Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2013

Meeting was opened by President in Due form.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:. S. Cordes, R. Tiffany, C. Howard, K. Howard, D. McIver, K. Anderson, J. Dobson, D. Richardson, R. Bodenhamer, M. Bahr, E. Taylor, H. Allington, R. Huelle, S. Clark, H. Bailey, N. Scruggs, T. Clark, W. Cacas, K. Taylor, M. Taylor, D. Larsen, M. Miller, M. Bahr, K. Nibbler, M. Campbell, K. Newell, T. Brown, B. Vossen

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Presentation of the bills made by Secretary and discussion of current status of finances/ taxes brought to the members. Monthly audit report brought to the membership for review.

Current membership is 156. 137 Engineers and 19 Trainmen.

Set up payment plan with IRS to pay last remaining taxes owed. Payment to start 9/3/2013.

National dues increase effective 7/1/2013 is $1 per member per month and GCA is $1 per member per month.

Motion to pay the bills brought by Sister K. Taylor seconded by Brother D. McIver.

CAB COMMITTEE: Brother R. Tiffany. Do not build power consists in roundhouse facilities.

LEGISTATIVE: Brother K. Howard. Crew hauler bill did not make state legislative session.

Army Corps of Engineers is not going to do a study on coal transportation.

Oil trains on hold for Port of Vancouver, account of the recent incident in Canada.

Pot Ash facility at Port of Vancouver is on hold for 2 years.

HOTEL COMMITTEE: None

SAFETY COMMITTEE: Brother K. Howard. Brake sticks with holders will be installed in Vancouver shuttle vans.

Maintenance crews are working to extend the sidings on Fallbridge subdivision.

Work going on the Oregon Trunk to add/extend sidings and CTC islands.
Over 300 days injury free in Vancouver terminal. There will be a safety feed in August.

Any new stairways installed will have lighting.

East end St. Johns siding has new steps in place.

Brother R. Bodenhammer. BAPP-Design Committee Applications are out for positions. Deadline for applications is 7/19/2013 (may be extended).

LOCAL CHAIRMAN: Brother D. Richardson. Attended GCA Convention for elections in Las Vegas, NV. Many meetings were held. Railroad has filed record number of Article IX. Triangle pool looks as if it is going to arbitration. There are many arbitration cases waiting to be settled. The order of cases will be first in and first out; alternative handling/safety summit agreement; paper deadheading; etc.

NTSB is looking at adopting carrier’s proposal for inward facing cameras on locomotives, and cell phone abuses.

OLD BUSINESS: Expirations are coming due this year on TWIC cards. See Sandy before expiration to obtain information on getting new card.

BLET AUXILIARY: None

NEW BUSINESS: Motion for no August meeting as many members on vacation and busy with families. Brought by Brother H. Bailey and seconded by Brother C. Nibbler. Motion passed. Next meeting is to be held Monday, September 16, 2013.

Motion to close meeting by Brother D. McIver and seconded by Brother K. Anderson.

Meeting adjourned at 1455 hrs.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, September 16, 2013

Meeting was opened by President in Due form.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:. S. Cordes, D. McIver, R. Bodenhamer, J. Blau, M. Bahr, J. Dobson, P. Nuebel, W. Hall, J. Regan, C. Howard, T. Lowery, S. Papenfuse, D. Richardson, K. Howard, B. Black, E. Gruber, J. McHenry, K. Dunn, W. Wasnoska, D. Keder, R. Swayze.
Special Guests: S.M. Brandenburg, D.M. Mitchell, W.C. Barnes.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Brother S. Cordes.
Presentation of the bills made by Secretary and discussion of current status of finances/ taxes brought to the members. Monthly audit report brought to the membership for review.

Current membership is 153. 134 Engineers and 19 Trainmen. Two new members initiated, Patrick Fahey and Michael Sinclair.

Motion to pay the bills brought by Brother J. Dobson seconded by Brother K. Howard.

CAB COMMITTEE: Sister P. Nuebel.
Certain Dash9 locomotives were discovered with burning wires along with smoke and fire in the cab. Currently being investigated. A system briefing will follow.
Analog gauges on SD60/GP38 locomotives will get brighter bulbs.

GE is working on new design for wipers and a/c vent issues for locomotives.

Locomotive manufacturers will need to standardize emergency toggle switch locations.

BNSF will not be installing microwave ovens on any of their new locomotives.

SAFETY COMMITTEE: Brother K. Howard and R. Bodenhammer.

Utility vans are back in place in Vancouver. Make sure to check vans.

Health Fair was last weekend, RR Retirement and UnitedHealthcare was in attendance.

Newsletter for BAPP is now available.

The terminal safety meeting will be this week.

Operations Stop Program coming to Vancouver. If interested, see K. Howard.

See General Orders regarding the securement of oil/hazmat trains under FRA Emergency Order 28.

LEGISTATIVE: Brother K. Howard.
Be vigilant with the current longshoreman lockout.

BLET lost ruling on with KCS regarding inward facing cameras. No audio as of yet.

BNSF is the first railroad to push positive train control for year 2015.

Last year there were 400 red block violations on the four largest railroads.

Still working on legislation for one man crews. Canada passed legistation that no one man crews allowed.

HOTEL COMMITTEE: None

LOCAL CHAIRMAN: Brother D. Richardson.
Need more involvement from our members.

Coming out with a standard engineers training. Engineers to have minimum three years continuous service with no decertification.

No news on triangle, still in arbitration.

First In and First Out should be arbitrated next month.

Two more bulletins out for KTrains.

BAPP: Brother R. Bodenhamer.
BAPP is now BRAVE committee.
Brother B. Huppenian is now the facilitator. Currently forming a charter and ongoing workshops for trainers.

OLD BUSINESS: Brother D. Richardson.
Any issues with hotel in Pasco, please fill out and submit hotel report form before doing anything else.

BLET AUXILIARY: Meeting at Main Event today at 1730.

NEW BUSINESS: None

Motion to close meeting by Brother M. Bahr and seconded by Brother J. Regan.
Meeting adjourned at 1445 hrs.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, October 21, 2013
Meeting was opened by President in Due form.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: S. Cordes, R. Huelle, S. Roaldson, J. Zozosky, T. Jacobs, D. Richardson, B. Huppunen, M. Cousineau, D. Kautz, G. Howell, T. Ponciano, K. Howard, K. Anderson, J. Ragan, J. Dobson, W. Hall, J. Eddins, M. Taylor, S. Clark, C. Howard, R. McCartney, G. Bryson, J. Lowery

SPECIAL GUESTS:
Marty Dollar, Hildebrand Law Firm. Marty spoke about reporting injuries to various co-workers and properly filling out injury forms.
Paul Bavarnik, Legal Counsel. Discussed personal injury protection limits on personal auto insurance. Also discussed recent events on division.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Brother S. Cordes.
Presentation of the bills made by Secretary and discussion of current status of finances/ taxes to members. Monthly audit report brought to the membership and Board of Trustees for review.

Current membership is 151. 131 Engineers and 20 Trainmen.

Motion to pay the bills brought by Brother G. Bryson seconded by Brother T. Ponciano.

CAB COMMITTEE: None

HOTEL COMMITTEE: Brother M. Cousineau

Pasco Red Lion has taken care of mold issue in rooms and filters in heating and a/c units. Red Lion currently fixing all bathroom fans. Please take pictures of any problems regarding hotel and fill out report.

SAFETY COMMITTEE: Brother K. Howard
Winter action plan will be out in November. Must have shoe spikes with you and used if necessary. No crew vans to be used when snow/ice is imminent.

The securement of trains and cars out to foul are ongoing issues.

In Tacoma, crew van drivers have call windows. Looking into this for Vancouver.

Safety committee has been inspecting crew change points and doing van audits this week. Bridge and walkway audit are complete. Presented power point presentation to company for ones that need repair. Have been working with UP Safety Chairman for issues that may affect us while working in Albina yard.

The Ridgefield South plant is being updated now. Due to increase in traffic all Lakeside subdivision, and Washougal to Vancouver will be double main track. Mt. Pleasant will be a controlled siding.

LEGISTATIVE: Brother K. Howard.
Legislation for the defense of marriage act regarding benefits, border crossings to Canada, and two man crews on all trains is being worked on.

Currently 13 members are doing observations now. This is the third week and over 30 observations done so far. The logo will be unveiled at the end of the month. All data will be shredded after observation logs are made.

LOCAL CHAIRMAN: Brother D. Richardson.
Vacation applications for 2014 need to be in by November 15th.

New coal and oil plants will be online at Cherry Point in December.

Quiet zones are now in place between McLaughlin and Camas, please be diligent.

GCA Brother Matt Wilson had meetings on 10/09/2013 with carrier regarding triangle and other issues. No news to report.

NEW BUSINESS: Brother D. Richardson
TWIC card renewal is currently ongoing. See Sandy or give your information to any on duty trainmaster.

OLD BUSINESS: None

BLET AUXILIARY: Meeting today at 1730, Main Event, Vancouver, WA.

Motion to close meeting by Brother S. Clark and seconded by Brother R. McCartney.

Meeting adjourned at 1510 hrs.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, December 16, 2013

Meeting was opened by President in Due form.

MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: S. Cordes, R. Huellle, J. Dobson, D. McIver, R. Bodenhamer, T. Jacobs, B. Huppunen, K. Dunn, K. Howard, S. Roaldson, M. Taylor, K. Taylor, E. Gruber, M. Fischer, E. Taylor, D. Richardson, R. McCartney, C. Howard, T. Beckwith, J. Skaurud, C. Gerlack, A. Haynes, M. Coffman, S. Clark, J. Wilmer, E. Lingo

SPECIAL GUESTS: Brother S. Barnes

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Brother S. Cordes

Presentation of the bills made by Secretary and discussion of current status of finances/ taxes to members. Monthly audit report brought to the membership and Board of Trustees for review.

Current membership is 148. 127 Engineers and 21 Trainmen.

Motion to pay the bills brought by Brother C. Howard seconded by Brother K. Dunn.

CAB COMMITTEE: None

HOTEL COMMITTEE: None

BRAVE COMMITTEE: Brother B. Huppunen

10 new observers brought on board.

The BRAVE logo is done. Spencer Stevenson won logo contest.

All employees are able to become observers.

So far there have been 188 observations completed since October 2013. There have been 2,359 events observed. Out of those 2,275 have been observed as safe events. 84 were at risk behaviors, pinch points, etc.

LEGISTATIVE: Brother K. Howard

State legislature should be in session at the coming of the New Year.

There should be a Safe Freight Law brought to the legislature requiring minimum of two employees in cab. Washington State does not currently have a law in place.

Coal facility in Longview is still ongoing.

Public is demanding inward facing cameras on locomotives, the BLET National is against such intrusiveness.

Also would like to see a law that allows employees to lay off fatigue without punishment from the carriers.

SAFETY COMMITTEE: Brother K. Howard

Actively working on alternative handling with the carrier.

There is a big push for new employees to know what the expectations are to enhance their craft.

Steps to be taken out at Eavan. Still ongoing construction until February.

Around Vancouver Depot work is still ongoing until this Spring.

New switch in the NP pass. It is a time release switch and is North of the Mill Plain overpass.

Kalama and Kelso upgrades ongoing, there will be three mains from Longview. Completion 2017.

There have been 10 authority, red block, form B violations, since October. Please be careful. Slow down and take the necessary time.

Enhanced safety classes will be starting in February.

LOCAL CHAIRMAN: Brother D. Richardson

Last month went to Fort Worth and Seattle for the Enhanced Safety and Approaching Others classes.

Incentive pay in is effect and is a great deal for the members.

Carrier is spending $800 million in improvements in the Pacific NW.

The storage for oil coming out of the Baaken oil fields in North Dakota are the train tank cars.

Vacations finalized today, this will be the last year of doing it this way. Allocations have gone from 11 or 12 per week to 6 or 7 per week. L/C still controls vacation changes.

Cornerstone Insurance will be available in the yard office in the coming weeks and will be at the next meeting 1/21/2014.

Please leave info regarding Form B’s etc. for outbound crews.

Do not hesitate to request a mentor if you feel it is necessary.

No news regarding triangle.

OLD BUSINESS: Brother R. Huelle

TWIC cards can be obtained at Sandy Blvd. office in Portland, OR.

NEW BUSINESS: Brother R. Huelle

Discussion of a dues increase for engineers account the requirement of the L/C to attend increased number of investigations/claims as well as other financial obligations that the division is responsible for.

BLET AUXILIARY: No meeting account holidays.

Motion to close meeting by Sister K. Taylor and seconded by Brother S. Clark.

Meeting adjourned at 1515 hrs.