July 2006 Meeting

 Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, July 17 2006

 Meeting was opened by President in Due Form.
 

Members present: (note: this information is a compilation of the extended hours of all present) Brother's R. Etienne, D. St John, S. Cordes, D. Haney, T. Reddish, R. McCartney, K. Atwood, R. Jacobs, H. Bailey, J. McDaniel, M. Fischer, J. Jones, M. Taylor, M. Cousineau, W. Pellens, R. Huelle, K. Kawawaki, T. Jones, A. Nollette, E. Taylor, J. Johnson, S. Hill, P. Patterson, W. Pelham, K. Taylor, J. Blau and D. Green.  Also special guest P. Bovarnick.

 The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting were suspended account secretary was absent and notes were not processed.

 Local Chairman – Rick talked at length about the National Convention that he attended last month. There were no upsets there and no controversial issues brought up. There was a presentation made on handling radioactive materials. We are supposed to start hauling this cargo within about 6 years. Hahs was re-elected as national president. Geiger and McPherson were also re-elected. There was some discussion of contract but nothing is really pending at this time. The floor was opened for discussion. 

Division 316 Initiative Passed – The initiative to mandate election of National Officers by member ballot passed. This will wind up costing the union millions of dollars. It will also allow a small percentage of members to elect officers. Historically, less than 35% of ballots are returned. This means a majority of that 35% will decide the fate of the National Division. 

Whistling at Crossings – Carrier will dismiss anyone who fails to whistle at a crossing with a whistle board. If you know it’s public, and no board, whistle anyway. Ops failure for not using proper whistle rule 7. 2 longs, a short and a long. Failure for not whistling for at least 15 seconds. Failure for not whistling until engine reaches other side of crossing. 

XBD crews from Vancouver going east of Wishram – Please be sure to document and notify this committee any time you are sent east of Wishram for a dogcatch, and called of the XBD for short turn around service. 

Short line work – It appears the OE will be handed over to the P&W in August. The same goes for 867 going to the Longview switching company. For some reason the carrier keeps delaying these and only will know when it happens.

 Vacation/PLD being used for FMLA – The GCA has asked that time slips be generated each time one of your compensated days are taken when you use FMLA. The claim is a bit long, but this is what they want. Suggest you copy and paste from home when filing these out. GCA says these are the types of claims they will keep for when the court ruling comes down. 

Temping & not taking notification – The carrier is accusing us of sharp shooting. They cite the multitudes of employees all temping/bumping to the same turns. They claim we don’t take our notification in a timely fashion. If you temp to a job, get bumped, but don’t take your notification, when the job you had been temped to goes to work, this will be considered your notification, and you will be marked up immediately. If the job you temped to goes to work and you aren’t on it, they will miss call you if you haven’t taken your notification.

 Lay off Allocations – Letters have gone out requesting information on why our allocations appear to be tampered with. No response as yet, will let you know.

 Purging Lay Offs – Carrier has issued lists of those who keep requesting layoffs and then purging them as the days approach. It is clearly evident who is doing the most purging. We have the choice of policing ourselves, or having the carrier issue another restrictive “policy”.  When the allocation is full, everyone after that is denied. When someone purges a layoff, the computer doesn’t go back and approve one of the earlier denials. We need to curb the excessive purges before they restrict us. 

Claims – This committee continues to need 816’s for claims to be processed. Also, complete paperwork in order to work the claims. Claims without proper documentation will be returned to claimant. Please don’t leave any claims without the necessary documentation. This causes double handling of claims.

 Called for yard job outside working window – If you are called outside the normal working times of the job and it’s not because of rest, your on duty & pay times go back to the original start of the shift, (0730, 1530, 2230). If you are called late because of not being rested, your pay starts, when you get there. If they hold you over for a new job, you are entitled to the first 8 hours of the first job at straight time, the remainder of time you work until dead at OT, and if any time left in the shift, that time at straight time. See a member of this committee for further explanations.

 Qualified on territory – Be sure to notify Crew if you are called to work where you aren’t qualified. This is FRA rule. Don’t take any job where you haven’t been over the territory in the last 12 months. If they order you, notify the trainmaster. If he orders you, let us know. Empower yourself if you feel uncomfortable with it.

 Assigned cars – The ballots were counted on the current resolution before the membership.  The president appointed members Z. Wilson, C. Nibbler and B. Knowles to count the ballots. Total ballots received were 67 by mail and 2 hand delivered. Vote was 47 yes, 13 no, one none vote and 9 disqualified. The proposal passes and will now be forwarded to the carrier by the Local Chairman. 

Finances – We currently have 109 members. We will be gaining two members next month. We have a list of personnel that wish to join and applications will be sent out this week.  The finances were discussed and bills were presented for payment. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Haney, Seconded by Brother Knowles. Motion passed.

 Motion made by Brother Haney, to cancel the August meeting account historically we have a hard time getting anybody to attend. Seconded by X. Wilson. Motion Passed.

 The floor was opened for discussions.

 Motion to close meeting by X Wilson, seconded by C. Marsh. Motion passed.

 Meeting adjourned at 1443. 

August 2006 Meeting

There was no meeting in August 2006.