOL RELOCAITON TO TAYLOR AGREEMENT RATIFIES

The agreement to relocate the Georgetown Rock Pool to Taylor has been ratified by a majority of the Local Committees of Adjustment in the San Antonio Hub.

Click HERE to view a PDF version of the agreement.

KEEP REPORTING ACCIDENTS - INCIDENTS AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH REMOTE CONTROL

Brothers
The preliminary study regarding remote control safety was produced by the FRA using their figures. Their findings are not unexpected, given that the statistics were provided by the railroads.

Bob Harvey recently informed me that the Foster-Miller audit period just started on May 1, and will run for six months.

It seems to me that the railroads have been given time to adjust their operations to produce the safest results possible. Bob also told me he has sent a letter complaining that the time frame for the audit will include no adverse winter weather conditions. We need to continue to document all accidents/incidents to dispute the findings of the preliminary report and probably Foster-Millers recommendations as well.
Fraternally,
Terry Briggs

UP SWITCHING YARD ACCIDENT SENDS 17 CARS RUMBLING THROUGH PORTLAND

Click HERE to read the story.

COMING SOON.... TRIP RATES ON THE BLET UP SOUTHERN REGION

The first trip rate negotiations are to begin on the BLET SR GCA beginning on June 29th - 30th of 2004. The Carrier has indicated they intend to serve notice on the following pools in the DFW Hub:

Ft. Worth - McAllister
Ft. Worth - Chickasha
Ft. Worth - Childress
Ft. Worth - Sweetwater
Dallas - Taylor/Hearne/Tyler
Oklahoma City - Wichita
Chico - Dallas/Ft. Worth

The following are the initial pools in the Longview Hub

Longview - Hearne
Longview - Dallas
Longview - Ft. Worth
Shreveport - Longview
Shreveport - Livonia

These are the only pools to be discussed during our initial meetings scheduled for the end of June. Once this process begins, it should be ongoing until we have done all the pools on our Committee.

TEXAS LAW REQUIRES RAILROAD EMPLOYEES TO DISPLAY RAILROAD ID NOT PERSONAL DRIVERS LICENSE

From: Terry Briggs [mailto:terry@tslb.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 4:15 PM
To: gilgore@bleupsrgca.com
Subject: Identification requirements

Brother Gil,

This is current law regarding identification requirements when a police officer asks for a person's ID in connection with the operation of a locomotive or train. This law is still in effect.

Terry Briggs

Click HERE to view a PDF version of the Law.

Proof of Identification Sec. 3.

A person who operates a railroad locomotive or train and who is required by a peace officer to show proof of identification in connection with the person's operation of a train shall display the person's permit issued under this Act and may not be required to display an operator's, commercial operator's, or chauffeurs driver's license issued under Chapter 173, Acts of the 47th Legislature, Regular Session, 1941, as amended (Article 6687b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes). Records

Relating to Accidents or Violations Sec. 4.

If a person operating a railroad locomotive or train is involved in an accident with another train or a motor vehicle or is arrested for violation of a law relating to the person's operation of a locomotive[0] or train, the number or other identifying information about the person's operator's, commercial operator's, or chauffeurs driver's license may not be included in any report of the accident or violation, and the person's involvement in the accident or violation may not be recorded in the person's individual driving record maintained by the Department of Public Safety.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 551, ch. 232, eff. Aug. 31, 1981. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 340, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.

US 7TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS REJECTS CARRIERS REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCE OF RESTRAINING ORDER

US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit rejected the carriers appeal and affirmed the decision of US District Judge Gottschall to dissolve the preliminary injunction in the remote control case.

Click HERE to view copy of Att Wholly letter to Hahs
Click HERE to view a copy of the 7th Circuit Decision

WASHOUTS ON HEARNE AND AUSTIN SUBS ON UNION PACIFIC

Due to recent heavy rains Union Pacific has experienced some serious washouts on the Hearne and Austin Subdivisions.

Click HERE to view photo of Hearne Sub
Click HERE to view photo of Austin Sub
Click HERE to view photo of Austin Sub
Click HERE to view photo of Austin Sub

SINGLE DAY VACATION AGREEMENT OUT FOR RATIFICAITON

A modificaiton to our current vacation agreement is currently out for ratification. The new agreement provides for the following:

1. Can split all 5 weeks of vacation
2. Allowed 3 weeks of single day vacation
3. Single day vacation taken will be for a 24 hour period like Personal Leave

To view a pdf copy of the agreement click Here

New News Page for BLET UP Southern Region Members

In an effort to better communicate with our members we have established a new news format that can easily be updated with current informaiton. Please check this page regularly for news and information updates.