AUGUST 16, 2004 - FIRST TRIP RATES COME TO BLET SOUTHERN REGION

Effective August 16, 2004 the following trip rates will go into effect on the BLET UP Southern Region GCA. These trip rates will be applicable to all engineers (both post and pre 85) and will be paid each trip.

RUNS/POOLS	ENGINEER TRIP RATE	ENGINEER FLIP RATE	Overtime Offset on Arbitraries
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Hearne, TX (RE02)	$280.14	$552.73	$4.81 / 9 min
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Ft. Worth, TX (RE12)	$248.21	$484.98	$6.76 / 12 min
Shreveport, LA – Longview, TX (RE83)	$214.25	$214.25	$22.26 / 40 min
Shreveport, LA – Livonia, LA (RE85)	$285.11	$587.03	$7.19 / 13 min
Ft. Worth, TX – McAlester, TX (RE45)	$273.54	$566.54	$4.99 / 9 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Chickasha, TX (RE46)	$252.90	$526.65	$4.17 / 7 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Childress, TX (RE47)	$275.34	$638.48	$4.68 / 8 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Sweetwater, TX (RE55)	$274.35	$568.48	$4.82 / 9 min
Dallas, TX – Hearne/Taylor/Tyler, TX (RE )	$193.20	$440.39	$2.58 / 5 min
Oklahoma City, OK – Witchita, KS (RE )	$263.60	$541.75	$1.51 / 3 min

The pools identified in red if used at the away from home terminal for HOS relief and subsequently deadhead to their home terminal upon completion of that service will be allowed two trip rates. 1 for the HOS relief and 1 for the deadhead portion of the trip. The pools identified in black are in dispute regarding how trips of that nature will be handled. The Carrier’s position is that they will be allowed one trip rate for that service due to past practice in the pool of combining deadheads in that type of service. We disagree and urge anyone in those pools used in that manner to claim two trip rates for the service. 1 on your working timeslip and the other via the =PE process for the deadhead portion of the trip. The second trip will have to be appealed and processed through the claims system until the issue is settled. The Flip Rate identified above would apply when you were deadheaded out of the home terminal to the away from home terminal working back to the home terminal. The above trip rates incorporated the following pay elements:

1. Initial Terminal Delay

2. Final Terminal Delay

3. Meals in Route

4. Runarounds within the terminal

5. Initial Terminal Switching

6. Final Terminal Switching

They do not include board runarounds due to improper placement or make whole pay for working off assignment.

Since the above pay elements are incorporated into the trip rates they are automatically paid on a per trip basis and are no longer applicable or subject to appeal under the claims process. All other rates of pay not identified above are still in full force and effect.