FEBRUARY 2018 Volume 32, Issue 2 Daily news updates ocomotive WWW.BLE-T.ORG LE NGIN ee RS & T RAINM E N N E WS Published by the BLET, a division of the Rail Conference,• International Brotherhood of Teamsters VP TOLMAN TESTIFIES BEFORE HOUSE ON PTC URGES CONGRESS & REGULATORS TO ENSURE THAT POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEADLINE PG 4 AMTRAK’S SILVER METEOR On January 27, 2015, Amtrak’s Silver Meteor whips up the snow in Elizabeth, N.J., which was dumped by Winter Storm Juno the day before. It will soon arrive in Newark for a brief stop before continuing north to New York and ultimately, Boston. Photo: by Eric Williams, www.ericwilliams.photography MARK YOUR CALENDARS Monterey and Washington D.C. will host BLET for 2018 regional meetings he BLET National Divi- banquet on Thursday night. Travel JUNE 18-22 AUGUST 13-17 sion is hosting two region- home is on Friday for each meeting MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA WASHINGTON, D.C. al meetings 2018, and they (June 22 for Monterey and August 17 are as follows: June 18-22 in for Washington, D.C.). TMonterey, California; and August 13- Per the BLET Bylaws, regional 17 in Washington, D.C. meetings are held “for the purposes The Monterey regional meeting of membership training, education will be held at the Hyatt Regency and and discussion of matters of impor- the Washington, D.C. regional will be tance to the membership.” Addition- held at the Capital Hilton. ally, the meetings are structured to As with the 2017 regional meetings, include options for fellowship with the 2018 meetings will be arranged on other members and their families, a Monday through Friday schedule. entertainment, fun and relaxation. Travel to the meeting, registration and More specific details about the a welcome reception for each of the Monterey meeting are on Page 5. Reg- two meetings will be on Monday (June istration information is available on- 18 for Monterey and August 13 for line at the BLET National Division’s Washington, D.C.). Meetings, train- regional meeting website (www.ble- ing classes and other events will be tregionals.org). All members are en- scheduled throughout the remainder couraged to attend one or both of of the week and will include a closing these regional meetings. • Photos: courtesy of seemonterey.com Photos: courtesy of washington.org BLET President’s Message In the Line of Duty BLET Advisory Board Changes Criminalization of Division 35 member Lyons elected Trustee; rail workers is unfair pg. 2 Michael Kempf pg. 3 Wilson retires pg. 6 Register• for News Flash email alerts at: www.ble-t.org/newsflash Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BLETNational• 2 WWW.BLE-T.ORG BLET PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY DENNIS R. PIERCE Criminal Prosecution for Unintentional Mistakes is Blatantly Unfair to Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen n the wake of recent dra- matic and highly visible railroad accidents in the United States and Cana- Ida, there has been a trend to criminalize railroad workers and prosecute them as the sole cause of these tragedies. The Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers and Trainmen stands opposed to such actions. It is a travesty that criminal charges were filed against three former employees of the Mon- treal, Maine & Atlantic Railway for the tragedy of July 5, 2013 in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. The tri- al against them began in Sep- tember of 2017 and concluded on January 19, 2018. What ju- rors found out is that railroad- ing is a complex system of op- erations, and many factors go into a safe operation. Determin- ing the root cause of a particu- President Pierce (center) with class attendees and instructors at a recent training class for Local Chairmen at BLET National Division lar accident is far more complex headquarters in Independence, Ohio. Also pictured are Steve Bruno, BLET National Secretary-Treasurer (far right), Jim Louis, BLET National than simply blaming the work- Vice President (second from right), and Doug Davidson, Director of the BLET Arbitration Department (to President Pierce’s left). ers, but that all too often is what crew trains and locomotives — bers are not given enough time feedback regarding unsafe op- test to railroad managers about many rail carriers and govern- locomotive engineers, conduc- to simply rest and have a nor- erations. Such feedback is cru- hazardous operations, but their ment agencies have done. tors, brakemen and switchmen mal life. On the Amtrak prop- cial to safe train operations. protests simply go unheeded. In 2017, criminal charges were — have extraordinary safety- erty, many of our locomotive To please Wall Street inves- Properly maintained equipment brought against the locomotive critical tasks and responsibili- engineers work six-day assign- tors, railroads have furloughed and tracks are essential to safe engineer of Amtrak train 188, ties not found in other indus- ments resulting in operations so many workers that the few train operations. which crashed in Philadelphia tries. An operating employee’s in excess of 2,500-3,000 miles who remain are often over- This is not to make excuses, on May 12, 2015. Those charges readiness for safety-critical con- per week. At times, the crew worked and stretched too thin. but an effort to explain that it were dismissed in 2017 after a stant vigilance is a personal ob- members are harassed and in- Railroads are increasing the takes more than just blaming judge ruled that the crash was ligation. But this personal duty timidated if they repeatedly re- length of freight trains to dan- the worker to determine the root accidental, not criminal. The en- must be effectively supported quest to lay off for needed rest. gerous levels, trying to do more cause of railroad accidents. Our gineer’s lawyer argued in part: — not thwarted — by a man- Moreover, they have to contend with fewer workers. Well-rest- thoughts and prayers continue “The law recognizes there’s a big agement devoted fully to the with abiding by unrealistic at- ed crew members are essential to be with the victims, families difference between an accident fundamentals of safety. tendance policy standards im- to safe train operations. and workers touched by the ac- and a crime.” However, a second Railroad crew members posed by the carrier that often Railroad crew members some- cidents mentioned above. But judge has ruled that dismissal of sometimes go on duty without result in disciplinary action de- times complain that they are not criminalizing the worker is not those charges was wrong, and being allowed sufficient rest, spite the fact that additional given sufficient familiarization part of the solution to eradicate has reinstated charges of reck- and with accumulated sleep time off is both necessary and trips to become acquainted with similar tragic accidents from less endangerment, involuntary deficits, consequently consti- fully warranted. Crew mem- the lines over which they oper- happening again. manslaughter, and one count of tuting a profound safety prob- bers who are harassed and in- ate. Proper training is essential causing a catastrophe. lem on and along the tracks. timidated by railroad manag- to safe train operations. Dennis R. Pierce The operating employees who Laws are such that crew mem- ers are less likely to provide At times, crew members pro- BLET National President What jurors found out is that railroading is a complex system of operations, and many factors go into a safe operation. Determining the root cause of a particular accident is far more complex than simply blaming the workers, but that all too often is what many rail carriers and government agencies have done. BLET NATIONAL DIVISION ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS POLICY fficial communications between BLET reference to a specific request and can be used response; however, an e-mail message is not con- President to be aware of the opinions and sug- members and the National Division in future correspondence. sidered an official communication. gestions of the membership, while at the same require a hard copy of the correspon- The volume of e-mails received makes it im- Moreover, anonymous e-mails and e-mails time providing a timely response to the mem- Odence, bearing a signature, being received by the possible for the National President to answer all that do not provide sufficient information con- ber’s unofficial communication, if a response is National President to be considered an “official unofficial communications. Therefore, it is the cerning the sender to enable National Division necessary, without needlessly expending limit- communication.” This is to provide that the ac- policy of the BLET that e-mails addressed to the staff to confirm the sender’s membership status ed BLET resources. tual question(s) are addressed, and ensures that National President will be reviewed and forward- will not receive any reply or acknowledgement. Adopted at Cleveland, Ohio on July when official interpretations are made they have ed to the appropriate officer or staff for a timely This policy is intended to allow the National 22, 2010. • FEBRUARY 2018 3 GENERAL PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY JAMES P. HOFFA Workers Need to Take Control of Their Future orking Americans are fac- leased earlier this year by the Bureau of ing many challenges on Labor Statistics (BLS) shows the number the job front. While un- of workers belonging to a union grew by employment is low, so is 262,000 last year to 14.8 million overall Wpay. Corporations may be pulling in mas- in 2017. Private industry workers who sive profits, but it’s all going to the top, are organized grew by 0.1 percent. In- with those who are making these busi- terestingly, union growth was greatest nesses succeed getting little in return.