September 2000 Meeting

Here is what was discussed at the meeting on September 18, 2000.

NOMINATIONS OF LOCAL OFFICERS

Keep in mind that not everyone has accepted the nominations, and that there will be changes. Also, remember, some positions cannot hold another position. Clarification will be posted as soon as received.
Remember, this is your chance to make a difference. Instead of standing on the sidelines complaining about all the injustices and inequities, those nominated may now have a hand in balancing the scales.

LEGISLATIVE BOARD

AR Bridges, State Legislative Board Chairman, brought us up to date on what has been happening on the legislative level. Quite an interesting discussion. Main point, the 60/30 legislation seems to be passing. People still need to write their Congressmen/Senators about the work/rest/fatigue issues, and the Attendance Guidelines. Seems Mr. Rose has sent a letter to Congress that is chock full of misstatements and mistakes. He will keep us appraised of events as they happen.

EXTRA  BOARD OVERLAY AGREEMENT PROPOSAL

Ballots will be going out in the same envelope as officer election ballots asking ratification of the following proposal:
There is a proposal for either a 7-3, or 8-3 rest day agreement for the engineer's extra board. It works like this;

An engineer will be available/work 7 or 8 days, then that person would have 3 days off. Any or all of those days off may be taken. The carrier cannot refuse the time off. Any or all of that off cycle may be worked by the employee by a 12 hour advance phone call. If the time is taken off, the extra board guarantee will be reduced by 1/15 of the guarantee for each day taken off. This is exactly what happens now when someone lays off on the extra board. An employee, who is within 24 hours of the rest cycle, and has not notified the crew desk of a desire to keep working, may be run around by those behind for out of town assignments, so that individual would not be out of town when the rest days start. He/She would be used for local assignments. Any days taken off during the off cycles will not count against the attendance guidelines. This means if you get 4 weekend days off during a month, it doesn't count. Days taken off outside the off time cycle will continue to count against the attendance guidelines. Remember, if you take your off cycle time off, this reduces the amount of "available" days just like when you are on vacation/PL days etc. This would reduce the amount of "compliance days" available to be taken outside the off cycle time. These 7-3, or 8-3 positions will be bulletined and bid on if this is accepted. Reductions or additions will be done so all cycles stay as even as possible. If a senior man is holding a cycle that will be reduced, he will take the cycle of the junior man who is cut out of the extra board, in seniority order.

These are the advantages of this proposal:

• A person who wishes to have time off will be able to do so every 10 days. Those that want a family life can have it.
• A person who wants to keep working will be able to do so. Those that want to get rich can do so.
• Any or all of the off cycle may be taken off, or worked. Pick and choose how much off time you want. Just remember to notify the crew desk.
• 12  hours advance notice of a desire to work any or all of the off time cycle will be needed.
• This is the same as that legislation everyone is waiting for. If Congress were to enact HR 3091 (which seems highly doubtful at this time), you would be required to take your 72 hours off after working 7 days. Regardless of what some think, you would not be allowed to hold out until the weekend, or some other time you wanted to take your 72 hours. There would be safeguards against that. That would be tantamount to allowing a mini strike every weekend, and this is never going to happen.
• You can mark your calendar for a year in advance, and be able to know what days you would be off. Think of it-you could actually make plans, invite company over, etc.
• If the weather gets bad, mark back up.
• No more worries about the attendance guidelines (as long as you only took off during the off cycles).
• It is understood that things happen, and the occasion for layoffs outside the cycle time may happen. No problem, but the attendance guidelines then take over.

The disadvantages are:

• You couldn't pick and choose your days off. (You can take other time off, but would be accountable to the attendance guidelines.)
• You won't get paid for your days off. (What profession has that ability now?)
• Layoffs outside the off cycle time would be required to be a minimum of 24 hours.

I ask all engineers to get beyond that first gut reaction of "I won't do anything the carrier wants. I won't make any agreements. They can't tell me what to do." This agreement proposal is made because of provisions of the work/rest/fatigue guideline/principles agreement signed in 1999. All sides made a commitment to address the fatigue issues. This is a legitimate addressing of those issues. 
What could possibly be wrong with a chance to take some time off each 10 days (or 11) without any hassle, arguments, phone calls etc? If you want time off, take it.

The balloting will be to ask if you are interested in either a 7-3 cycle or an 8-3 cycle. My recommendation is a 7-3 cycle, but I would urge you all to accept one of them. This is a golden opportunity to address the issue of fatigue. Let's not let it get away because of hostility or anger. There are times to get beyond that and look toward the benefit of all individuals. Perhaps someone doesn't want any time off (gee, do we have some of those here at Vancouver?) So what? That individual doesn't have to take time off. What if you have a family (that you like to be with)? Great, let's make plans! This guarantees at least one weekend (at minimum) per month. Sometimes two, or two and a half.

SUNDAY OFF EXTRA BOARD  AT ALBANY OR

There is a similar proposal out for an extra board at Albany OR. This extra board would probably be a one man extra board. That individual would have Sundays off, if desired. Like the other proposal, the individual may work or be available on Sundays by a simple phone call 12 hours before the day off. The employee could not be made to work if not desired. The position would protect all jobs at Albany, Salem, Eugene. If there were more vacancies than the extra board could handle, engineers would be sent from Vancouver to protect those jobs. Vancouver Engineers would not be sent to hold down the extra board. The board would be regulated by the carrier like all others, but could only be regulated once a week except in bona fide emergencies. Anyone holding the board would be able to take other days off beside Sundays, but those days would be subject to the attendance guidelines. The guarantee would be reduced by 1/15 for each day taken off. That means this job would pay higher than all others beside the two road switchers. The Sundays taken off would not count towards the attendance guidelines, except in the total number of days available to calculate the amount of off time allowed under those same guidelines. (Again, this would mean if you took all 4 Sundays off, you would have 26 days available, and under the attendance guidelines, you would be entitled to 5.25 week days and 1.25 weekend days in addition to the 4 Sundays you took off already. (These figures are approximate.) 

Again, I urge all engineers in good standing with Div. 758 to vote. We currently have just over 100 members. It would be wonderful if we had more ballots returned than the usual 40- 50.

This is your Union, and these are your jobs that are being voted on. Stand up to the plate. These issues affect YOU!

October 2000 Meeting

Here is what was discussed at the meeting on October 16, 2000.

LOCAL OFFICER ELECTIONS

Ballots for Officer positions in Division 758 will be out soon. Please vote! Remember to follow the instructions on the ballot to ensure your vote counts. Lack of participation will only benefit the carrier.

EXTRA BOARD OVERLAY/ALBANY EXTRA BOARD BALLOTS

Ballots have been mailed out for voting on establishing an extra board in Albany OR, and instituting a days off extra board in Vancouver WA. Please follow the instructions on the ballot and return them ASAP. Please Vote! This is your union, and only you can make changes.

MOTEL ISSUES

If the motel in Pasco tries to make you take a smoking room or a room that they have allowed a smoker to smoke in, you are not required to take that room. The motel cannot make you do so. 

FMLA

If anyone qualifies for the Federal Medical Leave Act, due to illness/injury to yourself, or a family member, remember to fill out the application for FMLA, and send it in. You cannot be reprimanded for taking time off that is covered by FMLA once you have been approved for it. There is a maximum number of days per year that is allowed. Be sure to check out how much time you are allowed. You do not need to take the time allowed all at once, but it can be taken one day at a time.