March 2001 Meeting

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on March 19, 2001

MEMBERS PRESENT

Officers present: R. Balkowitsch, D. St. John, R. Etienne, H. Bailey, D. Haney, K. Howard and S. Barnes. Members present: E. Taylor, J McDaniel, R. Williams, R. Jacobs, K Atwood, R. McCartney, R. Collins and retired member J. Bonnin.

NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS

 B. Mullane has requested transfer to this division. Proposed by guide to accept, approved.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

ITD - Again, be accurate on ITD times. At Pasco, they are looking at putting you out when the carman gives you a highball on your roll bye. If you are required for their convenience to pull down to wait for a train (i.e.-143 to the grapevine) have the conductor make a notation in the delay report.

FINAL LITE MILES - Be sure to pay attention to the chart posted in regard to FL claimed in Pasco. There is no validity to any Initial Lite Miles on the SP&S territory. Please do not claim this as it is not payable. There will be a meeting in Pasco to take care of the current cuts of these claims and the issue at whole when time permits.

OE – There still has not been a meeting on this issue. The LC asked questions regarding how we would like to see the OE run. Should they be guaranteed 5 days per week? Should we attempt to have a 5/2 cycle? Discussion followed.

REPORTS  OF COMMITTEES

Legislative reps at work, no report this month.

Local Committee of Adjustment:
PEPA - A new policy is in effect that requires 6 months held from service for infractions of block and authority violations. Watch yourself with long trains in short sidings. Check your orders closely. Ask the Conductor if there are any unusual conditions in the train makeup. A discussion followed.
If you have a long train for a short siding, perhaps it may be safer to stop 500 feet back, then ring up the dispatcher and request either a talk by the signal, or a signal to pull the train up snug to the signal. Just a thought

CLAIMS - Payroll should be paying all the late (over 60-day) claims this half. Watch your printouts and notify us if they are not paid.

WINDOW BOX AWARD - PLB 6284 award 3 concerning this matter is out. We lost. All claims have been withdrawn. Those claims held over 60 days are still payable.

TIMESLIPS - Watch how much time you take on the tie up. The carrier is watching both in Vancouver and Pasco. Be ready to document and support any time, which may be different from the conductor or considered excessive by the carrier. There was a discussion over what was considered excessive.

LAY OFF - Furnish this committee with any documentation if you are denied layoff. This includes requests through the computer. Those members on the extra board if you are EVER denied a LRC, (assigned days off) call the LC or other officer immediately!

M-PASLYD - The carrier has been checking tapes on this train, looking at speeds. They feel there are instances when there is undo delay. If you work this train, be aware.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Special Guests: At the invitation of the Local Chairman, R Fay and G. Luck spoke to the members and had a question and answer session. Mr. Fay’s opening statement included the following. Personal injuries are up on the division, we did better last year and they would like our help in controlling these. The Oregon Electric was addressed and on time performance. At that time the questions and answer session started. The following topics were discussed. Grain, coal, manpower, the memos concerning no lay-off on the weekends. This generated several issues concerning layoff, cutting of extraboard, crew planners, and lineups. What happened to the matrix per R Steven's controlling deadheading, deadheads and heldaway. Yardmasters and their interpreting agreements, terminal manager’s attitude, yardmaster-answering radios, gross tonnage being upped. There will be re-routes to Eugene sometime between May and September. The new ethanol plant at Meager is coming on line, that business should come to us. DME (shortline) is getting into our coal fields. Oregon trunk projects for the next three to five years. LYD observation as discussed earlier in the meeting, PEPA and discipline, town hall, switch engines seats and retrofitting. General testing. Both Mr. Fay and Mr. Luck want us to get involved with SACP and safety again. Tank cars, are there some you can ride? (Yes but very few). Management discussions with employees about Productivity. And, more work with fewer people, yellow red flag not displayed leaving out of A-4. Bottom line: CYA.

FINANCES

There were discussions about the finances of the division. These will not be reprinted here. Anyone wanting this info, let me know. 
A request was made in writing for special meeting per Constitution, Statutes 11(b) presented to the President. Topic of meeting to be as follows "We request a financial status and budget meeting outside the normal business of Div 758 of the BLE." The President deemed request to be in due form with the required number of signatures from members in good standing. Special meeting will be convened at earliest opportunity.

There will be a special meeting to be held on March 28, 2000 at 1000 and again at 1600. It is very important that all attend if at all possible. Continued apathy can only result in deterioration in representation.

Motion to adjourn by brother Atwood, seconded by Brother Jacobs.

Meeting closed in due order.

April 2001 Meeting

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on April 16, 2001

MEMBERS PRESENT

Officers present:  H. Bailey, WM Knowles, R. Etienne, D. St. John, R. Balkowitsch, D. Haney, WC Barnes. 
Members present:   L. Weed, A. Chavez, R. Chavez, D. Ruiz, W. Pelham, R. Williams, J. Bennett, C. Nibbler, R. Marshall, W. Pellens.

Legislative Board -

Legislative committee report: Due to time constraints, Legislative Rep W. Knowles gave a brief overview of the current status of proceedings. The whole body of the report will be given at the next meeting.