Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, May 19, 2003

Meeting opened by the President in due form.

Members present: D St John, R. Etienne, R. Balkowitsch, T. Reddish, W. Pelham, T. Jacobs, H. Allington, C. Nibler, R. Huelle, S. Evans.

Minutes of previous meeting were read. Motion to accept as read by Brother Nibler, seconded by Brother Pelham. Motion passed.

Reports of Committees:

Finances: Presentation of current status made by sec/tres. Current membership is 107 plus two trainmen. The current balances of accounts were discussed with questions asked from the floor. The bills due for payment were presented and discussed. Motion to pay the bills by Brother Allington, seconded by Brother Jacobs. Motion passed.

Terry Reddish has been appointed to the Division Safety position for the BLE. He covered the following topics: Colombian and Oregon articles. There was a lengthy discussion over these. The BNSF has lied about the loss of jobs associated with this. Dale Jeremiah did a good job and was well organized; he has helped a great deal with bringing Terry into the job. You can reach him for safety issues at tpreddish@juno.com or company line 418-6324. If you need to register to vote by mail you can contact him for this also. We need to begin keeping records of how often you are walked on over the radio. We need to track this so we can show how unsafe both the block calling and emergency radio conversations are. Be aware that there was a recent incident regarding DP power; please be aware that documenting these incidents is the only way to address them. Make sure and fill out a pink unsafe condition report for any incident or other unsafe condition you see.

Local Chairman: The following topics were discussed:

The carrier is upping the HPT to 1.0 as a minimum so let us know if this does not happen.

Safety: We need a replacement for the Vancouver Safety Committee. Interested parties let me know.
We are working on the panels on dash-9 under the Engineer. Again please document any problems. The roundhouse doesn't seem to be able to answer this problem in a timely fashion.

New rule on Emergency applications ABTH 104.3.1 (K). Be sure to call the dispatcher whenever train goes in emergency. This includes when you are stopped and set air because of a dynamiter.

New rules on calling Loco desk. You need to report isolated engines, shut down engine and ones on-line. Remember, the carrier doesn't seem worried about the excessive radio chatter, so we shouldn't either. Simply stop working until the radio frequency is clear again. It's their party, and we need to remember to dance their steps. If trains don't run, it won't be our problem.

Empowerment: If the carrier denies your empowerment, let us know ASAP.

Locomotive Defect Log: Be sure to use these, it is the only way to document any defects.

Palm updates: Bulletin updates are available when time allows, Give your name to Rick if you want these.

Rest Cycle Abuse: Carrier's want to break our rest cycle agreement. They want us to take one that will be of less benefit to us. It includes floating 72 hours, no Red Day and the computer default to mark up. Only benefit is rest cycle will start at 0001, if called to work between 0001-0530. Days off will snap back to original days if 72 hours is after regular return time. Layoffs outside rest cycle are currently to be in 24-hour increments, Carrier made policy that LRC subject to attendance guidelines if any other lay off in month. Per current agreement, the only time a minimum of 12 hours is allowed when subject to a rest cycle agreement is during your LRC period. Remember, this only applies to those covered by a rest cycle agreement.

1/2 range of vision: If your ground crew doesn't give a distance when they are controlling the movement, don’t move. Kicking cars is OK, carrier says different rule applies. Ground personnel are responsible when kicking. When shoving, we need to stop in 1/2 range vision, or specified. Carrier is Ops testing by seeing if we stop in 1/2 distance specified. When setting out, if conductor doesn’t talk, stop. We will be doing hard time for violations.

Remotes in Pasco: remember to get permission from A desk yardmaster whenever entering or leaving East yard. Later, other zones will be added. Failure to do so will be same as red block violation. Verify with yardmaster where RCO are working. Take precautions for yourself. Remember, an empty cab doesn't mean it's not going to move.

DH on Greyhound out of Pasco: Mr. Ness is checking to see if any busses bypass the meal period at Biggs. He agrees we shouldn't have to sit outside waiting for the driver to eat. Remember, if you want, you can obtain full rest before DH on bus from Pasco.

Attendance Guidelines: Numbers are creeping up again, be careful not to be in violation. Investigations are being held. Hate the policy all you want, but you do need to remain a full time employee. Too many weekend days off will get you an investigation. Please remember that there are lot's of engineers wanting some weekend days off, and it's not right that a few try to take all of them. Please allow each engineer to have their share.

Locomotive inspections: FRA fining for not sending in forms to roundhouse. Carrier has been given notice to provide forms. COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT. The inspection books are located in the cabinet near the copying machine where the crew packs are located.

Direction of Flow for air test. FRA has decided there is no need for direction of flow for IT air tests. As long as the air is not absent for over 4 hours, there is no need for another IT air test when changing directions of head end. This includes garbage trains, baretables at Wishram, grain trains at Pasco, and OE.

Roll by's: Mr. Ness is gung ho on roll by's. When the business car came to town,. there was a distinct absence of roll by's by trains on the route. Perhaps we should remind the conductor about this, you never know when a carrier officer is watching. There will be poster children on this. If your Cdr. doesn't wish to roll trains by, this is on him, so don't get into a fight with them. A gentle reminder should do.

Rules test by due date. GCA is still fighting with the carrier about getting those paid who took the test after the due date. Seems BNSF has decided that a "policy" supercedes a schedule agreement. Gotta wonder why they even have the RLA. Make sure and get it done.

The floor was opened for discussion.

Please list unsafe acts or conditions. If you don't write it up it isn't unsafe. Carrying a camera is in your own best interest. You can document anything with this prior to their cleanup or obstruction of the facts.

Motion to close by Brother Pelham, seconded by Brother Huelle. Motion passed.

Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, June  16, 2003

Meeting opened by the President in due form.

Due to the Secretary Treasurer being out due to illness, there were no official minutes taken. Previous minutes were read and accepted.

Reports of Committees:

Finances: There was no financial report given.

Local Chairman: 

Safety marathon was discussed. Advantages and disadvantages were discussed. It was determined that advantages for safety for our members outweighed the feelings caused by working with the carrier.
NWE Division new GM is now in Seattle.
We are in line for a new Vancouver Terminal Supt. Mr. Anderson is going back to Engineering in Northern California.

Empowerment: Remember you have the right to empower yourselves.

Inspecting Locomotives: Please remember to fill out the inspection forms. FRA is fining employees for not doing so.

Isolating for HPT: Be sure to do so. The two biggest offenses on BNSF at this time are getting injured and wasting fuel. Please remember that you are being tracked in everything you do, and how you operate.

Missing Calls/Laying off on call: The carrier is holding investigations for these events. Please ensure you are available and ready for work when you are marked up.

NetSim: Netsims are coming to Vancouver, probably in August. It will go where the old CBT room was.

Sympathy Card for families of drowning victims: A resolution was passed for this Division to send sympathy cards to the survivors of that tragic accident on the Oregon Coast where many of our friends and co-workers perished during a fishing outing. 

Jerry Bowman: Jerry Bowman is going on an extended leave of absence. Our Division resolved to send a card and flowers to him and his wife.