Next Meeting January 16 2012, at 1:00 PM
at Pied Piper Pizza, 12300 Northeast
Fourth Plain Road East, Vancouver WAWHAT'S HAPPENING IN VANCOUVER
Next Meeting January 16 2012, at 1:00 PM
at Pied Piper Pizza, 12300 Northeast
Fourth Plain Road East, Vancouver WA
Here's What Happened at the Meeting on Monday, December 19, 2011
Meeting was opened by the President in Due Form.
Members in attendance – R Pratt, R Etienne, T Reddish,C Nibler, K Anderson, N Scruggs, D. McIver, T Jacobs, B Huppenun, R Hill, W Pelham, R Maggio, T Beckwith, J Zososky, R Huelle, J McHenry, K Howard, R Tiffany, S Clark.
Minutes from the November meeting were read. Brother Anderson motioned to approve, Brother McIver seconded. Minutes approved.
Presentation of bills made by Secretary, Motion to pay bills by Brother Clark. Seconded by Brother Jacobs. Motion passed.
The current membership is 138.
Safety / Cab Committee – New NW System Cab representive is Gary Hages in Wishram.
Legislative Rep – None.
Local Chairman –
PEB Info.- PEB ruled that everything the carrier wanted was OK with them. There is a 30 day cooling off period before anything can be done, after 30 days we have the right to reject the PEB and go on strike. Congress will undoubtedly put us back to work immediately.
100% Rules Compliance – It's your choice, comply 100% or don't complain.
Mobilization Teams- With the voting coming up now, we need to work on our mobilization teams, we need to make sure our members vote one way or the other. This vote will affect the whole BLET, not just us. VOTE.
Reversers – Carrier has a notice out regarding leaving reversers on train, be sure to walk through your consist looking for reversers, including the DP. Be sure to take any and all of them when you detrain, you can turn them in or keep them, your choice. Willing to bet money this will be a level S offense soon.
Lit Number Lights – We've been told that we are not relieved of responsibility of checking number lights on other engines in the consist even if the cards are signed on lead locomotive. Take the time to walk through the consist to make sure all number lights on trailing eng. are off, this included the DP power if the inbound crew cannot verify they checked.
Isolating and Reporting Engines – SYS Gen Not talks about isolating and reporting isolated engines. We can no longer ring up Mechanical and report to them, we now have to report by VTR known as LIR, failure to do so will result in ops failure. There is a new remote desk that works only HPT compliance, there phone #'s are 817-593-7670 or 800-327-3230. We are now required to report any change in consist (pickup, set out, change in HPT etc.) and this should be done prior to pulling. Ops failures are being given out at MP 10.4, so report before you pull. Remember to take care of all their rules before you pull.
Inaccurate ops failures – If you get an Ops failure for HPT and think it's in error, document and leave with LCA. The LIR program worn't work with K trains, Road swithcher, and any dog catch or trains you weren't originally called for. Carrier knows of the flaw but continues to use it anyway.
Discipline and Alternative Handling Issues – If granted alt handling, the paperwork must be signed before the investigation is cancelled. The alt. Handling plan allows for the carrier to reinstate investigation if terms of alt. Handling are not completed in the time frame specified.
Too many employees are opting for alt. Handling, then not doing what's required. Be sure to sign the paperwork and complete the alt. Handling plan on time.
Check Rides – If you are due for a check ride in 2011 and haven't had one, notify RFE immediately. If you are due to receert, make sure you take care of the driver's license abstract, vision/hearing, even if you take classroom B, these item must be taken care of.
XBD Low Cycle Time – We've had very low cycle times on the XBD for several months now, the carrier is robbing from the XBD to fill vacation slots. Torn between complaining to GM or not, if we complain, they will cut our vacation allocations for the next scheduled year. We are monitoring it, and if it doesn't improve soon we will take it higher.
Suggest all XBD employees keep track of their hours worked in case of attendance and document all short off times.
New Business
A motion by Brother Anderson to accept Phyical Nuebul as the Alternate Cab committee member. Seconded by Brother Reddish, motion passed.
Motion to close meeting by Brother Huppenun and seconded by Brother Huelle, Motion passed.
Meeting adjourned at 1500
VACATION BIDS Check it Out!
ARCHIVES
Archived Information can be seen here.
CLAIMS
To see the current status of claims, look
here.
Documentation is still needed to process any claim.
The 60 day clock starts when payroll inputs the cut slip.
Remember, the claim cannot be appealed without all the documentation. A copy of
the 816 for that period is mandatory. A copy of the working ticket, delay report
(if there is one), and cut slip is required. A detailed explanation of what the
claim is for is also needed.
DISCIPLINE-INJURY:
Be advised the carrier is still holding investigations for employees who are injured while on duty. Remember: You have the right to representation if you are injured, and are required to fill out an accident report. (F27). DO NOT let the carrier officer fill this form out for you. DO NOT let the carrier use pencil to fill out the F27. DO NOT sign a blank F27, and have the carrier fill it in later. Remember: If you are not sure about something, put down :not sure", or "I don't know".
LOCOMOTIVE DEFECTS
Remember to notify Ft. Worth Mechanical in the event you encounter any locomotive defects. Also, please remember to either log them on our engine defects form here, or give them to one of your representatives to log.
SAFETY ISSUES:
Remember, you all have the right to EMPOWER yourselves if the carrier wants you to do something you truly believe is unsafe. Do not hesitate to use that empowerment. You can scream "violation of agreement" till it freezes over, but nothing will happen. Mention the buzz words "empowerment, or Unsafe, or I fear for my Safety" and like magic, all of a sudden the carrier will listen to what you are saying. Remember, the carrier officer who is so helpful in assisting your crew is not a part of that crew, and has no business assisting any crew. This would be a violation of collective agreements, and a safety issue, as he has not had a safety briefing with the crew..
VACATIONS
Vacations have been issued, and passed out. The weekly allocation is here. The vacations for 2011 are here.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! If you are found in violation of the carrier's rules. see what will happen here.
