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08/19/08
I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS CONCERNING THE COMBINATION OF OUR
EXTRABOARDS LATELY. I HAVE TO PRESS AGAIN THAT EVERYONE ABLE SHOULD COME TO
THE UNION MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. WE DIDN'T HAVE A VERY BIG TURNOUT IN AUGUST
SO IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE THAT BIG OF A CONCERN TO EVERYONE. I CAN ANSWER
QUESTIONS BETTER AT A UNION MEETING WITH PEOPLE THERE. THAT WAY I DON'T
EXPLAIN THE SAME THING 100 TIMES. THERE IS A NEW EXTRABOARD AGREEMENT COMING
OUT THAT SERIOUSLY AFFECTS US. NO ONE CAN COMPLAIN IF THEY DID NOT AT LEAST
MAKE THE EFFORT TO ATTEND A MEETING AND DISCUSS IT. MY CELL PHONE BATTERY
WON'T LAST LONG ENOUGH TO TALK TO EVERYONE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS
OUR UNION, AND IT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS WE MAKE IT. SITTING AROUND IN THE
CREW ROOM COMPLAINING DOES NOT RESOLVE ANYTHING FOR US, AND IT IS NOT THE
FORUM TO DO ANYTHING. I DON'T HAVE A MAGIC SWITCH I CAN FLIP TO STOP THE
CHANGES. PLEASE MAKE AN EFFORT TO ATTEND THE MEETING THE FIRST MONDAY IN
SEPTEMBER.
07/15/08
OUR NEXT UNION MEETING IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. EVERYONE THAT CAN ATTEND NEEDS
TO. OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR WILL BE THERE TO TALK WITH US ABOUT THE
SITUATION WITH HOLLYWOOD YARD. WE ALSO HAVE BUSINESS TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE
CURRENT ISSUES. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, YOU NEED TO COME TO THE MEETING ON
AUGUST 4TH.
0703/08
OUR NEXT UNION MEETING WILL BE ON JULY 7TH AT BARNHILLS. I WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO ATTEND. I WILL BE AT THE REGIONAL MEETING IN DENVER FROM JULY 6TH
TO THE 10TH. I WILL HAVE MY PHONE BUT WON'T BE AVAILABLE TO RETURN CALLS
UNTIL AFTER 5PM EACH DAY.
AS FAR AS PHONE CALLS GO.......PLEASE LEAVE A
MESSAGE IF YOU WANT A RETURN CALL. DO NOT CALL MY PHONE AND EXPECT A RETURN
CALL IF YOU CAN'T LEAVE A MESSAGE. EVIDENTLY IT IS NOT TOO IMPORTANT, IF YOU
ARE TOO LAZY TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. WHEN I WANT TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT
ANYTHING, I CAN LEAVE A MESSAGE. I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY
NOT ANSWERING THE PHONE WHEN I AM NOT LEFT A MESSAGE. I WORK AND HAVE A
FAMILY AND SLEEP LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. BOTTOM LINE LEAVE A MESSAGE IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME!
I CALL OMAHA ON A REGULAR BASIS AND LEAVE
MESSAGES. EVERYONE HERE CAN GIVE ME THE SAME COURTESY.
IN ADDITION, REPEATEDLY CALLING MY PHONE DOESN'T HELP EITHER. I HAD
A MANAGER RIDING WITH ME SUNDAY AND HAD TO TURN OFF MY PHONE BECAUSE SOMEONE
THOUGHT IT WAS OKAY TO CALL ME 7 TIMES IN A TEN MINUTE TIME PERIOD. THEY
NEVER LEFT A MESSAGE THOUGH. PLEASE DON'T CALL REPEATEDLY.
LEAVE A MESSAGE.
THE RT85 POOL HAS BEEN USED TO GET COAL TRAINS FROM THE HOME
TERMINAL. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE GENERAL CHAIRMAN'S OFFICE. THE RT85
POOL CAN BE USED TO RUN THIS TRAIN AND ALL WE GET IS A TRIP RATE. IF YOU
LEAVE TS316 IN A LIMO AND DEADHEAD TO RODEMACHER (MP 212), YOU HAVE GONE 100
MILES. THE TURNAROUND MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HERE. YOU GET OUT OF A LIMO AND
GET ONTO THE TRAIN AND RUN THE TRAIN FROM MP 212 TO TS316 (ANOTHER 100
MILES). THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN RUNNING IN A LIMO TO LONGVIEW AND
GETTING ON A TRAIN THAT YOU BRING BACK TO SHREVEPORT. YOU STILL ONLY GET ONE
TRIP RATE.
WE NEED ALL THE WORK WE ARE OFFERED. THE COAL TRAIN IS NOT OFF OF
THE RT85 POOL. IT RUNS WITHIN THE BULLETINED LIMITS OF THE POOL. I WILL BE
GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ANYONE, BUT I CAN'T CHANGE OUR AGREEMENTS.
06/13/08
THERE IS NOT ALOT NEW TO REPORT. WE APPEAR TO BE GETTING INTO A BUSY
TIME OF YEAR. THE NEW AGREEMENT WAS PASSED AND SHOULD GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY
1ST. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT WE SHOULD SEE THE BACK PAY AROUND THE END OF
AUGUST. I WILL NOT BE AT THE UNION MEETING IN JULY. I WILL BE GONE TO THE
REGIONAL MEETING IN DENVER JULY 6TH-10TH. IT IS GETTING HOT OUT SO BE
CAREFUL AND STAY SAFE. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY.
05/19/08
I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF TIME CLAIMS OVER GUARANTEE NOT PAID. IF YOU
LAY OFF ON A GUARANTEED BOARD, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU GO TO WORK BEFORE
YOU LAY OFF AGAIN. IF NOT, TIMEKEEPING WILL ALLEGE THERE WAS NO WORK EVENT
BETWEEN LAYOFFS AND COUNT THE ENTIRE TIME BETWEEN THE 2 LAYOFFS AS A
CONTINUOUS LAYOFF. NOTHING HAS CHANGED TO ALLOW THAT IN OUR AGREEMENT. THIS
IS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF DENIAL FOR PAYMENT. THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR IT IS A
TIME CLAIM THAT I WILL APPEAL.
05/08/08
I HAVE GOTTEN ALOT OF PHONE CALLS LATELY TO
CHANGE SOMEONE'S VACATION TO SINGLE DAYS. THE NEW CMTS SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW
ME TO CHANGE A WEEK TO SINGLE DAYS. IF IT WASN'T SCHEDULED THAT WAY TO BEGIN
WITH, I HAVE TO CALL CREW SERVICES. I CERTAINLY DON'T MIND CALLING, BUT YOU
CAN CALL FOR YOURSELF AND ASK THEM TO CHANGE A WEEK TO SINGLE DAYS.
04/30/08
THERE IS ALOT OF TALK ABOUT OUR NATIONAL AGREEMENT. I HAVE ATTENDED
A MEETING TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE POINTS IN THE AGREEMENT AND HOPE TO BE ABLE
TO PASS THAT INFO ON. I WILL BE ATTENDING A 2ND MEETING IN SAN ANTONIO ON
MAY 2ND THAT OUR PRESIDENT IS GOING TO SPEAK AT ABOUT OUR
NATIONAL AGREEMENT. WE CAN DISCUSS WHAT I'VE LEARNED AT THE UNION MEETING
MAY 5TH. THE BALLOTS TO VOTE BY WILL GO OUT AROUND THE MIDDLE OF MAY AND
WILL HAVE ABOUT A 21-DAY WINDOW TO PLACE OUR VOTES. THE NATIONAL WANTED AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW THE MEMBERSHIP TIME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON
BEFORE THE BALLOTS WENT OUT. THEY HAVE SET UP QUITE A FEW MEETINGS AT
VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO DISCUSS WHAT IS IN THE AGREEMENT AND HELP ANSWER
QUESTIONS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I CURRENTLY AM DEALING WITH A
FAMILY EMERGENCY CONCERNING MY STEPFATHER. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE CONTACT
JEFF GUNDERSON FOR HELP UNTIL I CAN MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE AGAIN. HIS NUMBER
IS ON THE WEBSITE AND ALSO ON MY VOICEMAIL.
03/30/08
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LOCATION AGAIN FOR OUR UNION MEETING. THIS
SHOULD BE OUR LAST MOVE. WE WILL BE MEETING ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY
MONTH AT 11 AM AT BARNHILL'S RESTAURANT. IT IS LOCATED JUST UP THE STREET ON
THE CORNER OF MANSFIELD ROAD AND BERT KOUNS INDUSTRIAL LOOP. PLEASE CALL IF
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOCATION.
ALSO, IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT MY DUTIES AS LOCAL CHAIRMAN,
LET ME PUT THEM TO REST. I AM NOT EXEMPT FROM DISCIPLINE AND HAVE TO USE THE
SAME PROCESS AS EVERYONE ELSE WHEN I AM DISCIPLINED. I WILL BE GOING TO
INVESTIGATION SHORTLY AND WILL APPEAL THE DISCIPLINE. THIS IN NO WAY AFFECTS
MY DUTIES AS LOCAL CHAIRMAN. I WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR OUR LOCAL'S
ISSUES.
03/11/08
I WILL BE ON VACATION THE WEEK OF MARCH 23RD AND NOT AVAILABLE BY
PHONE. IF YOU NEED SOMETHING, PLEASE CALL JEFF GUNDERSON ON HIS CELL. YOU
CAN STILL LEAVE ME A MESSAGE IF IT CAN WAIT. WE ALSO HAVE A NEW LEGISLATIVE
REP. FOR OUR LOCAL......COLLINS BRUNDIGE. HIS INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED ON
THE OFFICER PAGE OF THE WEBSITE. HAPPY EASTER
03/01/08
THE MONTHLY MEETING LOCATION HAS BEEN CHANGED. RYAN'S HAS GONE OUT
OF BUSINESS. WE WILL BE GOING TO PODNUH'S BARBEQUE EFFECTIVE MARCH 3RD
INSTEAD. THE MEETING WILL STILL BE AT 11:00 AM ON THE FIRST MONDAY OF THE
MONTH. PODNUH'S IS JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM RYAN'S ON MANSFIELD ROAD. THE
ADDRESS IS 9030 MANSFIELD ROAD. FEEL FREE TO CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
HOWEVER, THE UNION MEETING IS THE PLACE TO VOICE CONCERNS. THERE IS STILL A
LOT GOING ON WITH TIMEKEEPING AND CREW CALLERS. I WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK MYSELF,
BUT I MAKE TIME TO BE AT THE UNION MEETINGS. OUR LOCAL IS ONLY AS STRONG AS
WE MAKE IT.
02/09/08
TO CUT DOWN ANY ADDITIONAL CONFUSION WITH THE NEW C.M.T.S. SYSTEM,
VACATIONS THAT YOU INTEND TO START 3 DAYS BEFORE THE DATE SCHEDULED MUST BE
APPROVED BEFORE THAT START DATE. THIS ISN'T NEW. YOU HAVE TO TALK TO A LOCAL
MANAGER IF C.M.S. WON'T LET YOU OFF VACATION. I DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO.
AND YOU STILL CALL IN TO LAY OFF THE DAY YOU INTEND TO START VACATION
REGARDLESS. NOTHING IS AUTOMATIC.
EVIDENTLY THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE XS85 BOARD AND 5 STARTS.
ONCE YOU HAVE 5 STARTS IN DURING THE WEEK (from Monday to Sunday) YOU DON'T
HAVE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. HOWEVER, IF YOU ANSWER THE PHONE, YOU HAVE TO GO
TO WORK. C.M.S. WILL SAY ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN A MESSAGE TO GET YOU TO
ANSWER THE PHONE. THE ISSUE IS SIMPLE THOUGH........AFTER 5 STARTS, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THE PHONE. IF YOU ANSWER THE PHONE, YOUR GOING TO WORK.
ON THE AW85 BOARD, IF IT ISN'T YOUR DAY TO PROTECT, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO ANSWER THE PHONE. IF YOU ANSWER THE PHONE, C.M.S. CAN CLAIM ANYTHING AND
FORCE YOU TO GO TO WORK. CALLER ID IS A WONDERFUL THING. USE IT!
WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES AT ALL THE YARDS. CALL THE
ISSUES IN TO THE SAFETY HOTLINE. THAT'S THE ONLY RECOURSE WE HAVE, AND
MANAGEMENT WANTS US TO CALL IT IN. MOST OF THE MANAGERS WILL TELL YOU TO.
ALSO, ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE POSITION OF LEGISLATIVE
REPRESENTATIVE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I AM THE CURRENT ALTERNATE AND NEED TO BE
REPLACED. THE LEGISLATIVE REP HANDLES OUR SAFETY ISSUES THROUGH GARY
DEVALL'S OFFICE.
01/28/08
I'M SURE EVERYONE IS HAVING A FIELD DAY WITH THIS C.M.T.S.
PLEASE MAKE USE OF THE HELPLINE I POSTED AT ALL THE YARD OFFICES IF YOU NEED
HELP. WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO USE IT. IT DEFINITELY HAS SOME
PLUS AND MINUS TO IT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, YOU WILL BE HUNG TO THE DODGERS AT
REISOR FROM KNOW ON TILL THE END OF THE VACANCY. THEY WILL BE TREATED THE
SAME AS THE 66 LOCAL. YOU WILL BE PUT ON DUTY 30 MINUTES AHEAD OF TIME THE
FIRST DAY SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO CALL IN WHEN YOU GET THERE, AND YOU WILL GET
THE AUTO MILES FOR THE FIRST DAY AND THE DAY YOU ARE RELEASED. YOU GET A 30
MINUTE DEADHEAD WHEN YOU ARE RELEASED. SOME OF THE CREW CALLERS AREN'T EVEN
SURE WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU ARE RELEASED SO DON'T LET YOUR GUARANTEE GET
MESSED UP OVER IT. YOU STILL ONLY GET 30 MINUTES! I CAN'T CHANGE US BEING
HOOKED TO THE DODGERS. THEY ARE AN OUTLYING POINT THAT INVOLVES A DEADHEAD.
BECAUSE OF THE DEADHEAD, YOU ARE PLACED ON A SEPARATE JOB AND HAVE TO TIE
YOURSELF UP.
ALSO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE JOB INSURANCE YOU ARE NOT HELPING YOURSELF.
TOO MUCH HAS GONE ON IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO NOT HAVE INSURANCE. NO ONE
WANTS TO GO WITHOUT A PAYCHECK.
MOST IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"DO NOT VERIFY ANY TRAINS WITH A YARDMASTER! THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OF THE
MAIN LINE AND NO AUTHORITY WITH TRACK WARRANTS. IF YOU ARE GIVEN A WARRANT
FROM THE PRINTER, CALL THE DISPATCHER AND VERIFY ANY TRAINS LISTED. WE HAVE
A CREW OUT OF SERVICE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DISPATCHER IS THE ONLY
PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT YOUR WARRANT!"
01/16/08
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16TH
WE WILL NO LONGER USE T.C.S. FOR TIE UPS. THIS SYSTEM IS THE NEW TIMEKEEPING
SYSTEM. WE WILL BE DOING ALL OF THE TYING UP AND OUR =PE CLAIMS IN C.M.T.S.
TPX WILL STILL BE USED FOR THE =ID AND =ON FUNCTIONS. THE BOARD INFORMATION
WILL ONLY BE SHOWING IN C.M.T.S. THE NUMBER TO THE HELP DESK IS POSTED AT
ALL OF OUR TIE UP LOCATIONS. I WILL BE IN O.S. STATUS THROUGH THE 27TH AND
BE TRYING TO CATCH EVERYONE. PLEASE CALL ME OR THE HELP DESK IF YOU HAVE ANY
TROUBLE WITH YOUR TIE-UPS. THIS SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO LEARN SINCE
THIS AFFECTS OUR PAY.
JUST AS A SIDE NOTE,
GENERAL MOTORS WILL BE DOWN FOR ONE WEEK EVERY MONTH FROM NOW UNTIL THE
REGULAR 2 WEEK SHUTDOWN IN JULY. SO PRODUCTION IS SLOWING DOWN. THE DODGERS
WILL BE UP FOR 3 WEEKS AND DOWN 1 WEEK FROM NOW THROUGH JULY. THAT WILL
AFFECT THE JOBS AT REISOR. AGAIN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GIVE ME A
CALL.
01/14/08
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 16TH WE WILL NO LONGER USE T.C.S. FOR TIE UPS.
THIS SYSTEM IS THE NEW TIMEKEEPING SYSTEM. WE WILL BE DOING ALL OF THE TYING
UP AND OUR =PE CLAIMS IN C.M.T.S. TPX WILL STILL BE USED FOR THE =ID AND =ON
FUNCTIONS. THE BOARD INFORMATION WILL ONLY BE SHOWING IN C.M.T.S. THE NUMBER
TO THE HELP DESK IS POSTED AT ALL OF OUR TIE UP LOCATIONS. I WILL BE IN O.S.
STATUS THROUGH THE 27TH AND BE TRYING TO CATCH EVERYONE. PLEASE CALL ME OR
THE HELP DESK IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH YOUR TIE-UPS. THIS SYSTEM IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO LEARN SINCE THIS AFFECTS OUR PAY.
01/11/08
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY HOLIDAY. I HAVEN'T HAD
MUCH TIME TO POST A MESSAGE, BUT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW TO CONTACT ME. I WILL BE
IN OS STATUS THROUGH JANUARY 27TH TO HELP WITH THE NEW C.M.T.S. CUTOVER.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE TYING UP IN BOTH C.M.T.S. AND T.C.S. UNTIL THE 15TH. AS
OF JANUARY 16TH, YOU WILL ONLY TIE UP IN C.M.T.S. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN
THIS SYSTEM. IT WILL AFFECT YOUR PAY! T.C.S. WILL STILL BE USED TO GET TRAIN
PAPERWORK AND LOOK AT YOUR LATEST BULLETINS AND GENERAL ORDERS. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL BE FLOATING BETWEEN REISOR AND HOLLYWOOD YARDS TO HELP
EVERYONE.
I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF THE CURFEW THAT IS OUT AND WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH
THE TRAIN LINE-UP. I AM TRYING TO HAVE THE RT84 POOL PUT BACK ON TO KEEP THE
XT85 FROM BEING USED AS THAT POOL EVERYDAY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF FOR 30
DAYS SO I'M NOT SURE I CAN GET IT BACK ON BEFORE THE 30 DAYS IS UP. THEY
ALSO BULLETINED DODGER 1 WITH AN ENGINEER FOR AWHILE BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK
BEING DONE ON THE SOUTH END. RT83 POOL WILL BE RUNNING EVERYTHING OUT IN THE
EVENINGS WHILE THIS IS GOING ON AS WELL. AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, GIVE ME A
CALL. Sunny |
