July/August 2007 SMART Transportation
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Volume 39 July/August 2007 Number 7/8 www.utuia.org www.utu.org The Official Publication of the United Transportation Union An organization is born! United Transportation Union members have ratified a merger with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA), estab- lishing the 230,000-member International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers. The merger, previously ratified by the SMWIA, becomes effective Jan. 1, creating the 21st largest (of 4,000) transportation political action committees (PACs), and the 7th largest PAC among labor unions, significantly increas- ing the effectiveness of UTU and SMWIA con- gressional and state-legislature lobbying. The merger was almost three years in plan- ning stage. It had strong support from the AFL-CIO. The more than 71 percent of UTU-member ballots in favor of the merger reflected the agreement’s overwhelming support among UTU International officers, UTU general chairpersons and UTU state legislative direc- tors. The UTU Board of Directors called SMART “the right merger at the right time.” Other labor organizations have indicated an interest in joining SMART. They have asked portation division, whose senior officers were not to be identified at this time. those elected at the UTU quadrennial con- News and Notes UTU International President Paul Thomp- vention the week of Aug. 13. Those officers son said, “SMART will boost the UTU’s will have the same duties as they do under the strength at the bargaining table and bolster UTU constitution. substantially the UTU’s strength in fighting The SMART transportation division will 3 UTU members killed include the UTU’s air, bus and rail members, Three UTU members, , off attempts by other organizations and carriers Christopher Blackburn to take our jobs.” but not existing rail and shipyard divisions of Daniel Riels and Gregory Bradley, were killed in the SMWIA. recent accidents. SMWIA General President Mike Sullivan No UTU general committee of adjustment Blackburn, 37, a BNSF conductor and mem- – who will become general president of ber of Local 771 at Needles, Calif., was killed or UTU local or UTU state legislative board SMART – said, “Whether we are sheet metal, will be closed as a result of this merger, nor will July 7 in an industrial-switching accident at production, air, bus operator, bus mechanic, Berry, Ariz., near Kingman. any UTU general committee or UTU local freight railroad, Amtrak, transit, commuter or lose its jurisdiction. Riels, 46, a member of Local 339 in Jackson, shipyard workers, we are now one.” Tenn., was killed in an Illinois Central yard- switching accident in Fulton, Ky., July 27. Created within SMART will be a trans- Continued on page 10 Bradley, 35, a bus driver for the LACMTA and member of Local 1564 in Los Angeles, was killed July 26 when a large SUV sped through a red Thompson outlines ‘state of the union’ light and crashed into his bus, ejecting him from the huge vehicle and pinning him beneath. at Pittsburgh regional meeting According to reports, Blackburn was riding the point of a string of covered hopper cars being “The financial, organizational and produc- with considerable new bargaining, political pushed into a siding. Somehow he ended up tive strength of the United Transportation and financial strength,” Thompson said. beneath the wheels of the second car. He died in Union is excellent,” reported UTU Interna- “The role of a union is to obtain for its mem- the helicopter enroute to the hospital. tional President Paul Thompson in his state of bers job security and better wages, benefits and Riels reportedly was run over and pinned the union talk at UTU regional meetings in working conditions. To do so successfully, a beneath a rail car and suffered what were termed Kansas City and Pittsburgh in June and July. union must have resources. That is the core fatal crushing injuries. His brother was working “Every day we must purpose of our merger creating SMART.” nearby and was one of the first to respond to his demonstrate that call for assistance. It took emergency responders Thompson explained how the railroads’ almost two hours to extract him from the rigging strength to the carriers envisioned “perfect storm” – an anti-labor — while he remained conscious — but died and to that other organi- White House, anti-labor conservatives in con- enroute to the hospital. zation of scabs and trol of Congress, and a rigged carrier-favorable raiders,” Thompson said. presidential emergency board – would deliver “The UTU will not cow- to them all they sought in national handling. Rail safety update er in front of the carriers “But unlike the perfect storm BNSF’s Matt or other so-called labor For the latest developments in rail- Rose predicted, anti-labor conservatives no organizations – not longer control Congress. You helped to change safety legislation pending before today, not tomorrow, not ever.” that last November at the ballot box. Congress, including the Federal Thompson explained how belt tightening, “Labor’s best friends now control Congress Railroad Safety Improvement Act of productivity improvements and greater and key congressional committees,” Thompson 2007 (H.R. 2095), and to learn how employee efficiency have brought the UTU said. “Together, they have worked with us to you can assist in the passage of back from financial chaos to financial stability. write the toughest rail-safety bill in 30 years. But these important measures, log onto “Our merger creating SMART – a merger this does not mean we have a Cracker Jack box AFL-CIO Secretary/Treasurer Rich Trumka www.utu.org. calls ‘solidarity smart’ – will provide the UTU Continued on page 10 Page 2 July/August 2007 UTU News ArAroundound thethe UTUUTU Local 23, Santa Cruz, Calif. Local 1594, Upper Darby, Pa. Members working as bus operators for the The members of this local who operate bus- Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District es, trolleys and the Norristown high-speed recently marked a number of arbitration vic- line on SEPTA’s Suburban Division were well tories, said General Chairperson Bonnie represented at the 35th annual American Morr. A termination related to the local’s Cancer Society Bike-a-thon, where trolley strike in late 2005 was reversed, as were two operator Stan Bernatowicz and some of his suspensions involving transit district investi- family members, with the generous backing gations. Two other cases are pending. of the local’s members, raised more than $1,000. Meanwhile, the local is mourning Local 60, Newark, N.J. the recent deaths of Dave Burnett Jr., Joe Conductors and trainmen working on NJ Shedrick, Andre Smith, Andre Natson, Transit recently held a party to benefit Pete Karl Hamm and Olen Gregg. Mongiello, who is battling cancer, said Local President Mike Reilly. A total of $6,500 was With service as his first priority, Amtrak conductor Mike Local 1607, Los Angeles raised for Brother Mongiello and his family, Delahanty, usually camera shy, agreed to pose with a This LACMTA local is making plans for its who expressed their heartfelt gratitude. young passenger who hopes to work on a railroad. first family picnic, said Vice Local Chairper- son Ernest Martinez. The event will be held Local 84, Los Angeles, Calif. Amtrak conductor Sept. 29 at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Cen- Retired member Lawson Chadwick, a ter in Irwindale, and will feature food, live founding member of UTU for Life Chapter 3 creates study aid music, games and a karaoke contest. Mean- in Oceanside, Calif., is inviting all interested Ben Franklin’s hobbies gave us the lightening while, the local invites everyone to take a look parties to attend a “no-gifts” champagne rod. The Wright brothers’ hobby gave us the at its new Web site at utulocal1607.org. reception marking his 70th birthday. The gift of flight. And now an Amtrak conductor’s event will be held Sept. 9, from 2 p.m. to 5 hobby may give us better educated, more profi- Local 1629, Phoenix, Ariz. Members of this Union Pacific local recent- p.m., in the Fountain Courtyard of the Ran- cient and, ultimately, safer passenger rail ly held a party in honor of switchman Bill cho Valencia Resort in Rancho Santa Fe. employees on the Northeast Corridor. RSVP by Sept. 4 to Brother Chadwick by Chrisman, who retired after 42 years of serv- What Mike Delahanty has developed is an calling (760) 945-5365 or sending e-mail to ice, said Local Chairperson, Secretary & “unofficial” computer-based educational system [email protected]. Treasurer and Delegate Dave Hayes. Brother that helps operating employees master the Chrisman began his career on the Southern Local 194, Elkhart, Ind. Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Council Pacific in Watsonville, Calif. Members of this Norfolk Southern and (NORAC) Operating Rules Manual. His con- Canadian Pacific local enjoyed the annual tribution may not rank with the airplane, but Local 1697, Lubbock, Texas family picnic held in late June, said Local proficient and well-trained rail employees mat- Members of this TNM&O Coaches local Chairperson and Legislative Rep. Robert L. ter a lot, especially to those on a moving train. are mourning the death of bus operator James Holbrook. Special thanks go to Treasurer “Rail workers are required to qualify on the H. “Andy” Anderson, a 19-year member Jim Ball’s wife, Angie Ball, for making the operating rules of the carrier they’re on,” said who served as local trustee. Brother Anderson event a great success. Delahanty, a member of Local 1522 in Wash- died July 17 and will be greatly missed, said ington, D.C. “On the Northeast Corridor, that International Vice President Roy Arnold, Local 195, Galesburg, Ill. means the NORAC rules and signal system.” director of the UTU Bus Department.