|
OBAMA PROMISED FULL UTU SUPPORT |
|
Written by Jake Kelly
|
|
Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
To stay informed go to WWW.UTU.ORG OBAMA PROMISED FULL UTU SUPPORT When John McCain seeks advice on transportation issues, he consults with railroad management. When Barack Obama seeks advice on transportation issues, he consults with UTU Illinois State Legislative Director Joe Szabo. Thus, as long-time UTU-friend Hillary Rodham Clinton exited the race for Democratic presidential nominee June 7, the UTU assured Sen. Obama -- another long-time UTU friend -- that he could depend on the extensive resources of America’s largest railroad union and its 125,000 active and retired rail, transit, bus and airline worker members in his fight to claim the White House. "Sen. Obama can count of our using every resource at our disposal to elect a labor-friendly administration this Election Day," said UTU International President Mike Futhey. "We will work with Sen. Obama at every opportunity to get out the vote in support of his campaign to bring the change we all can believe in." Szabo was in touch with the Obama campaign Saturday afternoon after Sen. Clinton ended her bid for the Democratic nomination. The Obama campaign expressed to Szabo, for circulation to UTU members and their families, Obama's gratitude for UTU support. Obama indicated he understood the reasons for the UTU’s previous support for Clinton, who had worked with the UTU on Capitol Hill in support of Railroad Retirement, the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), Amtrak and a revision in commercial driver license standards that threaten the livelihood of bus operators. "Sen. Obama similarly and fully understands these issues from the perspective of working families and UTU members, and has been and will continue to be in our corner," said Szabo, who serves on the Obama campaign’s Transportation Policy Committee, with approval of President Futhey. In that role, Szabo helps to define for Obama various rail, transit and bus public policy issues and the transportation public policy approaches an Obama administration might pursue. Obama recently was quoted as supporting a policy favoring "significant investment" in the nation’s transportation infrastructure, including connecting the Midwest with a fuel-efficient high-speed rail system that would provide immediate jobs. Szabo’s close professional relationship with Obama extends back more than a decade to Obama’s first run for public office in Illinois, where Obama served in the state senate. "There is a strong history of Sen. Obama never failing to support UTU's legislative agenda in the Illinois State Senate," Szabo said. "That track track record has continued in the U.S. Senate." In bowing out of the presidential race, Clinton sent to President Futhey on Saturday a letter hand-delivered by one of her staff members expressing appreciation "for the tremendous support that you have given me and my campaign," and a promise to continue her "fight for the issues and causes that are important" to UTU members and their families. "We agree wholeheartedly with Sen. Clinton," Futhey said, "that the way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand, is to take our energy, our passion and our strength and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next president of the United States." UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer said, "the UTU is looking forward to working with the Obama administration and I am certain his policies will improve the lives of all UTU members and their families." 
UTU Illinois State Legislative Director Joe Szabo and Sen. Barack Obama. Their preofessional relationshipi extends back more than a decade. |
|
|
Inbounding trains at Hearne |
|
Written by Jake Kelly
|
|
Monday, 12 May 2008 |
|
There has been some confusion as to where the limits are when in bounding a train at Hearne. You may take your train anywhere within the terminal/switching limits of Hearne/Valley Jct as defined in the D/FW Hub Agreement. D. The terminal limits of Hearne/Valley Jct. shall include switching limits as follows: SUBDIVISION / LINE MILEPOST Austin 102.0 Ft. Worth 103.5 Ennis 125.0 Hearne 87.0 Flatonia 8.0 Navasota 95.0 Bryan 115.0 |
|
|
Written by Jake Kelly
|
|
Thursday, 03 April 2008 |
|
Brothers and Sisters, Rail Crew Express now has a dispatching desk in the yard office in Hearne, Texas. It is located in the crew room with the computers and printers. I believe the dispatchers are: Rita, Kim, Nancy, and Dennis. This means, more times than not, there will be a woman in our presence while getting ready for work. I want to remind everyone that there is zero tolerance for sexual harassment at Union Pacific so please act and speak with respect. Below I have listed some directives. Prohibition of Offensive Behavior and Remarks Union Pacific is committed to providing a work environment free from offensive behavior or statements directed at a person's race, gender, or any other protected status. This policy prohibits such offensive behavior and remarks in the presence of other employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and any other persons. Please note that this policy prohibits such offensive behavior or statements in the workplace, while representing Union Pacific, or during travel or overnight stays paid for by Union Pacific that are derogatory of any person because of race, gender, or any other protected status even if no one who is present is offended by the behavior or remark. The types of prohibited behavior include, but are not limited to, the following: - Any offensive or demeaning epithet or remark referring to race, gender, or other protected status, including that which is intended as humor;
- Any offensive or demeaning comment, gesture, or other behavior directed toward another person because of that person's race, gender, or other protected status;
- Use of Company property to display or store material that is demeaning or offensive on the basis of a protected status;
- Sharing or displaying any item or material that is demeaning or offensive on the basis of a protected status, such as a noose, swastika, and the initials "KKK";
- Defacing Company property or personal property of another person for purposes of conveying a demeaning or offensive message based on or referring to a protected status; or
- Creating any graffiti or other anonymous communication that refers to race, gender, or any other protected status.
Prohibition of Sexual Harassment Union Pacific prohibits sexual harassment of employees, contractors, customers, visitors, and others that employees may come in contact with while working, representing the Company, or while on Company travel. Union Pacific prohibits unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature when: - Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment;
- Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or
- Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.
Zero Tolerance Union Pacific does not tolerate any type of discrimination, harassment, or offensive behavior based on a protected status. All proven violations of Union Pacific's policies against discrimination, harassment, and offensive behavior will result in appropriate discipline of the employee, up to and including termination. Graffiti or other anonymous communications in violation of this policy are particularly serious, and absent very compelling extenuating circumstances can result in dismissal on the first offense. Such anonymous communications will also be referred to the UPRR Police for an investigation. Jake Kelly
President Local 937
254-644-2002
|
|
|
Written by Jake Kelly
|
|
Thursday, 03 April 2008 |
To stay informed go to WWW.UTU.ORG RAIL AGREEMENT POSTED The tentative national rail agreement is now available for inspection at www.utu.org, and may be read by clicking on the "Railroad Contract Negotiations Update" box in the lower right corner of the UTU Web site home page. Also available on the UTU Web site are agreed upon questions and answers as jointly written by UTU negotiators and the carriers. A hard-copy of the tentative agreement, along with the questions and answers, will be sent to all affected members as part of a ratification package, which also will include voting instructions. That package will be mailed in late May -- the delay intended to provide opportunity for local meetings to explain the agreement, respond to additional member questions, and assure members are fully informed before being asked to cast a ballot. General chairpersons, representing affected members, unanimously recommended a "yes" vote after reviewing the contract and meeting with the UTU negotiating team in late March. UTU International President Mike Futhey said that, "despite differences among some officers regarding the status of the SMART merger, there is unanimity of support for this agreement among our officers. Where there is absolutely no difference of opinion among officers is in the importance of ratifying this agreement." The Yardmaster agreement is Document B of the tentative agreement, and follows Document A and Document A sideletters. |
|
|
SMART MERGER UPDATE: APPEALS COURT RULES |
|
Written by Jake Kelly
|
|
Wednesday, 02 April 2008 |
To stay informed go to WWW.UTU.ORG The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed a petition asking that it vacate a lower court temporary restraining order (TRO) that has halted implementation of a merger between the UTU and the Sheet Metal Workers International Association. The merger would create the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers. The TRO, which remains in effect, was issued Feb. 5 by a federal district court in Akron, Ohio, and will continue in effect at least until early May. The unsuccessful appellate court petitioners asserted that the lower court lacks "subject-matter jurisdiction." That lower federal distrcit court in Akron, which retains control of the case, earlier ordered that a hearing be held April 25 regarding a motion of former UTU President Paul Thompson, six UTU International vice presidents and the UTU national legislative director that they be permitted to intervene in the case. Those are the same individuals who unsuccessfully petitioned the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. In setting the April 25 hearing, the lower court, with the consent of all parties, extended the TRO until 10 days after it rules on the motion to intervene. Essentially, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals found that the federal district court in Akron should be allowed to decide the motion to intervene in the first instance, and any party aggrieved thereafter can appeal at that time. Thus, the federal district court in Akron retains jurisdiction of the case, the April 25 hearing date on the motion to intervene stands, and the TRO remains in effect until 10 days after the court rules on the motion to intervene. Following the court’s ruling with regard to the petitioners' request to intervene, the federal district court will schedule a second hearing to consider whether to lift the TRO and permit the merger to proceed, or make the injunction permanent. The federal district court action, leading to the TRO, was initiated by a group of UTU members who successfully complained to the court that UTU members should have been provided – prior to the merger ratification vote – with a copy of the SMART constitution into which the UTU constitution was to be inserted intact. The complaint was filed following allegations that UTU members were not made aware of conflicts between the two constitutions. |
|
| << Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next > End >>
|
|
 |
|