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| General Chairman's letter. |
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"Advancing the world of work....."
"Although
it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board
in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the
unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts." Molly Ivins
Black Shirt Friday for all Railroaders
Although the day has passed this is something that we should always keep
in mind.
Caucus of Concerned Rail Workers Called
for Observance of a "Black Shirt Friday" June 19
May 2009
Mother's Day. UTU Conductor Jared Boehlke was killed in the line of duty while working RCO alone in Selkirk, NY. A few
days later, BRS signal maintainer John Pichalski, Jr. was killed in Middletown, Pa. while repairing a damaged railroad crossing.
His death brought the total for 2009 to twelve.
At the end of March, the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued an appeal to all railroad organizations and employees for help in stemming this
disastrous record. The FRA letter said in part, "If a culture exists whereby workers feel
they are put in situations where they are making poor decisions for fear of losing their jobs, we must work together to change
this culture. The elimination of fatalities, injuries, and accidents depends upon it. "
Railroad Workers United (RWU), a cross craft,
inter-union caucus for rail workers agrees with the FRA that something must be done to change the current situation. For over
a year now, RWU has actively campaigned for a safety approach that would put eliminating hazards first and foremost on the
safety agenda for the nation’s railroads. Unfortunately, the rail carriers have continued to emphasize worker behavior
over hazard elimination. As a result, the carriers tend to downplay, overlook, or ignore altogether the problems and hazards
that are created by management practices. Job cutbacks, job combination, and massive layoffs have left too many rail employees
working without the extra support and assistance needed in places like dangerous classification yards where Jared Boehlke
met his death.
Railroad Workers United is asking its members and supporters across the U.S. -- and all rail workers
that hear this call -- to wear a black shirt on Friday, June 19, the Friday of Father's Day weekend. RWU hopes that this relatively
modest action will play a role in putting to en end any “culture” as the FRA described it where "workers feel
they are put in situations where they are making poor decisions for fear of losing their jobs."
Furthermore, RWU urges
all of rail labor to consider officially demarcating Father's Day Friday in the future, “Railroad Workers Memorial Day”,
a day when all rail workers remember our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives working in the unforgiving railroad
environment.
LIRR Union Heads Address Disability Issue Amongst Union Members
Because of the half truths and lies being perpetrated in the media about LIRR employees
and disability claims, the heads of every union on the property traveled to 6 major west end HQ's in an effort update our
members as to what is actually going on. It was felt that our members needed to be assured that ttheir work as professionals
is recognized by our elected officials, and that the malignment of our members will not tolorated.
For more information click here.
DOT Final Rule
On June 25, 2008, the DOT published the Final Rule on Proceedures for Transportation
Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs. There have been several changes especially regarding the spector of observed
collections.
1. Observed collections will now afford less privacy in an effort to guard
against the use of products designed specifically to subvert the testing process. These observed collections will continue
to occur only when there is a specific reason to believe that the employee in question is attempting, or has reason to subvert
the process. Also, observed collections will be required for all return-to-duty and follow-up drug testing.
2. There will no longer be easy-to-follow information regarding what adulterants are
being tested for.
3. All specimens will be tested for validity (i.e., adulterants and urine
substitutes).
4. If, during an invalid result Medical Review Officer (MRO) review, an
employee admissionof adulterating or substituting a specimen is now defined as a refusal to test.
The above items are just a few of the changes that have taken place, if
you would like more information please click on the links below:
DOT Final Rule on Proceedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs.
For DOT Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance web page please click here.
For more pictures visit the photogallery.
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