Take a Stand for Working Families
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Take a Stand for RailTEAMSTER Working Families A MAGAZINE FOR TEAMSTER RAIL MEMBERS SUMMER 2008 You can help build Teamster political power by joining the thousands of Teamsters who already contribute to DRIVE. By joining DRIVE (Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education), the Teamsters Union’s political action committee, you are supporting grassroots action by Teamster families to fight for legislative action to help working Americans. DRIVE has given the Teamsters clout in Washington to help pass legislation in the House of Representatives that will make it easier for workers to join a union, and is actively fighting for legislation to make the railroads more safe and secure. Politicians supported by DRIVE contributions voted to keep unsafe Mexican trucks off American highways, voted to eliminate camp cars, supported the Railway Safety Improvement Act and stopped American ports from being sold to foreigners. Amtrak Agreement Find out more about this exciting program Ratified by by talking to your local lodge, division, or on the web at www.teamster.org/drive or www.bletdc.org BLET Members IN THIS ISSUE |SUMMER 2008 FROM THE GENERAL PRESIDENT FROM THE DIRECTOR JAMES P. HOFFA JOHN MURPHY Senator Barack Obama – the Preparing for Amtrak in 09 Candidate for Working Families recently led a Working collaborate on bargaining Class Convoy for Change strategies and research. The 8 Ithrough Pennsylvania and Teamsters Rail Conference will Indiana. We visited work sites be a crucial part of the process and held union meetings at and we look forward to pro- Teamster halls throughout viding the support you need. both states and I was able As reported in this issue to talk to a variety of BLET of Rail Teamster, members of and BMWED members about the Huron and Eastern the election. Railway now have a first con- I am proud to say that our tract with their parent compa- members support our deci- ny, Rail America. When they sion to endorse Sen. Barack first asked about the BLET 12 Obama for president. As one representing them in 2006, member put it,“I know the union answered the call, Obama from his work in so it is a great accomplishment Illinois and he is for working jobs that have been lost, and n March, the members to have ratified a new contract families.”Obama’s strong con- the thousands of working of the Brotherhood of that provides wage and cern for the health and welfare families who have been ILocomotive Engineers and benefit increases. Plus, this 22 of working men and women pushed aside is unpardonable. Trainmen (BLET) overwhelm- is the fourth union contract 2 is one of the principal reasons We must make a change in ingly ratified their new con- with Rail America in recent we endorsed him earlier this November. I urge you to make tract with Amtrak. This major years. NEWS FEATURES year. Our country is suffering a contribution to DRIVE or to accomplishment put an end to This spring the Department and it has been suffering for of Transportation issued 12 Workshops Benefit the BLET’s political action the nearly eight years of stall 2 Working Family Values the past eight years under committee. In order for us, tactics by Amtrak, restored new regulations for the Central to Election Entire Rail Conference President Bush. We need to and our partners at Change to back wages and ensured wage construction of tank cars. make a change. Win, to create the kind of increases until the agreement Tom Pontollilo, the BLET’s 6 Amtrak Agreement Ratified 14 Derailment Investigation A vote for McCain in tidal wave of support that we expires in 2009. We were Director of Research, collabo- by BLET Members November would be a vote for need to vote Obama into fortunate that the Presidential rated on the article in this a third Bush term. Make no issue that explores the hidden 18 FRA Seeks to Improve Tank Car Safety office, every dollar is needed. Emergency Board (PEB) came mistake: McCain was on For your families, your back with worker-friendly dangers of tank cars both in 8 Huron and Eastern Engineers Bush’s bandwagon as far as brother and sister members, recommendations. The PEB’s their construction and how Ratify First Agreement 22 Lending a Helping Hand under-funding our nation’s and yourselves, support Sen. decision, contrasted with the they are handled on the rails. national passenger railroad, Barack Obama in the election zero-funding alternative that The BLET and BMWED Amtrak. McCain is a friend this fall. President George Bush wanted will be teaming up to organize of big business and he cares to impose, was a true victory a record number of new little for working families. for working families. members on short lines in the Obama is the kind of man Now that both the BLET coming year. The need is great International Brotherhood RailTEAMSTER is a publication of All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole we need in the White House. and our brothers and sisters since there are more than of Teamsters the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, or in part without written permission is prohib- A man who understands 100,000 not-yet-unionized RailTEAMSTER ited. Postmaster: Send address changes to from the Brotherhood of 25 Louisiana Avenue, NW 25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Rail Teamster,Affiliates Records Department, working family values, who Maintenance of Way employees of short lines all Washington, DC 20001-2198 Washington, DC 20001-2198. SUMMER 2008 | VOLUME 4 / NO. 2 It is published three times a year 25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC chose to represent working Employes Division (BMWED) over the United States. It will 202.624.6800 20001-2198. Subscription rates: $12 per year. Periodical postage pending at people and who has promised also have an agreement with be terrific when we are able to Washington, D.C. and Single copies, $3. (All orders payable in at additional mailing offices. advance.) Members should send address- us he would re-examine the Amtrak, we need to focus on welcome these members into © 2008 International Brotherhood of Teamsters. changes to their local union. disaster that has been the the 2009 negotiations. These the Teamsters Rail Conference. North American Free Trade agreements put us on strong Agreement. The thousands of footing, but we will need to TEAMSTERS RAIL CONFERENCE Ed Rodzwicz, President • William Walpert, Vice President • Perry Geller, Secretary-Treasurer • John Murphy, Director www.teamster.org | SUMMER 2008 | Rail Teamster | 1 Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President, visited numerous Teamster work sites in Ohio prior to their primary election in early March. Hoffa met up with Obama at a Cleveland warehouse where hundreds of Teamsters greeted the next U.S. president and were able to pose with him for photographs. Meanwhile, Teamster volunteers in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland visited work sites in the days leading up to the primaries. And prior to the Pennsylvania primary in April, Teamster volunteers canvassed neighborhoods. “We went door to door talking to union members and handing out Obama for president materials,”said Jeffery Johnson, a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and an employee of SEPTA in Philadelphia. “The first thing we did was go to locations where Teamsters work and handed out union materials about Obama there. I think our work made a great difference in Pennsylvania. A lot of union members have felt disen- franchised in past elections. But I believe that Obama has really attracted people from all over, especially young people. It’s all about unity. This was the first • Sen. Obama is an original election I’ve worked on and it was really rewarding sponsor of the Employee for me.” Free Choice Act; Conferences and Divisions Mobilized to GOTV • Sen. Obama will require Once the Teamsters had endorsed, the Department of 13 (c) bargaining protections; Field Action asked all trade divisions and conferences to provide support. Johnson was part of the BLET • Sen. Obama supports mandatory team that helped with the get-out-the-vote (GOTV) program across Pennsylvania. and comprehensive security train- Working Central to Election “I think we made a difference in the labor vote ing for railroad workers; Family Values and the white male vote,” said Christy Bailey, the Director of Field Action. “When we started off, • Sen. Obama supports the extension Obama Supports Amtrak, Whistleblower Protections, Security Training Obama was down by double digits. We helped nar- row that gap. Our goal in Pennsylvania was to keep of whistleblower protections to within 10 points and we accomplished that.” transportation workers; In Indiana there were a couple of teams of rail members based in Gary and Indianapolis. Jeff Bainter, one of four regional legislative coordinators • Sen. Obama supports the for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way elimination of limbo time; ince the Teamsters General Executive Board endorsed Employes Division (BMWED) was based in Indianapolis. • Sen. Obama opposes the SSen. Barack Obama’s candidacy for president in February, “We had a base at Teamsters Local 135 and did a lot of house calls to union members in Change to outsourcing of inspections of trains members nationwide have become involved in the electoral Win unions,” Bainter said. “Our group totaled about entering the United States; and 20 and we knocked on doors and canvassed to talk to process. Rallies, house calls, telephone banks and other people about Obama.” “We made it a priority for our members, • Sen. Obama has promised activities have been organized in key states, including Indiana, particularly our legislative coordinators, to help out to fight for Amtrak funding. wherever they were needed,” said Danny Gates, Ohio and Pennsylvania.