BMWE - NEWEST MEMBER OF IBT RAIL CONFERENCE

BMWE NEWS RELEASE
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes
20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 320, Southfield, MI 48076
Contact: Rick Inclima, (248) 760-6966

BMWE Rail Union Members Overwhelmingly Approve Merger with Teamsters

Southfield, MI–October 27, 2004. Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWE) have overwhelmingly approved the merger of the BMWE with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) as well as the transfer of jurisdiction agreement for the BMWE Canadian members. 76 percent of BMWE members voting approved the merger with the IBT today. BMWE President, Freddie N. Simpson, who will now become President of the BMWE Division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, congratulated BMWE members for making such an informed and historic decision. “The BMWE members today have voiced their commitment to a strong and positive future and have taken a giant step in consolidating rail labor,” said Simpson. “I would also like to offer thanks to the members of the BMWE merger negotiation committee, Gary Cox, David Tanner, Bill Palmer, Paul Beard, Mark Wimmer and Scott Dawson, as well as offer my appreciation to committee advisors Rick Inclima, Steve Powers, Gail Meisel, Don Griffin, Bill Bon and Bill Hildenbrand. A special debt of gratitude also goes to BMWE Secretary Treasurer Perry K. Geller, Sr. with thanks to BMWE Chicago staff member Sandy Mattox.”

“More than two years ago, the BMWE’s leadership embarked on a path of reform aimed at strengthening the union’s hand in fighting for its members’ interests. The membership’s vote today is a milestone in that process – an important step on the road to rail unity,” declared Simpson. “We are proud and excited to be part of the Teamsters Rail Conference. Ratification of the merger with the IBT has demonstrated our members determination to strengthen and improve our positions both within the rail and labor communities,” stated Simpson. “With over 42 percent of union members in the rail industry now united under the Teamsters banner, our strength at the bargaining table will most certainly be improved. With both the BMWE and the BLET together as autonomous divisions of the Teamsters Rail Conference, railroad workers will have greater power at the workplace, in the halls of Congress, and in
negotiations.”

“This is an extraordinary moment in the history of the labor movement,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "As did my father, I have envisioned one union representing all transportation workers—roads to rails, ports to planes—that would provide workers with real power on the job and in the political arena. This historic merger brings us closer to our vision of that seamless transportation union."

The BMWE will become a division of the Teamsters Rail Conference, which was established in January 2004. In the beginning of the year, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen became the first division of the Rail Conference when their members overwhelmingly approved their merger with the Teamsters. With the addition of the BMWE members, the Teamsters Rail Conference now represents almost 70,000 union rail members and becomes the 7th largest Division at the IBT. BMWE members build, maintain, inspect, and repair the railroad tracks, bridges, and related structures throughout North America.

UTU SMOKESCREEN: BLAME BLET FOR FUTURE SCHEME

CLEVELAND, October 15 -- The United Transportation Union’s latest attack against the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen regarding seniority maintenance fees is a smokescreen created to draw attention away from its imminent plan to implement seniority maintenance fees on the national level, BLET National President Don Hahs charged today. On October 15, the UTU issued a news release claiming that the BLET is implementing seniority maintenance fees for trainmen on the Conrail Shared Assets Areas and the Kansas City Southern. What is missing from the UTU release, according to President Hahs, is the fact that the UTU was the first union to implement these fees at Conrail and KCS. “The only reason the BLET has seniority maintenance fees is because the UTU implemented them first,” President Hahs said. The UTU pioneered the concept of seniority maintenance fees years ago, requiring engineers to pay dues to the UTU in order to maintain their seniority as trainmen. BLET challenged UTU’s seniority maintenance all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. “The BLET is adamantly opposed to the concept of seniority maintenance fees, and we only implemented such programs after the UTU did so,” Hahs said. “We would never even have dreamed of such a concept had the UTU not done so.” To make matters worse, the BLET has learned that UTU leaders and the nation’s railroads will soon enter into a seniority maintenance fee program on the national level, forcing all engineers and trainmen who join BLET to pay dues or a fee to UTU as well as BLET in order to “maintain” their trainman seniority. He said the UTU “smokescreen” news release of October 15 attempts to use BLET as a scapegoat, claiming UTU is implementing its nationwide seniority maintenance fee program to retaliate against BLET. “The article posted on the UTU website is meant to set the stage for the announcement of the UTU’s most recent agreement on a nationwide seniority maintenance provision,” President Hahs said. “I challenge UTU President Paul Thompson to do what’s right for BLET and UTU members and refrain from beginning its nationwide seniority maintenance fee program.“It is unconscionable that UTU would make an agreement forcing post-’85 workers to take promotion to engineer on the one hand, and then force them to pay double dues on the other hand.”
Friday, October 15, 2004bentley@ble.org

The Blues Option

I have contacted Blue Cross – Blue Shield regarding our election to participate in that plan.  I have found out the following:

 

1.                Members will be receiving an election form in the mail within the next 4 – 5 days notifying them what plan they are currently under and the choices that are available to them.

2.                This election form will be received annually around this time allowing employees to choose a different plan for the next year effective Jan 1 of the following year.

3.                The UHC and Blues plans are identical in benefits offered to our members.

4.                There may be some other services (24 hour hot lines etc) available under different plans, but the benefit entitlement is the same in both managed care and comprehensive care under UHC (800-842-9905) and the Blues (866-267-3320)  

5.                Your participation in the managed care program is mandatory if it is available in your area as determined by your zip code.

6.                If you are satisfied with your health care provider you do not need to make a choice.  The plan you are currently enrolled in will not be changed unless you select a different option and return the information via US mail.

7.                Once you receive your election form and information you can call a toll free number (866) 267-3320 to discuss any questions that you have regarding the application of the plan and how it works.

8.                Everyone is encouraged to contact them with questions to get the answers straight from the horses mouth…. So to speak!

 

My understanding is that the Blues option makes managed care available in more rural areas.  However, I encourage every member to contact all the numbers to obtain specific information about his options and what would best suit his family’s needs and desires.

 

Fraternally,

Gil Gore

 

 

 

 

BLUE CROSS - BLUE SHIELD OPTION TO BE OFFERED TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005

Members should be receiving packets of information regarding their ability to swap over to the Blue Cross - Blue Shield managed care plan if the same is available in their area. If managed care is not offered in your area, you can choose the comprehensive plan offered by either United Health Care or Blue Cross - Blue Shield. Changes requested will not become effective until January 1 of 2005.

CONTACT INFORMATION AND FORMS FOR AGREEMENT EMPLOYEES WORKING ON UP BLET SOUTHERN REGION

Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (formerly GA-23000)Comprehensive Health Care Benefit (CHCB) - UNlTEDHealthcare
1-800-842-5252 - www.myuhc.com
Managed Medical Care Program (MMCP) - UNlTEDHealthcare
1-800-842-9905 - www.myuhc.com
Aetna
1-800-842-4044 - www.aetna.com
Prescription Drugs - Medco Health Solutions
1-800-842-0070 - www.medcohealth.com
Mental HealthlSubstance Abuse - ValueOptions
1-800-934-7245

Life Insurance - Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
1-800-310-7770

The National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union (NRCIUTU) Health and Welfare Plan Comprehensive Health Care Benefit (CHCB) -
UNlTEDHealthcare
1-800-691-0013 - www.myuhc.com
Regence
1-888-445-4379

Managed Medical Care Program (MMCP)
Regence
1-888-977-2583
UNlTEDHealthcare
1-888-445-4379 - www.myuhc.com
Aetna
1-888-332-8742 - www.aetna.com

Prescription Drugs - Medco Health Solutions
1-800-842-0070 - www.medcohealth.com

Mental Health/Substance Abuse - ValueOptions
1-800-934-7245

Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
1-800-310-7770

Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (formerly GA-46000)
UNITEDHealthcare
1-800-842-5252 - http://www.myuhc.com/
Railroad Employees National Dental Plan

Aetna
1-877-277-3368 - www.aetna.com

Railroad Employees National Vision Plan VSP
1-888-877-4782 - http://www.vsp.com/

The Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan Covering Locomotive Engineers
MetLife
(800) 858-6506
If you need BLET assistance in working with MetLife, please contact:
Jim Bradford - BLET Short-term Disability Administrator
(830) 896-1592 - Bradford@ble-t.org

The Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan Covering Shop Craft Employees
UNUMProvident
1-800-542-4231

The Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan Covering Signal Employees
UNUMProvident
1-800-542-4231

The Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan Covering Maintenance of Way Employees
UNUMProvident
1-800-542-4231

The Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan Covering Yardmasters
Trustmark
1-800-504-9052