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The formula for a successful general committee is simple, although not so easy to implement. The formula consists of just three words: "Serve the membership."

General Chairperson Paul Tibbit (GO 393) is among those who have read, marked and inwardly digested the formula -- and successfully put it into practice. Tibbit also is alternate International vice president- West.

Following the devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes Gustav -- and just before Ike -- Tibbit approached BNSF management and offered a deal they couldn’t and wouldn't refuse.

In exchange for temporarily easing some work rules to ensure BNSF customers would be served in the hurricane stricken region, Tibbit asked that all train and engine service and yard employees facing furlough, because of storm-related reduced operations, be guaranteed a minimum level of earnings.

BNSF Assistant Vice President Chris Roberts, knowing a win-win situation when he hears one, agreed.

A similar arrangement was made with General Chairperson Jim Huston (GO 009), another general chairperson who subscribes to the "serve the membership" creed. Portions of Huston's general committee also were affected, but not to the extent Tibbit's general committee was affected.

As a result, operating employees unable to report to work as a result of the storms are "receiving paychecks from BNSF equivalent to the extra board guarantee," Tibbit said.

"Members who are benefiting from this guarantee are spread across this general committee, and no one has been left out," Tibbit said.
 
"I let members know when the carrier gets it wrong, and here I’m letting them know the carrier got it right, and we all appreciate what BNSF has done for this general committee and Jim Huston’s committee," Tibbit said.

BNSF even went an extra mile on behalf of Tibbit's members in the Beaumont, Texas, area, who were hardest hit. BNSF is providing those families driven from their homes by the storm with temporary lodging, three hot meals daily, electricity generators where necessary, plus fuel to operate the generators and gasoline for their automobiles (as electricity outages have made it near impossible for them to obtain diesel and gasoline from local service stations).

And there is more. Tibbit's general committee fund is in sufficiently good shape that members of UTU Locals 773 and 1957 in Galveston and Silsbee, Texas, where property damage also was extensive, will receive $300 each from the GO 393 to help with home repairs and temporary relocation.