THE LOCOMOTIVE NGINEER ENEWSLETTER · APRIL 2001 BLE, UTU Retirement legislation safety summit with BNSF set rolls in Congress for April 30 H.R. 1140 has 280 co-sponsors, S. 697 has 40; Bush statements loom The Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers (BLE) and the United Transportation Union Rail labor lobbyists made great chairman of the Subcommittee on Rail- should be contacted at his/her home of- (UTU) will hold a joint safety strides in securing support for the Rail- roads; and ranking member Bob Clem- fice during the Easter Recess (see page summit with management of the road Retirement and Survivors’ Im- ent (D-TN). 9 for details) and encouraged to sup- Burlington Northern Santa Fe provement Act of 2001 in both the Representative Quinn emphasized port the Railroad Retirement and Sur- Railway (BNSF) on April 30 in House and Senate during March, but the importance of H.R.1140. vivors’ Improvement Act of 2001. Kansas City, Mo. negative statements from “This legislation is Unfortunately, statements made by The original call for the sum- the White House threaten critical to the hundreds of President George W. Bush in his bud- mit came from UTU International to derail timely passage of thousands of retired rail get proposal, “A Blueprint for New Be- President Byron A. Boyd Jr., on the legislation. employees and their fami- ginnings,” give the distinct impression March 14. After BLE Interna- H.R. 1140 was intro- lies across the country,” that the White House may stand op- tional President Edward duced on March 21 and said Quinn. “Coming from posed to the Railroad Retirement pack- Dubroski applauded the initia- replaced H.R. 180, which a railroad family, I have age. tive, stating that “safe working was introduced by Con- seen first-hand the “The railroad retirement system’s conditions for operating employ- gressman Bud Shuster. amount of hard work and pension program is not fully funded like ees, and indeed for all railroad Shuster’s sudden retire- long hours that goes into other private industry pension plans; workers, is an issue that must ment in January left H.R. working on a railroad.” indeed, there is a $39.7 billion unfunded transcend rivalries between 180 without a major spon- Action on the Railroad liability,” Bush states in his budget pro- unions,” Boyd proposed that both sor in Congress, and the Retirement legislation posal. “Any examination of the program unions participate in the summit rail labor coalition sup- moved to the Senate on should set as first priorities ending tax- together. porting the measure felt it April 4. A companion bill payer subsidies to the program and en- “The very fact that we are would improve the to H.R. 1140 — S. 697 — suring the industry funds its workers’ working side-by-side at this legislation’s chances for passage if it was introduced by Senators Orrin pensions.” safety summit says that the issue were re-introduced. Hatch (R-UT) and Max Baucus (D-MT), Regardless of the dubious validity of safety for all locomotive engi- H.R. 1140 quickly gained momen- who are the authors of S. 697. Includ- of these statements, it’s clear that sup- neers, conductors and trainmen tum and received 72 co-sponsors in less ing Senators Hatch and Baucus, S.697 porters of H.R. 1140 and S. 697 will face bonds us all deeply together,” said than 24 hours. As members of the had 34 original co-sponsors. As Sena- an uphill battle. Dubroski. “I think BNSF knows House left Capitol Hill for the Easter tors went to their home districts for the In a strongly worded letter to the how serious this is because they Recess in early April, H.R. 1140 had 280 Easter Recess, S. 697 had 41 Senate co- House Budget Committee, however, will be sitting across from both co-sponsors (see list on Page 9). sponsors. members of the House Transportation the BLE and UTU together.” The bipartisan leadership of the BLE and GIA members are encour- and Infrastructure Committee de- “By working together we can House Transportation & Infrastructure aged to view the list of co-sponsors on fended the Railroad Retirement legis- accomplish twice as much for our Committee re-introduced H.R. 1140, Page 9 of this issue. If their lation and questioned the accuracy of members when it comes to including Committee Chairman Don Congressperson’s name is not on the Young (R-AK); ranking member James list, then BLE and GIA members should safety,” said Boyd. “We intend to See H.R. 1140, Page 8 begin setting things straight on Oberstar (D-MN); Jack Quinn (R-NY), act. The Senator or Representative the BNSF.” In a joint letter to BNSF Presi- dent & CEO Matthew K. Rose, the BMWE, BLE derail BNSF genetic testing leaders of both unions expressed concern over the unusually high In a major victory for or- vision of the U.S. District for those who believe indi- done (when authorized by number of accidents, injuries and ganized labor and workers’ Court for the Northern Dis- viduals still have some rights the affected individuals), fatalities suffered by train crew rights, the Burlington North- trict of Iowa) and was soon of privacy in the confirming the members on BNSF property in ern Santa Fe Railway Com- joined by the BLE, seeking United States,” status of the de- recent months. pany has settled a lawsuit “to remedy the illegal, com- said lead counsel struction to the “We are in agreement that fo- filed by the Brotherhood of pulsory regime of genetic Harry Zanville, at BMWE and BLE, cusing first on safety and an ef- Maintenance of Way Em- testing of injured employ- that time. and agreed not to fective safety process will create ployes in February to stop ees” by the BNSF. In the April 6 discipline any em- a safer workplace for our mem- the coercive genetic testing On February 12 Judge settlement agree- ployee for failure bers and your employees,” wrote of its employees by BNSF, the Mark C. Bennett, by consent ment, BNSF to comply with re- Dubroski and Boyd. “We are also BMWE and the Brotherhood of the parties, issued a tem- agreed to termi- quests for medical in agreement that centering on of Locomotive Engineers an- porary restraining order and nate all genetic testing of em- information in connection past individual incidents would be nounced on April 9. BNSF agreed to halt its co- ployees represented by with previously conducted unproductive in addressing our The BMWE filed suit on ercive genetic testing pro- BMWE and BLE. The rail- tests. mutual interests. Past incidents February 9 against BNSF gram which BNSF said it had road also agreed to destroy BNSF, acknowledging and Athena Diagnostics in begun in March 2000. “This all blood samples and See Safety Summit, Page 12 Sioux City, Iowa (Western Di- order should be a real relief records of testing previously See Genetic Testing, Page 12

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Since 1863, a tradition of forward thinking Page 2 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS BLE divisions announce ID convention delegates

Here is the list of official interna- 60. S. P. Holliday 142. P. F. Nealon 224. R. E. Sweet tional delegates to the Seventh Quin- 61. R. L. Law, Jr. 143. J. M. Underwood, Sr. 225. J. R. Hughes quennial Convention of the Brother- 62. W. D. Phillips 144. R. E. Barnes 226. B. P. Simon hood of Locomotive Engineers, as re- 63. R. E. Bernash 145. D. G. Miles 227. A. J. Chick, Jr. ported by BLE divisions at press time. 64. L. J. Wall 146. C. P. Kubovcsak 228. J. R. Lance The convention is scheduled for 65. G. E. Welker 147. M. E. Porter 229. K. H. Sorensen September 24-28 at the Fontainebleau 66. R. L. Morales 149. M. J. Saxton 230. D. W. Mixon Hotel in Miami, Fla. 67. D. J. Jackson 150. D. A. Browning 231. W. P. Lulias Information packets will be going 68. N. Terentieff 151. B. D. Haines 232. J. J. Zawada out to all delegates around May 1, and 69. J. P. Regan 152. A. L. Tinney 234. K. A. Miller delegates also will have their own area 70. D. E. Corfield 153. S. D. Bruns 235. K. G. Michel on the website shortly. 71. S. J. Bruno 154. B. S. DuBois 236. J. L. Dayton This list is published in the Loco- 72. J. D. Brown 155. R. E. Jennings 237. J. E. Hunter motive Engineer Newsletter as re- 73. S. H. Martin 156. T. E. Hudson 238. S. J. Golubic quired by Section 18, Paragraph (g) of 74. J. C. Rupp 157. P. J. Norton 239. W. M. Overton, Jr. the BLE’s Constitution & Bylaws. 75. S. A. Haynes 158. L. L. Klock 240. P. W. Vickers Names of delegates representing 76. W. T. Parson 159. W. M. Copp 241. D. J. Mattson the ATDD were not available at press 77. J. D. McMahon, Jr. 160. S. J. Randolph 242. J. W. Hollingsworth time. 78. L. S. Whittaker 162. C. I. Smith 243. R. D. Harding All BLE divisions are listed below 79. H. H. Proebstl 163. R. E. DeLano 244. J. J. Vara in numerical order, followed by the 80. R. T. Holt 164. T. L. Forsell 245. D. T. Newey delegate’s name. 81. R. S. Schneider 165. R. L. Perkins 246. R. O. Berry 83. T. J. Buyan 166. J. B. Lee 247. D. J. Doherty 1. J. J. Kwiat 84. M. G. Parks 167. M. D. Fleenor 249. M. M. Jarzombek 2. D. T. Fernald 85. R. S. Cogburn 168. D. C. Robilliard 250. R. L. Smith 3. M. W. Fitzgerald 86. C. W. Davis 169. M. W. Henry 251. T. H. Wells 4. C. F. Kopf 87. R. W. Guard 170. D. L. Greer 252. M. E. Butcher 5. J. R. Saunders 88. W. P. Elliott 171. T. E. Foran, Jr. 253. J. J. Schesny 6. K. T. Christians 89. D. Gollain 172. T. R. Murphy 255. G. R. Murray 7. D. A. Randolph 90. T. D. Baker 173. R. M. Chupka, II 256. W. R. Mitchell 8. C. W. Lynch 91. A. Picard 174. P. C. Enenbach 257. J. T. Daniels 9. D. W. Klaus 92. C. R. Rosenthal 175. J. L. White 258. B. Brunet 10. R. W. Marshall, Jr. 93. L. Q. Kimball 176. K. C. Luebke 259. R. J. Praetorius 11. M. B. Kenny 94. L. F. Kemper 177. L. R. Hall 260. F. E. Lacy 12. D. Raptis 95. C. R. Bush 178. D. R. Fields 261. R. L. Montgomery, Jr. 13. C. E. Sheets 96. D. W. Davidson 179. J. A. Ellsworth 262. P. T. Smith, Jr. 14. E. J. Scher 97. J. M. Shifflett 180. S. S. Schmitz 263. K. W. Kertesz 15. D. M. Vawter 98. R. J. Helm 181. G. K. Gordon 264. R. M. Ramos 17. S. J. Tuck 99. J. R. Wood 182. G. W. Bell 265. O. K. Creel 18. R. J. Langhauser 100. E. L. Dowdy 183. R. D. Flom 267. M. L. Wallace 19. R. P. Novasky 101. J. D. Worles 184. J. L. Fenlaciki 269. W. F. Duhs, II 20. D. L. O’Connell 102. M. J. Thomas 185. R. M. Richards 271. G. Davidson 21. D. T. McClain 103. R. A. Turner 186. M. L. Weston 272. NOT REPORTED 22. A. S. Ortiz, Jr. 104. D. W. May 187. D. E. Vaughn, Jr. 273. J. D. Reichley 23. J. J. Dew 106. S. D. Martin 188. T. A. Dorin 275. O. R. Clark 24. M. D. Whitchurch 107. M. R. Littlejohn 189. G. R. Caldwell 276. J. A. Sanchez 25. T. B. Dawson 108. L. J. Kline 190. P. D. Henry 277. S. S. DeTraci 26. J. A. Diehl, Sr. 109. J. W. Jackson 191. M. D. Twombly 278. C. R. Gartman 27. B. J. Lemay 110. M. C. Hester 192. C. H. Fleming, III 280. J. M. Askew 28. J. C. Hurst 111. S. J. Szufnarowicz 193. G. L. Gore 283. A. G. Ray 29. F. D. Koshak 112. B. E. Cushing 194. M. A. Peterson 284. L. R. James, II 30. R. J. Love 113. R. Blackwood 195. L. R. Fitterer 285. J. A. Cargill, Jr. 31. K. L. Liggett 114. S. D. Ritter 196. J. L. Dickerson 286. S. J. Hockin 32. B. D. Oliver 115. J. A. Thompson 197. J. W. Zunker 287. R. W. Stainbrook 33. T. C. Tindol 116. E. C. Pickell 198. P. L. Wingo, Jr. 288. K. N. McDonald 34. J. T. Claytor 117. B. D. Halsey 199. J. A. Miller 289. C. H. Myers, II 35. D. E. King 118. R. P. King 200. T. D. Jared 290. W. D. Latuska 36. D. R. Morehead 119. E. T. Walsh, Sr. 201. M. L. Bonn 291. H. M. Connell 37. L. M. McGlothlin 120. J. S. Elmore 202. T. E. Finnegan 292. R. G. Shaw 38. W. L. Hardbarger 121. F. E. Parks 203. A. L. Irby 294. E. T. Huart, Jr. 39. F. M. Campbell 122. J. W. Tibble 204. J. T. Bowers 295. R. F. Hewitt 40. C. R. Evans, Jr 123. M. W. Zody 205. R. D. Carter 298. C. A. Gilchrist 41. W. M. Pulley 124. T. A. Reed 206. R. A. Cook 299. H. W. Brantley 42. G. B. Rice 125. M. L. Elsberry 207. K. E. Kriegh 301. M. W. Roop 44. R. R. Baxter 126. E. L. Pruitt 208. J. B. Sparks 302. W. E. Hook 45. W. D. Stewart 127. T. F. McGrath 209. J. W. Reynolds 303. F. Manning 46. W. J. Lyons 128. E. S. MacKinnon 210. W. A. Poe 304. D. J. Norman 47. C. A. McDowell 129. L. R. Sanders 211. A. J. Allen 306. G. A. Rowland 48. J. P. Watson 130. R. A. Lyon 212. S. F. Terrazas 307. R. H. Moore, III 49. J. W. Hinely 131. H. A. Balough 213. B. L. Merriman 308. J. A. Curran 50. J. E. Howard 132. R. D. Welter 214. L. E. George 309. J. H. Rodgers 51. D. H. Hansen 133. D. L. Geisler 215. L. H. Fraser 310. S. A. Kniaz 52. F. M. Cox 134. C. L. Holland 216. H. L. Ash, III 311. S. M. Vaughan, Sr. 53. J. P. Chappelle 135. J. C. Edwards 217. M. O. Armentrout 312. R. S. Prone 54. G. J. Brink 136. D. C. Pearce 218. S. M. Lewis 314. G. P. Mangum 55. D. L. Eckersley 137. J. Fillion 219. T. G. Coleman 315. K. K. Howry 56. D. W. Hannah 138. A. W. MacNaughton 220. S. J. Carney 316. N. G. Roddy 57. J. P. Burgess 139. R. J. Sikorski 221. C. T. Hamilton 319. R. G. Rioux 58. J. R. Clark 140. D. S. Bailey 222. J. P. Benich 320. G. M. Ranson 59. C. A. Leisey 141. J. A. Salisbury 223. M. L. Edwards 321. J. L. Saunders, Jr. Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 Page 3 BLE NEWS BLE divisions announce ID convention delegates

322. D. R. Able 488. B. A. Bower 632. G. C. Merritt, Jr. 778. E. M. McManus 323. W. S. Mauldin, Jr. 489. J. L. Wyatt 636. C. C. Alford 779. W. J. Spriggs, Jr. 325. R. T. Woodruff 491. R. L. Martin 641. M. R. Price 780. L. Tremblay 326. A. R. Aycock 494. T. C. Halonen 642. R. C. Springer 781. J. M. Gibson 327. D. C. McMillan 495. J. B. Smith 644. D. Lipsky 782. W. R. Skidmore 328. D. J. Stone, Jr 496. E. C. Crawford, Jr. 646. L. L. DeLoach 786. R. C. Lance 329. R. J. Hellman, Jr. 497. R. J. Nunziato 647. B. W. Staffield 790. P. M. Semenek 332. D. A. Bowen 498. G. D. Best 648. D. Johns 791. B. H. Baker 333. M. L. Mercier 499. D. L. Helander 650. M. J. Tyler 793. J. D. Flegel 336. C. R. Brand 500. J. D. Mullen 654. R. A. Favot 794. M. P. Kessler 337. S. W. Birtles 502. R. C. Gibbons 656. D. G. Yackle 796. R. D. Ballantyne 343. D. M. Beloat 503. J. E. Langley 657. R. J. Lewis 800. M. G. Holt 344. B. S. Goodman 504. W. G. Stanich 658. D. J. Lemay 803. R. M. Powell 348. K. L. Patrick 505. W. D. Wood 659. D. J. Deubell 804. S. W. Hammons 349. R. B. Jeppson 507. T. L. Stipp 660. D. W. Carroll 811. B. G. Williams 353. J. F. Hasener, Jr. 508. R. F. Smithson 662. M. Castenada 812. J. M. Karakian 354. R. F. Bennett, Jr. 510. R. P. McNulty 664. P. A. Doolette 815. R. J. Tague 355. A. J. McGunigal 511. W. E. Knight 665. T. L. Crompton 821. H. R. Gallaher 357. T. J. Perkovich 512. J. R. Koonce 667. M. G. Weiss 825. E. J. Gazdewich 362. D. S. Horstman 517. J. J. Quam 671. M. R. Muscha 827. O. L. Smith 364. R. C. Burke 518. G. S. Larsen 672. D. G. Stewart 829. W. E. Singleton 365. G. L. Terry 520. D. L. Hall 674. R. K. Smith 830. J. R. Pollard 366. L. R. Jean Louis 521. S. L. Baldwin 676. R. R. Franks 831. A. L. Cain 369. D. F. Freier 523. L. W. Christian 678. W. J. Fullerton 832. J. W. Nichol 370. D. M. Caniff 524. S. L. Christian 680. R. A. Kopeck 834. R. A. Holmes 373. R. J. Darcy 526. D. A. Dalton 681. M. R. Carter 839. M. A. Tonn 374. C. S. Gallagher 527. R. T. Windsor 682. R. R. Pasquarella 840. D. D. Yoder 375. R. D. Wagner 528. T. H. Sonier 683. R. C. Benedict 842. R. A. Woldt 381. L. I. Cole 530. T. D. Briggs 684. J. C. Bell 843. G. T. Mac Lean 382. K. F. LeFauve 531. B. J. Suir 687. D. B. Ransford 846. F. J. Huff 383. G. N. Harper 532. M. E. Mellott 689. R. R. McCarten 847. M. R. Malazdrewich 385. R. K. Cutlip 535. A. D. Lockhart 692. D. R. Reeves 848. P. R. Wilcox 386. G. A. Hartley 537. S. A. Langston 695. M. D. Sauvageau 849. W. B. Hall, III 387. R. A. Vogt, Jr. 542. P. P. Hoskins 696. A. E. White, Jr. 850. G. N. Faford 390. R. C. Scully 545. J. K. Evans 698. B. D. Salisbury 851. R. E. Smale 391. K. L. Yocum 547. S. L. Standridge 699. L. E. Sass 852. C. R. Mann 392. R. L. Cote 548. W. A. Hunter 700. J. C. Nee 854. O. H. Boyd 393. M. S. Audsley 549. L. D. Rice 703. F. W. Blount 855. D. E. Brummund 394. V. C. Jackson 551. R. S. Avgerinos 706. J. M. Wilson, Jr. 857. J. E. Hanson 398. R. P. Kleinsorge 552. R. E. Whiddon 708. L. J. Ewing 858. J. N. Callaway 400. B. J. Botone 553. J. J. Rios 713. B. L. Gates 861. R. B. Behrends 401. A. G. Scott 558. R. Poisson 714. J. R. Farren, II 863. R. L. Moore 402. S. M. Brandenburg 561. J. L. Stockwell 715. R. B. McNally 864. R. M. Bayers 404. P. G. Fessenbecker 562. R. J. Woodruff 717. T. D. Davis 867. G. B. Durocher 405. S. M. McGovern 563. G. W. Champness 721. P. W. Giberson 869. M. R. Goggin 409. R. C. Taylor 565. J. R. Hill 722. R. Sekermestrovich 871. C. A. Mosser 411. A. A. Marrara 566. R. D. Hall 723. S. R. O’Donnell 873. J. M. Morneault 415. N. C. Carstenson 567. R. R. McMillin 724. C. R. Jones 876. D. M. Knorek 421. J. F. Murphy 569. I. P. Renfro 726. D. A. Keuseman 882. T. T. Rauman 423. A. C. Winchester 573. P. E. Robinson 727. G. E. Rees 885. R. LeClerc 425. D. A. Bednarczyk 574. B. J. Brown 728. G. C. Howe 886. R. A. Roux 426. T. E. Loebig 575. J. F. Appel 730. A. R. Bilka 888. M. A. Turcasso 428. L. A. Pessoni 577. R. D. Johns 735. T. L. Wright 892. T. A. Frederick 430. T. R. Williamson 578. J. H. Castleberry 736. R. W. Greer 894. C. R. Swain 435. C. D. Driggers 582. W. R. Kruspe 737. R. T. Horn 895. J. E. Morrissey 439. W. J. Munger 583. B. S. Willows 739. S. J. Benson 896. D. J. Anderson 442. B. C. Thompson 585. R. E. Rhodes 740. D. B. Johnson 897. R. J. Rorke 443. M. D. Barkdull 587. J. R. Dame 742. S. E. Utley 898. R. J. Ermet 444. J. E. Russell 590. R. B. Salyers, III 746. R. A. Olson 899. J. W. Graben 446. P. T. Lynch 592. W. E. Hill 747. M. L. Grieve 900. D. G. Swales 447. D. A. Myers 593. B. C. Jourdan 749. G. W. Hoskins 904. M. M. Latoski 448. D. W. Hall, Jr. 595. R. J. Dumey 750. B. C. Knowles 910. M. S. Allen 450. B. B. Harry, Jr. 597. H. E. Ring 751. C. B. Boggs 914. W. M. Carlton, II 456. T. C. Emory, Jr. 598. B. W. Fowler 752. J. W. Curley 915. M. F. O’Brien 457. K. F. Campbell 599. L. Metcalf 753. M. Landry 918. C. E. Huston 458. G. D. Cutright 601. T. E. Roberts 754. M. A. Collins 919. P. Barrett 459. M. A. Grotzinger 602. A. G. Rapp 755. R. H. Prejean 920. G. D. Powell 462. J. R. Hagar 604. F. G. Weaver 756. R. L. Taylor 930. T. R. Stoltz 463. T. G. Mayne 607. P. T. Maher 757. R. J. Holden 932. A. A. Fountain 469. R. Theriault 609. H. D. Downing 758. R. E. Etienne 934. T. E. Danner, Jr. 473. W. W. Simpson 610. C. R. Pinson 762. J. M. Hunt, Sr. 937. W. J. Barber 474. W. A. Sira 612. J. Milam 764. D. G. Poulin 940. M. E. Moyano 475. M. T. Rogers 613. R. D. Gifford 765. D. R. Willard 944. D. Compton, Jr. 476. L. G. English 620. M. W. Norris 766. R. J. McIntyre, Jr. 945. R. E. Lee 477. H. J. Hall, Jr. 621. S. J. Sughroue 768. J. E. Perkovich 950. D. G. MacIver 480. T. H. Bauer 622. M. J. Thiellen 769. M. L. Tanner 952. F. L. Swenor 481. S. L. Casto 623. K. N. Confer 775. C. L. Alexander 954. K. J. Essery 482. M. E. Shaw 624. D. K. Bircher 776. R. Pope 956. S. D. Brownlee 483. T. K. Stolnis 629. J. O. Frier 777. J. P. Atchison 960. P. E. Fournier • 484. C. B. Smith Jr. 631. D. T. Markewich Page 4 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS Biased report threatens Amtrak Amtrak Reform Council issues second annual misguided, biased report

In another misguided and biased report, the dire consequences of privatization including the deg- thy function. After reviewing the ARC’s latest report, Amtrak Reform Council on March 20 proposed divid- radation of safety and service. Instead, the ARC ma- we deeply regret that American taxpayer dollars were ing Amtrak into separate companies — one respon- jority would steer America down that road as well,” wasted on the work of this misguided panel and vow sible for train operations, a second government- said BLE International President Edward Dubroski. to continue our effort to zero out federal funding for owned corporation to oversee tracks and stations, Formed in 1997 to assess the passenger train this unnecessary oversight panel.” and a third consolidated government oversight corporation’s future, the ARC made four basic rec- “The ARC has rolled out a murky series of op- agency. ommendations in its second annual report, issued on tions and rationales for its ideological agenda, when The main flaw with the proposal, however, is that March 20: it should have called on Congress and the President it’s been tried in Great Britain — where it failed mis- • Separate the Northeast Corridor into an au- to fully fund Amtrak and give it a real chance to be erably. thority that would concentrate on upgrading infra- viable. Then — and only then — can responsible Legislators in Great Britain privatized the structure. policy leaders examine options for Amtrak into the country’s passenger rail system in the mid-1990s, and • Divide Amtrak, minus the Northeast Corridor, future. The restructuring proposals put forth in the in doing so, created one company that runs trains into a government entity and a train operating com- report are radical, unnecessary and could cause more and a second company that maintains track and in- pany. The government entity would provide policy harm than good to the cause of intercity rail passen- frastructure — much like the Amtrak Reform Coun- guidance, program administration and oversight and ger service. It’s time to stop the globetrotting and cil suggested for the future of Amtrak. would insulate the operating company from political reports and give Amtrak a genuine chance to be a However, according to the chairman of Britain’s pressure. The operating company, which could be world class passenger rail operation by providing a Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), Sir Alastair Morton, Amtrak or some other company, would run passen- real, sustained federal financial commitment to our the nation’s rail network is a mess, with passenger ger, mail and express service, operating only trains national passenger railroad. trains subject to long delays. The British passenger that the federal or state governments subsidize. “One investment measure that has wide biparti- rail industry has suffered four major fatal accident • Consolidate all federal oversight and program san support is the High Speed Rail Investment Act. in three and a half years, and has been accused of responsibilities, now scattered throughout the gov- We had hoped that the ARC would have realized the putting profit before safety. ernment at the General Accounting Office, the Office innovation behind this legislation and believe the “At the center of the (British) railway industry’s of Management and Budget, the Transportation De- Council missed an opportunity by failing to join in problems is the division of track from trains which partment and elsewhere, into one agency. support of this bill.” sets up an adversarial relationship between (the • Provide a “stable and adequate source of fed- In 1999, the ARC board members took an expen- track maintenance company) and the train operat- eral funding” for Amtrak capital projects and the new sive trip to London for one of its meetings. However, ing companies,” according to a recent report in The Northeast Corridor authority. This could take the form it failed to report what it learned in those meetings Economist magazine. “Not only does it mean that the of appropriations, bonds or an additional 1 cent-a- in any of its proposals. two sides do not work naturally together on day-to- gallon tax on gasoline that states would match for “For all the global jet-setting ARC members did day matters of maintenance, or on longer-term issues passenger service. at taxpayers’ expense, you would think they would of investment. It also involves many man-hours as BLE President Dubroski, in his role as Chairman have noticed that no nation in the world allows its each side monitors the other’s performance, check- of the TTD’s Rail Labor Division, AFL-CIO, issued a intercity passenger rail service to wither on the vine,” ing on whether the complex performance schedules statement strongly criticizing the ARC proposal. Dubroski continued. “Every nation subsidizes pas- have been met.” “The ARC had a chance to make a clear, bold senger rail to ensure it can deliver first class trans- The solution, according to British railway offi- show of support for Amtrak, but instead offered up a portation services. cials, is to reunite the two companies. Members of complicated series of recommendations that further “Clearly, Amtrak and its 20,000 employees are at the Amtrak Reform Council, ironically, suggest do- underscore the ARC’s anti-Amtrak bias,” he said. a crossroads. Long-term and sustainable financing, ing just the opposite to Amtrak. “The ARC could have issued a rallying cry for mak- not ideologically driven proposals to break up “From their globe-trotting journeys, we would ing our national passenger rail service a long-term Amtrak, will ensure a strong and viable national pas- have hoped that ARC members understand that other success but instead missed another opportunity to senger rail system. The ARC should heed that call or countries, particularly England, are reeling from the convince the American people that it performs a wor- cease to exist.” •

UP’s housing policy has Texas IN THE LINE OF DUTY engineers sleeping in cars R.J. St. Marie Locomotive engineers who work for cause you’re not sure if you’ll be there the Union Pacific Railroad in Texas two days or two months,” said another. Two Union Pacific Railroad em- “His loyalty to the Brotherhood have had trouble finding a place to lay When safety officials at the Federal ployees — including a BLE engineer and his honor and integrity among their heads at night — mainly because Railroad Administration learned of the — were killed on March 21 while his peers was a testimony to his per- the railroad refuses to provide lodging. problem, they said they were concerned deadheading from Houston to the sonal faith and a credit to his craft,” When the engineers are about the public health haz- Union Pacific terminal in Alexan- said Brother D.C. Battle, Secretary- sent hundreds of miles out of ard and would investigate. dria, La. Treasurer of BLE Division 62 (Hous- town to work, the railroad The GIA estimates that As their van slowed down for a ton, Texas). doesn’t put them up in a hotel. about two dozen engineers highway construction zone on Inter- “Mike was a special friend of Most can’t afford to pay for a are routinely sleeping in state 10, just east of Lake Charles, mine,” said Brother C.J. Hadley, BLE room in high-priced cities such their vehicles in the La., it was rear-ended by an 18 Division 193 (Gretna, La.). “He was as New Orleans, so they end railroad’s Houston region, wheeler. The van was shoved into the a pleasure to know and work with; up sleeping in their cars and which stretches from rear of another 18 wheeler, killing our meetings over the years were too pickup trucks. Brownsville to New Orleans. BLE engineer Raymond J. St. Marie, far and few between.” The men are exhausted after a It’s happening all over Texas, said 48, and Conductor Mikel Deramus, “Our deepest sympathies go out night or two, several members of the BLE General Chairman Gil Gore, whose 48. The van driver died the next day. to the St. Marie family and the Grand International Auxiliary to the UP territory covers workers in Hous- Brother St. Marie was a member Deramus family,” said BLE Interna- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers ton, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio of BLE Division 366 in Houston, tional President Edward Dubroski. told the Houston Chronicle newspaper and Longview. Texas. He joined the BLE on Sept. 1, “Sadly, Brother St. Marie is the in March. The GIA representatives Gore said he and other BLE lead- 1980, as an engineer for the old 23rd BLE member killed in the line gathered recently to complain about ers have been trying to get the railroad Southern Pacific. He was Chaplain of duty since 1996 and the second UP’s lack of a housing policy. to pay for 30 days of lodging since 1996. of Division 366 from 1997-2000. this year.” “He is getting maybe three to four “They won’t even entertain the idea,” hours of sleep” in his pickup, said one he said. wife, who asked not to be identified for A fatigue expert was surprised UP for the National Sleep Foundation, a dark enough. Noise and light affect the fear her husband would lose his job for would have employees sleeping in their non-profit organization in Washington, quality of sleep, and consequently, how publicly criticizing the railroad. vehicles. Darrel Drobnich, director of said not only is the back seat of a car well you perform on the job the next “You can’t rent an apartment be- government and transportation affairs too cramped, it’s too noisy and isn’t day, he said. • Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 Page 5 BLE NEWS Unmaintained BNSF challenged on safety tracks cause derailments to Union members question railroad’s committment to safety increase by 18% following fatal Amtrak derailment on BNSF tracks in Iowa Rail labor officials raised questions down. They have made their reductions safety audits are being used as a disci- The number of train derail- about general safety and maintenance for economy reasons... They’ve cut plinary tool in some areas.” ments — like the recent Amtrak on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe some of the core section people who Ted Turpin, who is heading the accident in Iowa that killed one Railway following a fatal Amtrak train maintain these (rail) corridors through- National Transportation Safety Board person and injured 96 others — derailment on BNSF tracks near out the winter.” investigation into the Amtrak derail- have increased by nearly 20 per- Nodaway, Iowa, on March 18. Several BLE members ment, said officials are try- cent over the past four years. NTSB investigators are targeting a who work in Iowa said ing to determine whether Both the Federal Railroad Ad- broken 16-foot temporary rail patch as when they first learned of the temporary piece of rail ministration and the Department the possible cause of the derailment, the March 18 derailment, caused the accident or of Transportation’s Inspector which killed one person and injured they knew right away it whether it broke during the General have found poorly main- more than 90, three of them seriously. took place in Nodaway, derailment. tained track and inadequate in- BNSF had installed the rail patch even before the location He said the rail break oc- spections by the railroads could within the past month. had been revealed to them. curred in a location where be partly to blame. Raising concerns were officers of They said they knew the Burlington Northern had The number of railroad in- the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way piece of track in question recently repaired the track dustry inspectors has been re- Employes, whose members inspect and was not safe, but refused to because the old rail had a duced and the federal and state repair the rail lines. give their names for fear of defect. governments have only 550 “We have had a tremendous reduc- retribution by front-line BNSF manag- Fifteen cars on a freight train de- people to make sure that the in- tion in the number of maintenance of ers. railed near Stanton, Iowa, on Dec. 13, dustry is adequately checking way forces, not only in that area but One BLE member said he reported apparently because a welded piece of 230,000 miles of track. across the whole BNSF,” Dave Joynt the unsafe track to a BNSF roadmaster a switch failed, causing a train wheel FRA’s Associate Administra- told the Omaha World-Herald news- and advised it needed to be investi- to go off the track and derailing the tor for Safety, George Gavalla, paper. Brother Joynt is general chair- gated. The BNSF roadmaster re- cars, Hiatte said. said the agency has focused its ef- man for BMWE members who work for sponded by stating that maybe it was On New Year’s Eve, part of a coal forts on heavily used tracks and Burlington Northern in Iowa, Nebraska the BLE member — and not the track train derailed near Red Oak, Iowa, ap- rail yards, and all tracks that and several other Midwestern and — that needed the investigation. parently because an overheated wheel carry passengers and hazardous Western states. “This type of harassment should bearing caused the wheel to fail and a materials. On those tracks, acci- He said 600 to 700 of the union’s have been eliminated through the SACP coal car to drop down onto the road bed, dents are down, he said. Many of members in his region have been fur- process,” said BLE International Presi- he said. the derailments occur in yards loughed by the railroad, although thou- dent Edward Dubroski. “Unfortunately, A March 3 switching accident on when crews assemble train cars. sands remain on the job. the SACP process on that property has the Burlington Northern in Willmar, Overall, FRA statistics show “The railroads aren’t doing so been disappointing, and we have begun Minn., claimed the life of a switchman, that the number of derailments on great,” Joynt said. “Their stock’s been receiving troubling reports that SOFA UTU member Terry Weyh. • all tracks and rail yards rose by 18 percent between 1997 and 2000, from 1,741 to 2,059. “Like any big business, rail- NJ Transit faces $297,000 in FRA fines roads will try to cut corners,” said Steven Moss, a partner in the California consulting firm of M. Railroad accused of massive accident, injury cover-up Cubed, which studies transporta- tion safety. “They allow their NJ Transit failed to alert everything possible to un- awards,” said Bob Vallochi, • Three violations for track and other stock to depreci- the Federal Railroad Admin- cover under-reporting of in- BLE General Chairman. willfully not reporting off- ate and get rundown and don’t istration to dozens of acci- juries and impose appropri- “They’re all bogus.” duty employee injuries; make their proper safety invest- dents and injuries involving ate penalties against viola- NJ Transit spokes- • Two cases of willfully ments until they are forced to do its train employees and pas- tors of federal regulations.” woman Penny Bassett not recording injuries in an so.” sengers in 2000, violations NJ Transit officials is- Hackett said the agency still incident record; The rise in derailments was that could result in fines as sued a two-page statement would win national safety • One case of submitting addressed March 29 at a House high as $297,000. on the report. awards for last year even a late report; and railroads subcommittee hearing. The 91 violations, which “NJ Transit accepts the with the additional injuries • One case of not report- “When those kinds of num- were uncovered during a re- results of the report issued and incidents reported. ing an accident. bers are up, rail passengers and view conducted over the past by the Federal Railroad Ad- The auditors determined Previous audits of NJ the general public could be at few months, have prompted ministration and we will fully that NJ Transit was more Transit’s safety records re- risk,” said the subcommittee the FRA to take the unusu- comply with their recom- than just lax in its record- sulted in 32 violations each chairman, Rep. Jack Quinn (R- ally harsh step of ordering mendations regarding our keeping, finding that 28 of in June 1997 and August NY). an audit for all of NJ record-keeping procedures,” the 91 violations were for 1999, said Purviance. He The FRA has come under fire Transit’s safety records for said the statement. “In fact, deliberately not reporting could not ascertain whether as well. In January, the Depart- the next three years, said NJ Transit has already injuries or incidents. any fines were issued in ment of Transportation Inspector FRA spokesman Mike implemented changes to im- On March 8, the FRA those cases. General, who is examining FRA’s Purviance. prove our administrative presented NJ Transit with its The auditors’ recom- safety program, noted “shortfalls On March 12, BLE Inter- systems. findings of “significant non- mendation on March 11 for in... enforcement of identified national President Edward “Safety has always been compliance” with regula- $297,000 in fines against NJ safety deficiencies, such as wide- Dubroski said the NJ Tran- and will continue to be the tions for keeping and filing Transit will be reviewed by spread track defects.” sit case exposes a trend that number one priority at NJ safety records. The viola- the FRA’s chief counsel’s of- Acting Federal Railroad Ad- is common throughout the Transit,” the statement con- tions included: fice before the penalties are ministrator Mark Lindsey said rail industry. tinued. • 40 cases of not record- levied, Purviance said. the safety program was still a “This is most unfortu- BLE officers and mem- ing accidents or incidents Vallochi said he has com- work in progress. nate news,” said President bers, who cooperated with involving rail equipment; plained to NJ Transit admin- “Like all programs of this na- Dubroski. “We also have FRA investigators, said the • 23 violations for will- istrators for years about in- ture, it continues to be refined as learned, as a result of the audit’s findings exposed NJ fully not reporting on-duty accurate injury records. strengths and weaknesses are suit to stop genetic testing on Transit’s practice of not re- employee injuries; “You know what they do, identified,” he said. the BNSF, that there may be porting injuries in order to • 14 cases of not report- they pay guys to stay home systematic non-reporting of protect its safety statistics ing passenger injuries; and they put them on what occupational injuries by a and win national awards. • Seven cases of not re- they call ‘light duty,’ this way number of major U.S. rail- “The guys with the cording accidents that in- they don’t have to report the roads. We urge the FRA to do sharpened pencils win those volved human error; injury,” said Vallochi. • Page 6 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS Slight rate increases effective June 1 United Healthcare announces new coverage costs for GA-23111 policyholders

At recent meetings with are influenced by the number A. In spite of the advan- discourage this and encourage Q. Will GA-23111 benefits the Railway Labor Organiza- of people who get prescrip- tages of using the mail order the use of the mail order phar- change? tions constituting the Policy- tions, the number of prescrip- pharmacy benefit, many mem- macy benefit. A. At this time no benefit holder under GA-23111, a de- tions they fill and the cost of bers continue to purchase Q. Can I change from changes are planned. However, tailed study of the premiums each prescription. We expect drugs at the local pharmacy Plan D to Plan F or from Plan if costs continue to rise, and benefit payments under the prescription drug benefits that could be obtained through F to Plan D? changes in plan benefits may the various Plans was made. It to continue to increase 20% the mail. This activity in- A. You cannot change be needed to help control the was agreed that the following next year, which is the major creases the cost of the pre- plans until an open enrollment cost of the plans. payment rate changes would factor impacting the Plan D scription drug benefit because period. The next open enroll- (Editor’s Note: To contact be made for coverage effective payment rates. it costs less to purchase drugs ment period is currently United Healthcare, write: June 1, 2001 (payment for June Q. Why is there a deduct- through the mail than it does planned for December 2002, Railroad Accounts, 450 Co- coverage is due May 20th). ible on my prescription drug to provide them through the with changes effective on Janu- lumbus Blvd., P.O. Box Plans A & B — There will purchases from the phar- local pharmacy. A deductible ary 1, 2003. 150453, Hartford, CT 06115- be no changes in the monthly macy? and co-insurance was added to 0453). • payment rates. Plan C — The monthly payment for: • employees or depen- dents increases from $285 to Callaway Gardens Hotel Registration Form $295. • each student child re- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers mains at $50. • each incapacitated child 74th Annual Southeastern Meeting Association increases from $130 to $140. Plan D — The monthly June 24, 2001-June 29, 2001 payment rate for coverage will increase from $190 to $225. Please complete this reservation form and return with one night’s deposit by May 25, 2001 Plan F — The monthly payment rate will increase Note: Rooms will not be held for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers after this date. Reservations will be taken on a space availability from $102 to $110. basis only. Plan E — The monthly payment rate will increase Send This Form To: Callaway Gardens, P.O. Box 2000 Highway 27 South, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 from $103 to $120. Answers to Important Please indicate number of accommodations desired: Questions about these changes Callaway Gardens Inn Q. Why do the premiums $96.00 + Tax, Per Inn Room Per Night, Based on Single or Double Occupancy go up every year? A. UnitedHealthcare ex- All rooms are subject to a one-time surcharge of $13.00 per person for the length of stay up to seven (7) days: $6.50 per child 6-12 years of amines the amount of benefits age. This surcharge includes gate admission to Callaway Gardens. (Optional) paid out each year for each plan under GA-23111 along with the estimated impact of Arrival Date: Departure Date: health care inflation. The pre- mium rates depend on the level Last Name: First Name: of benefits paid out. As more benefits are paid out, the pre- Company name or affiliation: mium rate must also increase at a similar rate. Street Address: For all Plans under GA- 23111, the increased use of ser- vices and the inflation in medi- City: State: Zip: cal care costs resulted in higher payment rates. For Plan Day Phone: D, the change is caused prima- rily by the cost of prescription Name of roommate (if applicable): drug coverage (see next ques- tion). NOTE: RESERVATIONS WILL NOT BE HELD WITHOUT A ONE NIGHT’S DEPOSIT. Q. Why is the premium for Plan D going up $35 while the premium for Plan F is Please enclose a check or money order, payable to Callaway Gardens, or you may apply the deposit to an American Express, Master Card, only increasing $8? Visa or Discover card amount. Please indicate amount enclosed or account number. Credit card deposits will be processed upon receipt. A. Plan D and Plan F pro- vide the same benefits except Deposit amount enclosed: that Plan D provides coverage for prescription drugs and Credit card number: Expiration Date: Plan F does not. The difference in the rate increases under Signature: these two plans is caused, to a great extent, by the cost of the prescription drug benefit. Please note: Reservations may be canceled, or stay shortened, up to seven days prior to arrival; cancellations or shortened stays made within About 50% of the total seven days of check-in or after arrival will result in forfeiture of your deposit. amount of benefits that are paid out under Plan D are for 4 PM CHECK IN **** 12 NOON CHECK-OUT Send This Form To: prescription drugs. In recent NO PETS ALLOWED IN ACCOMODATIONS Callaway Gardens years, the benefits paid for 1-800-CALLAWAY P.O. Box 2000 Highway 27 South Plan D prescription drugs have FAX: (706) 663-5090 Pine Mountain, GA 31822 increased at a rate of about 20% per year. These increases Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 Page 7 BLE NEWS May 25 deadline approaches for SMA 2001

SMA Chairman W.J. discounted room rates. using the form provided below. calling (706) 989-0064, or writ- 2001 SMA “Bubba” Spriggs invites every- The form on Page 6 of this Please mail completed SMA ing: P.O. Box 8511, Columbus, Tentative Schedule one to Georgia for some good issue has been provided for pre-registration forms to GA 31908. (Subject to Change) old fashioned southern hospi- your convenience in making Brother Spriggs at the address Members can also e-mail tality at the 74th annual BLE- hotel reservations. Please mail provided on the form. him at: [email protected]. Sunday, June 24 GIA Southeastern Meeting As- completed hotel registration There’s something for the Once again, the hotel res- Registration (location TBA) sociation. forms to Callaway Gardens. whole family at Callaway Gar- ervation deadline is May 25, Hospitality suite open Division 779 and BLE Registration for the 74th dens, including fishing and and members should use the members throughout the state annual SMA begins on June 24. boating, golfing at three PGA pre-registration form provided Monday, June 25 of Georgia are hosting the The formal banquet is the caliber courses, an amusement on Page 6 of this issue. Opening Day event, to be held in Pine Moun- evening of June 28, so it is rec- park, the Florida State Univer- Members with questions 7:00-8:30: Breakfast (regis- tain, Ga., at beautiful Callaway ommended that guests check sity Flying Circus, bicycle can contact Callaway Gardens tered guests must show iden- Gardens. out of their rooms the morning trails, and a Gun Club that in- at: (800) CALLAWAY, or online tification) Members planning to at- of June 29. cludes skeet, trap and sporting at: www.callawaygardens.com. 9:00-11:45: Opening meeting tend the convention have until Members who have not al- clays. A tentative schedule of Noon-2:30: Lunch/legal fair May 25 to make hotel reserva- ready done so are encouraged Members with questions events is published below for 2:45-3:30: United Healthcare tions and take advantage of to pre-register for the SMA by can contact Brother Spriggs by your convenience. 3:40-4:30: Federal Railroad Administration 4:40-5:30: Railroad Retirement Board

74th Annual SMA Pre-Registration Form Tuesday, June 26 7:00-8:30: Breakfast, briefing Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers on daily events 9:00-11:45: Closed meeting, 74th Annual Southeastern Meeting Association BLE-GIA, International offic- ers June 24, 2001-June 29, 2001 Noon-1:00: Lunch 1:15-2:45: General Committee Callaway Gardens Inn, (800) 225-5292, Pine Mountain, Ga. meetings 3:00-4:45: State Legislative Name: Board meetings 6:00-midnight: Barbecue din- ner in honor of retired locomo- Address: tive engineers

City: State: Zip: Wednesday, June 27 Open Day Telephone: 7:00-8:30: Breakfast, briefing on daily events BLE Division: Title: 9:00-9:30: Prepare for golf tour- nament (pre-registration) 10:00-5:00: Golf tournament Spouse’s Name: GIA Title: Division: (Callaway Gardens course) 10:00-5:00: Fishing, skeet, tour Number of Children Attending: Desire Childcare? Yes No Callaway Gardens, and vari- ous other activities Interested Activities (Please indicate by checking): 5:00: Open evening Golf Sightseeing Shopping Crafts/Antiques Baseball Game (Braves/Red Stix, pending schedule) Fishing Thursday, June 28 Bike Riding Canoeing Paddle Boats Steam Train Ride Workshops 7:00-8:30: Breakfast, briefing Wild Animal Park Roosevelt Little White House Skeet/Trap Shooting on daily events Callaway Gardens Tour Atlanta Zoo Underground Atlanta 9:00-noon: Local chairmen’s Robin Lake (man-made beach) Tennis Other workshop 9:00-10:00: Merrill Lynch (401k Lodging Preference presentation) Callaway Inn *Cottage *Villa 9:00-noon: Secretary-Trea- Convention Rate $96.00 per night apply to rooms at Callaway Inn surer workshop * Inquire for rate. Noon-1:00: Lunch 1:00-2:30: Workshop for all del- egates to International Con- Fees vention Activity Fee: $50.00 per person attending BLE/GIA SMA. 2:45-5:00: SMA business meet- SMA Dues $20.00 per BLE Member — not included in activity fee. ing (bylaws, election of offic- ers, selection of 2003 site, etc.) Any questions concerning the 2001 BLE/GIA SMA convention can be directed to W.J. Spriggs Jr. (Chairman) by calling (706) 989-3607 (home) 6:30-midnight: Banquet, din- or (706) 989-0064 (BLE office) or e-mail . ner, dancing, live entertain- ment

Mail this pre-registration form and activity fees to: Friday, June 29 W.J. Spriggs Jr. Check out by noon SMA Chairman P.O. Box 8511 Columbus, GA 31908

(Make checks payable to W.J. Spriggs Jr.-Chairman SMA 2001) Page 8 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS Bush’s budget Rail labor, carriers reach ‘cram down’ deal A group of seven rail labor unions work, then the union(s) involved will International Association, Transporta- and six freight railroads reached agree- decide which agreement will apply if tion Communications International statements ment on March 21 to end the practice more than one applies. Union (including TCU’s Carmen’s Di- known as “cram down,” the Surface In addition, when seniority rosters vision) and Transport Workers Union. threaten H.R. Transportation Board-approved prac- integrated, the carrier must give def- The carrier group included Burlington tice of overriding collective bargaining erence to the seniority integration plan Northern Santa Fe, Canadian Pacific, agreements in approving railroad developed by the union(s). CSX Transportation, Kansas City 1140, S. 697 mergers. The unions signing on to the agree- Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union All signatories agreed to abide by ment were the Brotherhood of Locomo- Pacific. the agreement until its terms are en- tive Engineers, Brotherhood of Main- Full text of the agreement is avail- H.R. 1140 acted into law, with all signatories ac- tenance of Way Employes, Brotherhood able on the BLE website at: tively supporting such legislation. of Railroad Signalmen, International http://www.ble.org/pr/pdf/ Continued from Page 1 Under the new agreement, if there Association of Machinists and Aero- cramdown.pdf Bush’s statements. is a consolidation or coordination of space Workers, Sheet Metal Workers “The Committee is disap- pointed by the statement concern- ing the Railroad Retirement sys- tem in the FY 2002 President’s NEWS BRIEFS Budget,” the letter states. “This statement implies that the Rail- ‘Right to work’ Democrats sided with all but Transit Authority (MBTA) • In other industries, road Retirement system is receiv- 13 Republicans in a 223-206 case from earlier in 2000, unions have lost clout as ing massive federal subsidies and bill introduced in vote that kills the Occupa- filed a lawsuit challenging companies move overseas, is not capable of meeting its fu- tional Safety and Health the application of these regu- but airlines and railroads ture pension obligations. This is House Administration’s workplace lations. can’t do that. not true. According to the most safety rule that could pre- The BLE, along with the • Many airline and rail- On March 20, a group of recent actuarial valuation, the vent 1.6 million repetitive Firemen and Oilers, IAM, road employees — particu- conservative members of the railroad retirement system will stress injuries a year. Presi- IBEW, TCU and UTU, inter- larly pilots, mechanics and House of Representatives, not experience any cash flow dent Bush signed the ergo- vened last fall in support of locomotive engineers — are led by Bob Goodlatte of Vir- problems for the next 75 years nomics standard’s death the Labor Department, and not easily replaced, making ginia, introduced a “National under the most likely economic warrant in late March. were granted intervenor sta- it harder for employers to Right-to-Work” bill. assumptions. Railroads and their Senators and represen- tus in mid-December. replace them if they walk The bill, H.R. 1109, seeks employees pay a very heavy pay- tatives “hostile to the inter- In the MBTA case, the out, experts say. • to amend both the National roll tax burden to fund the sys- ests of working families U.S. Department of Labor Labor Relations Act and the tem, which, as a result, is finan- rushed a naked political pay- and the Federal Transit Ad- Railway Labor Act. cially sound. These payroll taxes off to big business contribu- ministration warned MBTA Bush selects In “right to work” states, have produced significant re- tors who have opposed every contractor Bay State Tran- workers may choose not to serves for the system — over six effort to enact a standard sit Service that it was not Rutter as FRA pay fees to the union but the years worth of full benefit pay- protecting workers,” said complying with 13 (c). union still is required to rep- Administrator ments. This healthy reserve is one AFL-CIO President John The contractor dis- resent them. “Right to work” of the bases for, and would be pro- Sweeney. • agreed and tried to litigate laws, long-promoted by anti- WASHINGTON — Presi- tected by, the railroad retirement the issue, but the federal worker, anti-union organiza- dent Bush on April 3 named reform legislation approved 391- agencies threatened to cut tions, threaten to drain Allan Rutter as head of the 25 by the House last fall and Herzog appeals off about $200 million in unions’ financial resources Federal Railroad Adminis- which this Committee will con- funds immediately if the and prevent unions from rep- 13(c) ruling tration. sider in the near future.” MBTA did not honor its 13(c) resenting and protecting Rutter has been trans- If President Bush’s apparent obligations. Amtrak’s con- members. On March 23, Herzog portation policy director in threats come to fruition, it will tracts to operate MBTA ser- According to the AFL- Transit Services filed a No- the Texas governor’s office mark the second year in a row the vice have been renewed. • CIO, so-called “right to work” tice of Appeal to the D.C. Cir- since 1995, serving under Railroad Retirement legislation laws don’t guarantee any cuit Court of Appeals in its Bush from 1995 until Bush has been killed by partisan poli- new rights or create any new action against the Depart- resigned in December to as- tics. jobs or economic benefits. In ment of Labor. Transportation sume the presidency. Since Last year in the 106th Con- the 21 states with such laws, In January, the U.S. Dis- then, Rutter has served un- gress, H.R. 4844 passed the unions remain wages are lower, poverty lev- trict Court for the District of der Bush’s successor, Texas House by a 391-25 majority and els higher, more people have Columbia upheld the pro-la- Gov. Rick Perry. had the support of 83 Senators. strong no health insurance and edu- bor decision of the former Rutter was deputy ex- However, it was killed in commit- cation spending per pupil is U.S. Secretary of Labor Unions, struggling in ecutive director of the Texas tee by three ultra-conservative lower. Alexis Herman to enforce many industries, are flying High-Speed Rail Authority Senators — Pete Domenici (R- Bills similar to H.R. 1109 section 13 (c) of the 1964 high on the nation’s airlines from 1990 to 1995. He served NM), Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Don have been introduced on a Mass Transportation Act. and railroads. Texas Govs. Mark White and Nickles (R-OK) — who success- statewide basis, but a na- Herzog Transit Services Airline and railroad William Clements as a senior fully convinced Senate Majority tional bill has not been pre- had sought to bid on the op- workers are governed by the budget analyst from 1985 Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) to hold viously introduced. • eration of Bay Transit Railway Labor Act of 1926, 1990. the bill from consideration by the Authority’s commuter rail which gives their unions an Rutter replaces acting full Senate. services in the San Fran- unusual amount of power — FRA Administrator Mark H.R. 1140 is identical to last Bush signs death cisco area without being although it’s also more diffi- Lindsey. • year’s H.R. 4844, and contains all regulated by 13 (c). cult for them to strike. the benefit improvements origi- warrant on new The provisions of 13 (c) The RLA makes striking nally agreed to by rail manage- ergonomics rule authorize the Secretary of difficult because it requires ment and labor — long-needed O’Brien sells Labor to condition certifica- extensive negotiations and improvements in the surviving Big Business’ multi-mil- tion of bids in order to pro- allows the president and spouse benefit, full retirement more CP shares lion dollar investment in the tect collective bargaining Congress to intervene. annuity at age 60 with 30 years 2000 elections paid divi- and workers’ rights. The But the RLA, combined OTTAWA — Insider of service, elimination of artificial dends March 6 and 7 when court ruling held that this with circumstances unique trading documents reveal caps on benefits, vesting after five the U.S. Senate and House of was a “fair and equitable” to transportation, has helped that Canadian Pacific Ltd. years instead of 10, and provi- Representatives passed leg- provision. create much of the unions’ chairman, president and sions that require the carriers to islation that killed ergonom- Herzog Transit Services strength. Among the rea- chief executive David insure future fund solvency with ics protections for workers. wanted to be one of the bid- sons: O’Brien has been a heavy future tax increases if necessary. The 56-44 Senate vote ders for the maintenance • Unlike unions in the seller recently. See page 9 of this issue for list March 6 included six Demo- and running of the trains private sector, there is no Documents filed the of co-sponsors and related infor- crats who sided with busi- and, aware of the Depart- procedure for an employer to week of April 8 showed mation. ness, the Bush administra- ment of Labor’s (DOL) inter- decertify a railroad or airline O’Brien netted $2.6 million tion and all 50 Senate Repub- pretation of regulations in union, so once they’re orga- by selling 120,000 shares licans. The next day, 16 the Massachusetts Bay nized, they are there to stay. from Feb. 25 to Feb. 28. • Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 Page 9 BLE NEWS List of House, Senate co-sponsors of Railroad Retirement bills

The lists of names on this As of April 10, there were 66. Evans (D-IL-17) 137. Osborne (R-NE-3) 214. Hart (R-PA-4) page are the members of Con- 280 co-sponsors of H.R. 1140. 67. LaHood (R-IL-18) 215. Peterson (R-PA-5) They are listed here alphabeti- 68. Phelps (D-IL-19) Nevada 216. Holden (D-PA-6)# gress currently supporting the cally by state, then by district. 69. Shimkus (R-IL-20) 138. Berkley (D-NV-1)# 217. Welden, C (R-PA-7) Railroad Retirement & Survi- 139. Gibbons (R-NV-2) 218. Sherwood (R-PA-10)# vors’ Improvement Act of 2001. Alaska Indiana 219. Kanjorski (D-PA-11) In the Senate, this legislation 1. Young (R-AK-AL)*# 70. Visclosky (D-IN-1) New Hampshire 220. Murtha (D-PA-12) is identified as S. 697, and in 71. Roemer (D-IN-3) 140. Bass (R-NH-2) 221. Hoeffel (D-PA-13) Alabama 72. Kerns (R-IN-7)# 222. Coyne (D-PA-14)+ the House as H.R. 1140. 2. Callahan (R-AL-1) 73. Hill (D-IN-9) New Jersey 223. Gekas (R-PA-17) BLE and GIA members are 3. Bachus (R-AL-6)# 74. Carson (D-IN-10) 141. Andrews (D-NJ-1) 224. Doyle (D-PA-18) asked to review these lists. If 4. Hilliard (D-AL-7) 142. LoBiondo (R-NJ-2)# 225. Platts (R-PA-19)# their member of Congress is Iowa 143. Saxton (R-NJ-3) 226. Mascara (D-PA-20)# not listed, then that individual Arizona 75. Leach (R-IA-1) 144. Smith, C (R-NJ-4) 227. English (R-PA-21)+ should be contacted and asked 5. Pastor (D-AZ-2) 76. Boswell (D-IA-3)# 145. Roukema (R-NJ-5) 77. Ganske (R-IA-4) 146. Pallone (D-NJ-6) Rhode Island to support S. 697 and/or H.R. Arkansas 78. Latham (R-IA-5) 147. Ferguson (R-NJ-7)# 228. Kennedy (D-RI-1) 1140. 6. Berry (D-AR-1)# 148. Pascrell (D-NJ-8)# 229. Langevin (D-RI-2) In early April, members of 7. Snyder (D-AR-2) Kansas 149. Rothman (D-NJ-9) Congress returned to their 8. Hutchinson (R-AR-3)# 79. Moran (R-KS-1)# 150. Payne (D-NJ-10) South Carolina home districts for the Easter 9. Ross (D-AR-4) 80. Moore (D-KS-3) 151. Holt (D-NJ-12) 230. Graham (R-SC-3) 81. Tiahrt (R-KS-4) 152. Menendez (D-NJ-13)# 231. Spratt (D-SC-5) Recess. California 232. Clyburn (D-SC-6) Home office contact num- 10. Thompson (D-CA-1) Kentucky New Mexico bers for Senators and Repre- 11. Dolittle (R-CA-4) 82. Whitfield (R-KY-1) 153. Skeen (R-NM-2) South Dakota sentatives can be found in the 12. Matsui (D-CA-5)+ 83. Lewis, R (R-KY-2)+ 154. Udall, T (D-NM-3) 233. Thune (R-SD-AL)# blue page section of your local 13. Miller, George (D-CA-7) 84. Lucas (D-KY-4) 14. Lee (D-CA-9) 85. Rogers (R-KY-5) New York Tennessee telephone book. Members 15. Tauscher (D-CA-10)# 86. Fletcher (R-KY-6) 155. Grucci (R-NY-1) 234. Jenkins (R-TN-1) should also be able to find this 16. Pombo (R-CA-11)# 156. Israel (R-NY-2) 235. Duncan (R-TN-2)# information on the House and 17. Lantos (D-CA-12) Louisana 157. King (R-NY-3) 236. Clement (D-TN-5)*# Senate websites. 18. Stark (D-CA-13)+ 87. Jefferson (D-LA-2)+ 158. McCarthy (D-NY-4) 237. Tanner (D-FL-8)+ 19. Condit (D-CA-18) 88. Tauzin (R-LA-3) 159. Meeks (D-NY-6) 238. Ford (D-TN-9) 20. Berman (D-CA-26) 89. Cooksey (R-LA-5)# 160. Crowley (D-NY-7) 21. Becerra (D-CA-30)+ 90. Baker (R-LA-6)# 161. Nadler (D-NY-8)# Texas 22. Roybal-Allard (D-CA-33) 91. John (D-LA-7) 162. Weiner (D-NY-9) 239. Sandlin (D-TX-1)# 23. Napolitano (D-CA-34) 163. Towns (D-NY-10) 240. Turner (D-TX-2) 24. Horn (R-CA-38)# Maine 164. Owens (D-NY-11) 241. Sessions (R-TX-5) As of April 10, there were 41 25. Baca (D-CA-42) 92. Baldacci (D-ME-2)# 165. Velazquez (D-NY-12) 242. Lampson (D-TX-9)# Senate co-sponsors of S. 697. 26. Filner (D-CA-50)# 166. Maloney (D-NY-14) 243. Edwards (D-TX-11) Maryland 167. Rangel (D-NY-15)+ 244. Reyes (D-TX-16) Colorado 93. Gilchrest (R-MD-1)# 168. Engel (D-NY-17) 245. Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18) 1. Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR)* 27. DeGette (D-CO-1) 94. Ehrlich (R-MD-2) 169. Kelly (R-NY-19)# 246. Gonzalez (D-TX-20) 2. Lincoln, Blanche L (D-AR)*# 28. Udall, M (D-CO-2) 95. Cardin (D-MD-3)+ 170. Gilman (R-NY-20) 247. Bonilla (R-TX-23) 3. Biden, Joe (D-DE) 96. Wynn (D-MD-4) 171. McNulty (D-NY-21)+ 248. Frost (D-TX-24) 4. Carper, Thomas (D-DE) Connecticut 97. Hoyer (D-MD-5) 172. Sweeney (R-NY-22) 249. Bentsen (D-TX-25) 29. Simmons (R-CT-2)# 98. Bartlett (R-MD-6) 173. Boehlert (R-NY-23)# 250. Ortiz (D-TX-27) 5. Cleland, Max (D-GA) 30. DeLauro (D-CT-3) 99. Cummings (D-MD-7)# 174. McHugh (R-NY-24) 251. Rodriguez (D-TX-28) 6. Miller, Zel (D-GA) 100. Morella (R-MD-8) 175. Walsh (R-NY-25) 252. Green (D-TX-29) 7. Craig, Larry (R-ID)* Deleware 176. Hinchey (D-NY-26) 253. Johnson (D-TX-30)# 8. Crapo, Michael (R-ID)* 31. Castle (R-DE-AL) Massachusetts 177. Slaughter (D-NY-28) 9. Durbin, Richard (D-IL) 101. Olver (D-MA-1) 178. LaFalce (D-NY-29) Utah District of Columbia 102. McGovern (D-MA-3)# 179. Quinn (R-NY-30)*# 254. Matheson (D-UT-2)# 10. Bayh, Evan (D-IN) 32. Norton (D-DC-AL)# 103. Frank (D-MA-4) 11. Brownback, Sam (R-KS)* 104. Tierney (D-MA-6) North Carolina Virginia 12. Roberts, Pat (R-KS)* Florida 105. Markey (D-MA-7) 180. Clayton (D-NC-1) 255. Davis, J (R-VA-1) 13. Breaux, John (D-LA)*# 33. Brown, C (D-FL-3)# 106. Capuano (D-MA-8) 181. Etheridge (D-NC-2) 256. Scott (D-VA-3) 14. Landrieu, Mary (D-LA) 34. Crenshaw (R-FL-4) 107. Moakley (D-MA-9) 182. Jones (R-NC-3) 257. Goode (I-VA-5) 15. Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD)* 35. Thurman (D-FL-5)+ 108. Delahunt (D-MA-10) 183. Price (D-NC-4) 258. Goodlatte (R-VA-6) 36. Mica (R-FL-7)# 184. Burr (R-NC-5) 259. Moran (D-VA-8) 16. Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD) 37. Keller (R-FL-8) Michigan 185. McIntyre (D-NC-7) 260. Boucher (D-VA-9) 17. Kerry, John (D-MA)*# 38. Davis, J (D-FL-11) 109. Stupak (D-MI-1) 186. Hayes (R-NC-8)# 261. Wolf (R-VA-10) 18. Collins, Susan (R-ME)* 39. Foley (R-FL-16)+ 110. Ehlers (R-MI-3)# 187. Myrick (R-NC-9) 262. Davis, T (R-VA-11) 19. Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) 40. Meek (D-FL-17) 111. Camp (R-MI-4)+ 188. Watt (D-NC-12) 20. Dayton, Mark (D-MN) 41. Wexler (D-FL-19) 112. Barcia (D-MI-5)# Vermont 42. Deutsch (D-FL-20) 113. Upton (R-MI-6) Ohio 263. Sanders (I-VT-AL) 21. Wellstone, Paul (D-MN) 43. Hastings (D-FL-23) 114. Kildee (D-MI-9) 189. Oxley (R-OH-4) 22. Carnahan, Jean (D-MO) 115. Bonior (D-MI-10) 190. Gillmor (R-OH-5) Washington 23. Baucus, Max (D-MT)*# Georgia 116. Conyers (D-MI-14) 191. Strickland (D-OH-6) 264. Inslee (D-WA-1) 24. Burns, Conrad (R-MT) 44. Bishop (D-GA-2) 117. Kilpatrick (D-MI-15) 192. Boehner (R-OH-8) 265. Larsen (D-WA-2) 25. Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)* 45. Collins (R-GA-3)+ 118. Dingell (D-MI-16) 193. Kaptur (D-OH-9) 266. Baird (D-WA-3)# 46. McKinney (D-GA-4) 194. Kucinich (D-OH-10) 267. Hastings, D (R-WA-4) 26. Nelson, Ben (D-NE) 47. Lewis, J (D-GA-5)+ Minnesota 195. Tubbs-Jones (D-OH-11) 268. Nethercutt (R-WA-5) 27. Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ)*# 48. Isakson (R-GA-6)# 119. Gutknecht (R-MN-1) 196. Brown (D-OH-13) 269. Dicks (D-WA-6) 28. Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)*# 49. Chambliss (R-GA-8) 120. McCollum (D-MN-4) 197. Sawyer (D-OH-14) 270. McDermott (D-WA-7)+ 29. Schumer, Charles (D-NY) 50. Norwood (R-GA-10) 121. Sabo (D-MN-5) 198. Pryce (R-OH-15) 271. Dunn (R-WA-8)+ 30. Conrad, Kent (D-ND)*# 51. Linder (R-GA-11) 122. Luther (D-MN-6) 199. Traficant (D-OH-17) 123. Peterson (D-MN-7) 200. Ney (R-OH-18) West Virginia 31. Dorgan, Byron (D-ND)# Hawaii 124. Oberstar (D-MN-8)*# 201. LaTourette (R-OH-19)# 272. Mollohan (D-WV-1) 32. Specter, Arlen (R-PA) 52. Abercrombie (D-HI-1) 273. Capito (R-WV-2)# 33. Reed, Jack (D-RI) 53. Mink (D-HI-2) Mississippi Oklahoma 274. Rahall (D-WV-3)# 34. Chafee, Lincoln (R-RI) 125. Wicker (R-MS-1) 202. Carson (D-OK-2)# 35. Smith, Gordon (R-OR)* Idaho 126. Thompson, B (D-MS-3) 203. Watkins (R-OK-3)+ Wisconsin 36. Daschle, Thomas (D-SD)*# 54. Otter (R-ID-1)# 127. Shows (D-MS-4) 204. Watts (R-OK-4) 275. Baldwin (D-WI-2) 55. Simpson (R-ID-2)# 205. Istook (R-OK-5) 276. Kind (D-WI-3) 37. Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)*# Missouri 206. Lucas, F (R-OK-6) 277. Kleczka (D-WI-4)+ 38. Warner, John (R-VA)* Illinois 128. Clay (D-MO-1) 278. Petri (R-WI-6) 39. Murray, Patty (D-WA) 56. Rush (D-IL-1) 129. Akin (R-MO-2) Oregon 279. Green (R-WI-8) 40. Byrd, Robert (D-WV) 57. Jackson (D-IL-2) 130. Gephardt (D-MO-3) 207. Wu (D-OR-1) 41. Rockefeller, John (D-WV)*# 58. Lipinski (D-IL-3)# 131. Skelton (D-MO-4) 208. Walden (R-OR-2) Wyoming 59. Gutierrez (D-IL-4) 132. Blunt (R-MO-7) 209. Blumenauer (D-OR-3)# 280. Cubin (R-WY-AL) 60. Blagojevich (D-IL-5) 133. Emerson (R-MO-8) 210. DeFazio (D-OR-4)# * — Original Cosponsor 61. Hyde (R-IL-6) 134. Hulshof (R-MO-9)+ 211. Hooley (D-OR-5) *Original Sponsor # — Member, Senate Finance 62. Schakowsky (D-IL-9) #Member, T&I Committee 63. Weller (R-IL-11)+ Nebraska Pennsylvania +Member, Ways and Means 64. Costello (D-IL-12)# 135. Bereuter (R-NE-1)# 212. Brady (D-PA-1) 65. Johnson (R-IL-15)# 136. Terry (R-NE-2) 213. Borski (D-PA-3)# Page 10 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS North Dakota governor signs railroad taxi bill New legislation in the improving the safety and insur- ever, the weakness in the state of North Dakota will ance standards of railroad safety standard was inad- provide railroad workers crew transportation compa- equate uninsured and under- with some of the strongest nies in North Dakota. insured insurance. In the fall protection in the nation In the 1999 legislative ses- of 2000, the two unions went to when it comes to train sion, a law was passed that work once again to increase crew transportation. mandated the North Dakota the minimum insurance cover- On April 12, Governor Highway Patrol to set safety age levels. John Hoven signed Senate standards for contract vans. Brother Muscha says the Bill 2309 into law, which Prior to that legislation, only April 12 bill signing with Gov. requires railroad crew vehicles carrying 15 or more Hoven was the final piece of the North Dakota Governor John Hoven, center, signs a bill that transportation providers persons were regulated. As a puzzle. provides $1 million in uninsured and underinsured motorist to carry $1 million in un- result, drivers of smaller con- Muscha thanks his coun- coverage for contract carriers, the taxi companies that transport derinsurance/uninsured tract vans could drive unlim- terpart, UTU State Legislative railroad workers in the state. motorist insurance. ited hours, and vans were sub- Director John Risch, and all BLE North Dakota ject to no greater scrutiny than BLE and UTU legislative reps Seated, from left: Representative Robin Weisz; Governor Hoven; State Legislative Board a private vehicle. in the state for the victory. Senator Bob Stenehjem. Standing, from left: Rep. Clara Sue Price; Chairman Mike Muscha The standards set by the He also thanked BLE First UTU Legislative Director John Risch; Senator Dwight Cook; BLE reports that in the summer highway patrol (18 pages) Vice-Chairman Ron Huff, S-T State Legislative Board Chairman Mike Muscha; Senator David of 1998, BLE and UTU were some of the strongest in Dean Altringer and LRs John O’Connell; Rep. Kathy Hawken; and Seantor Howard Grumbo. members joined forces, the U.S. for vehicles carrying Olson and Cheri Bonebrake for taking on the huge task of 15 passengers or less. How- their efforts. • When Railroad Retirement spouse and widow(er) annuities are subject to dual benefit reductions

Railroad Retirement Act spouse widow(er) annuity if the government work were also covered by that system. The second is that they meet all and widow(er) annuities (including di- job that the public pension is based on Tier I benefits are, therefore, reduced requirements for spouse and widow(er) vorced spouse, surviving divorced was covered under the Social Security in the same manner as social security benefits in effect under social security spouse and remarried widow(er) annu- Act on the last day of public employ- benefits when certain other benefits are law in January 1977. At that time, for ities) are subject to dual benefit reduc- ment. (A special rule applies to Federal also payable. example, a divorced woman’s marriage tions when social security benefits or employees who switch from the Civil must have lasted at least 20 years, dual railroad retirement annuities are Service Retirement System to the Fed- 3. How is the public service pen- rather than 10 years as required today. also payable; and, such railroad retire- eral Employees Retirement System.) sion reduction applied to railroad re- Also, a husband or widower must have ment benefits may be In addition, tirement spouse or widow(er)’s an- received at least one-half support from subject to reduction most military ser- nuities? his wife. when certain public ser- vice pensions and For spouse and widow(er)s subject Even if spouses and widow(er)s do vice pension payments payments from the to the public service pension reduction, not meet these criteria, they still may are also due a spouse or Department of Vet- the tier I reduction is, under current be exempt from the reduction beginning widow(er). erans Affairs will law, equal to 2/3 of the amount of the with railroad retirement benefits pay- Since the payment not cause a reduc- public pension. The amount of the pub- able December 1982 if they received or of a railroad retirement tion; and a pension lic service pension is the current gross were eligible to receive their Federal, spouse or widow(er) an- paid by a foreign amount, before any deductions for in- State, or local government pensions nuity can be affected by government or an come tax withholding, Medicare premi- before July 1, 1983; and they were re- entitlement to certain interstate instru- ums, health insurance or other benefits. ceiving at least one-half support from other government ben- mentality also has their spouses at the time their spouses efits, such dual entitle- no effect on a 4. Does the public service pen- retired or died. This provision applies ment, if not reported to the Railroad spouse or widow(er) annuity. sion reduction law apply to all rail- to men and women. Retirement Board, can result in benefit road retirement spouse or overpayments which have to be repaid, 2. What is the background of the widow(er) annuities? 6. Where can more specific infor- sometimes with interest and penalties. public service reduction in spouse The public pension reduction does mation on how these pension offsets The following questions and answers and widow(er) annuities and how not apply to a spouse or widow(er) who affect railroad retirement benefits be describe how payments are adjusted by does it affect such payments? filed for and became entitled to her or obtained? the Railroad Retirement Board for The public service pension reduc- his railroad retirement annuity before Individuals who may be affected spouse and widow(er) annuitants en- tion in railroad retirement spouse and December 1977, or to a spouse or should contact the nearest field office titled to public service pensions. widow(er) benefits was effected by 1977 widow(er) whose public pension is not of the Railroad Retirement Board for social security legislation which also based on her or his own earnings. information as to how their public ser- 1. What is considered a public applied to the tier I portion of railroad vice pensions could affect their railroad service pension? retirement spouse and widow(er) an- 5. Are there any other provisions retirement benefits. A public service pension is any pe- nuities. Since a social security spouse that would exempt railroad retire- For the phone number or address riodic benefit payment, as well as lump- or widow(er) benefit is reduced if the ment spouse or widow(er) annu- of the nearest Board field office, BLE sum payments made in lieu of periodic spouse or widow(er) is also entitled to itants from the public pension off- members should look in the telephone pension payments, based on an a social security benefit based on her sets? directory under “United States Govern- individual’s own employment with a or his own earnings, it was considered Railroad retirement spouse and ment,” or check with their local union Federal, State, or local government equitable that a social security spouse widow(er) annuitants may also be ex- official, rail employer, post office, or unit. Some examples are pensions paid or widow(er) benefit also be reduced empt from the public pension reduction Federal Information Center. to teachers, police officers, and civil for a public service pension based on if both of two requirements are met. Members can also find the address service personnel on the basis of age the spouse’s or widow(er)’s own non- The first requirement is that they and phone number of the Board office or disability. Full salary benefits paid social security earnings. began to receive or were eligible to re- serving their area by calling the auto- to a retired or resigned judge under the The tier I portion of a railroad re- ceive their Federal, State or local gov- mated toll-fee RRB Help-Line at (800) Federal judiciary retirement system tirement annuity is based on railroad ernment pension before December 808-0772 or by checking the Board’s are also considered public service pen- retirement and any nonrailroad social 1982. This means they must have met Web site at www.rrb.gov. sions. security credits acquired by an em- the age and service requirements for Most Board field offices are open However, the public service pension ployee, is computed under social secu- their pensions before December 1982, to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., reduction law generally does not apply rity formulas, and approximates what even though they did not apply for their Monday through Friday. • to a railroad retirement spouse or social security would pay if railroad pensions before then. Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 Page 11 BLE NEWS

2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers May 6 deadline looms for 61st Annual IWC Golf Registration Form IWC hotel discount Please list any players that you would like to play with or other players that you are Skip Colyer, Chairman for Reduced airline fares via the 61st annual International United Airlines are available registering. No steel spiked shoes. Western Convention in Denver, through Travel Organizers by Name: Colo., advises that members calling (800) 283-2754. have until May 6 to take advan- Convention highlights in- tage of specially arranged dis- clude a golf tournament, tour Name: count room rates for this year’s of the Denver Mint, the Ocean convention. After the deadline, Journey, Denver Botanical gar- Name: room rates will increase. dens, and a barbecue at the Brother Colyer encourages Colorado Railroad museum. Name: everyone to come to Denver for Those who register by the “Mile High” convention April 30 will receive a 10% dis- from May 30 to June 2. A room count on all convention fees Golf registration: Number of Players: Total Cost: rate of $105 per night has been (except the golf tournament). $85.00 X = secured at the Hyatt-Regency Members can use the forms Tech Center (7800 East Tufts provided here for easy golf and Please make checks payable to IWC 2001 and mail to: Ave., Denver, CO 80237), good convention registration; how- Skip Colyer for three days before and after ever, members must call the 507 Cortez Ct. the convention. Hyatt-Regency Tech Center to Fort Collins, CO 80525-2507 Hotel reservations can be make hotel reservations. Please make a separate check for golf fees. (No early discounts). Price includes continental breakfast. made by calling (800) 233-1234 A tentative itinerary, which or (303) 779-1234. is subject to change, is pro- vided below:

Tentative Agenda 61st annual IWC 2001 Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Denver, Colo. 61st Annual International Western Convention Tuesday, May 29, 2001 10:00-6:00: Early Bird Registration Registration Form Wednesday, May 30, 2001 8:00-6:00: Registration 6:30-2:30: Golf Tournament Name: 10:00-2:00: Tour of Ocean Journey (Last) (First) (Union office held, if any) 5:00-7:00: Reception by the pool (street, city , state, zip) Address : Thursday, May 31, 2001 7:00-9:00: Continental breakfast Phone: E-mail Address: 7:00-9:00: Registration 9:00-11:00: Opening ceremonies BLE Division: Railroad: and addresses by dignitaries 11:00-11:30: Presidential ad- Spouse (if attending): dresses (Dubroski/Windham) 11:30-1:00: Lunch provided 1:00-4:00: BLE closed meeting How Many = Total Cost 5:00-11:00: Bus to Central City- Blackhawk Casinos General Registration ...... $50.00 X = Friday, June 1, 2001 Casino Bus ($10 in coupons): ...... $10.00 X = 7:00-9:00: Continental breakfast 9:00-10:30: Dr. Nelson Powell Ocean Journey (adults) ...... $18.00 X = (sleep deprivation) 9:00-12:00: S/T, L/C workshops Ocean Journey (kids 12 and under) ...... $6.00 X = 10:30-11:00: Coffee break 11:00-12:00: FRA speaker 12:00-2:00: Lunch provided by GIA Mint / Botanical Gardens...... $10.00 X = FELA 12:00-1:30: GIA luncheon (speaker Colorado RR Museum / BBQ...... $35.00 X = Jolie Root on nutrition) 2:00-4:00: Railroad Retirement Banquet...... $35.00 X = speaker / United Healthcare 1:30-4:00: S/T, L/C, L/R workshops Total = 1:30-4:00: Bus to Denver Mint and Botanical Gardens 5:00-10:00: Bus to Colorado Rail- Deduct 10% if postmarked before April 30, 2001 Total Due = road Museum (Bar-B-Q)

Please make checks payable to IWC 2001 and mail to: Saturday, June 2, 2001 7:00-9:00: Continental breakfast 9:00-10:00: IWC delegates meeting Skip Colyer 9:00-12:00: S/T workshop 507 Cortez Ct. 12:00-1:30: Lunch (on your own) 1:30-4:00: Workshops Fort Collins, CO 80525-2507 6:00-7:00: Cocktail hour 7:00-9:00: Banquet Please note: Golf Tournament registration is on a separate form. Please make a separate check for golf fees. Workshops are open to all members: Local Chairmen, Secretary-Treasurer, Legislative Rep., Delegates to Convention Page 12 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter · April 2001 BLE NEWS Unions tackle BNSF safety APRIL 2001

about in the coming months, to mutu- CALENDAR & EVENTS Safety Summit ally advance the causes of our member- Continued from Page 1 ships,” said BLE President Dubroski. APRIL 29-MAY 2, 2001… National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen BNSF safety practices have come The NASLBC’s annual meeting will be at the Holiday Inn South in Austin, Texas (April 28 is a can only be useful in what they tell us under national media scrutiny in recent travel day). For reservations, call (800) HOLIDAY (465-4329) and use hotel code “Ausso.” Be sure about what is needed to satisfy those weeks, following the derailment of an to say you are with the BLE when registering to receive a discount room rate of $85 per night. interests.” Amtrak train in Iowa on March 18, Please direct questions to NASLBC Secretary-Treasurer I. Perry Renfro at (918) 649-0603. The safety summit will be attended which caused one death and more than by top officers of all three organiza- 90 injuries. MAY 30-JUNE 2, 2-001… 61st Annual International Western Convention, Denver. tions, including BLE and UTU general Fifteen cars on a BNSF freight train See page 11 for details. Contact IWC Chairman Skip Colyer at (970) 225-9716 with questions. chairmen and state legislative board derailed near Stanton, Iowa, on Dec. 13, apparently because a welded piece of officers. JUNE 24-29, 2001… 74th Southeastern Meeting Association in Pine Mountain, Ga. a switch failed, causing a train wheel “We are always willing to talk about See pages 6-7 for details. Contact chairman W.J. Spriggs Jr. at (706) 989-0064 with questions. safety and working conditions at BNSF, to go off the track and derailing the and it seems to me that this type of dia- cars. AUGUST 20-24, 2001… Eastern Union Meeting Association in Atlantic City, N.J. logue could be beneficial,” Rose wrote On New Year’s Eve, part of a BNSF At the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Conference registration begins at 3 p.m. on in response. coal train derailed near Red Oak, Iowa, August 20, and hotel check -out is August 24. A room rate of $105 per night has been secured, and Commenting on tensions between apparently because an overheated the two unions, which reached a fever wheel bearing caused the wheel to fail reservations can be made by calling (800) 247-8767. Those calling must state they are attending pitch in the past three years, UTU and a coal car to drop down onto the the “Eastern Union Meeting Association of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.” Contact President Boyd characterized the roadbed. EUMA Arrangements Chairman Sonny K ertesz at (732) 458-7642 or . safety summit as “a new beginning be- A March 3 switching accident on tween” the BLE and UTU. the BNSF in Willmar, Minn., claimed the SEPTEMBER 9-14, 2001… 66th Annual BLE-GIA Southwestern Convention Meeting “We should seize upon this oppor- life of a switchman, UTU member Terry Randy Schneider hosts this year’s SWCM, which will be held at the Double Tree Hotel at Corporate tunity, and others that are sure to come Weyh. • Woods in Overland Park, Kan. Members interested in attending can contact Brother Schneider at (913) 681-1789. R oom rates are $89 per day, plus tax. For reservations, contact the Doubletree Hotel at: (913) 451-6100 or (800) 222- TREE.

BMWE, BLE derail genetic tests SEPTEMBER 24-28, 2001… BLE Seventh Quinquennial International Convention At the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Fla. See your Spring 2001 Locomotive Engineers Journal Mac A. Fleming. “This victory demon- for details; see pages 2-3 this issue for official list of delegates. Genetic Testing strates that corporate control of work- Continued from Page 1 ers’ private lives can not only be halted but can be completely eliminated.” the necessity for national legislation “This is a major victory for work- Advisory Board March Activity limiting the use of genetic screening in ers’ rights and personal privacy for all By action of the delegates at the Fifth Quinquennial Convention, summa- employment decisions, agreed to “com- working men and women who should ries of BLE Advisory Board members’ activities are published monthly: International President Edward Dubroski—International Office: General supervision of BLE activities; Publications Cmte.; Mtg. with NS GCs mence written and oral expression of not have to fear mandatory genetic test- and VGCs; Mtg. w/ regional meeting arrangements chairmen; Chaired TTD Rail Labor Div. mtg.; Louisiana State Legislative Board conference call; ASLRRA reception; Mtg. w/ Cong. Sherwood Boehlert; Mtg. w/ various short line industry CEOs and executives; “Cram down” negotiations; this position to key officials of Congress ing,” said Ed Dubroski, BLE Interna- Railroad Retirement reform press conference; Event w/ New York Governor Pataki; National Wage Committee mtg. First Vice-President & Alternate President James L. McCoy— FVP duties, contacted GCofAs, SLBCs, telephone calls, correspondence, etc...; and the Executive Branch” within 30 tional President. “Not only did all of Publications Committee mtg. General Secretary-Treasurer Russ Bennett—International Office: Supervision of BLE Financial depts.; Records Dept.; BLE Job Bank; Publica- days of execution of the agreement. The labor support our cause, but we also tions Cmte.; CRLO mtg. Vice-President Paul T. Sorrow—Served as employee member of SBA 1063, PLB 5395, and PLB 5724; National wage/rules mtg.; Assisted GTW significance of this provision of the drew strong support from a broad cross GCofA in negotiating seniority agreement; Attend NS-E GCofA executive committee mtg. w/ newly elected local chairmen; Assist CSX GCofAs in single agreement negotiations; Assist GTW, NS, CSX GCofAs w/ various issues. settlement agreement is readily appar- section of America, including the medi- Vice-President Joseph A. Cassidy Jr.— General office duties; Conference with DM&IR management; Study & paperwork; Conference w/ Gen. Chairmn. D. Hall, Elgin, Joliet & Eastern; Amtrak; New York Susquehanna & Western; Work at the discretion of the President; Compose speech for ent as Congress is being asked to en- cal community, civil rights groups and CSX General Chairman’s mtg.; Mtg. w/ ID Arbitration Dept.; Mtg. w/ President Dubroski; Mtg. w/ DM&IR Gen. Chairman. Vice-President & U.S. Nat’l Legislative Representative Leroy D. Jones—Receptions: Senator Johnson (D-SD); Cong. Young (R-AK); Israel (D- act a comprehensive, national prohibi- Americans from every walk of life.” NY); Publications Committee Conference Call; Depart for Yucca Mountain, NV; Yucca Mountain, NV; Mtg. w/Nuclear Energy Institute; Tour Yucca Mountain; Enroute to Washington, DC; AFL-CIO Political Directors Mtg. High Speed Ground Association Government Relations Mtg. Receptions: tion against genetic testing. “This was a critical case and we Cong. Boehlert (R-NY); AFL-CIO Meet N Greet for Mayor McGreevy; Louisiana State Legislative Board Meeting; Return to Washington; Receptions, Cong. Evans (D-IL); Borski (D-PA); Serrano (D-NY); Maloney (D-CT); Sherman (D-CA); Dingell (D-MI); Gilman (R-NY); Hoyer (D-MD); Pallone (D- BNSF was the railroad Senator Ed- NJ); Boswell (D-IA). Shortline Railroad Association Congressional Dinner; Mtg. w/Cong. Weller (R-IL), re: Railroad Retirement legislation; Mtg. w/ successfully drew a line in the sand to Cong. Quinn (R-NY); Moore (D-KS); Rahall (D-WV); Berkley (D-NV); Receptions: Cong. Blumenauer (D-OR); Holden (D-PA); Reception: Senator Carnahan (D-MO); AFL-CIO Adm. Mtg. TTD Leg. Mtg. Receptions: Cong. Shows (D-MS); Boehlert (R-NY); Receptions: Cong. Boehlert (R-NY); ward Kennedy was talking about when protect the essence of privacy rights,” Kennedy (D-RI); Senator Dorgan (D-ND); Rail Freight Oversight hearing. Press Conference/Introduction of Railroad Retirement Bill (H.R. 1140). Receptions: Cong. Ross (D-AR); Bonior (D-MI); Mascara (D-PA); Berkley (D-NV); Matsui (D-CA); Senator Daschle (D-SD); Labor Breakfast for he said, “genetic testing is a real and said Zanville. “However, the BNSF Senator Cleland (D-GA). Railroad Retirement Coalition Mtg.; UP reception for Sean O’Hallaren, Asst. Secretary for Governmental Affairs, DOT; Reception: Cong. Berry (D-AR); TWU Luncheon for Cong. Abercrombie (D-HI); Railroad Retirement Reform Coaltion meeting. Receptions: Cong. frightening problem, and it is happen- should be applauded for its decision to Davis (D-FL); Stupak (D-MI); Doggett (D-TX); Abercrombie (D-HI); Wu (D-OR). DCCC Luncheon. Mtg. w/Cong. Filner (D-CA); Stupak (D-MI); Dingell (D-MI); McCollum (D-MN); Doyle (D-PA); Berkley (D-NV); Carson (D-OK); Oberstar (D-MN); Gephardt (D-MO); Rayahll (D-WV); Hoyer ing right now, by one of the largest rail- do the right thing after this serious mis- (D-MD); Borski (D-PA); Hearing – Railroad Track Safety. Lunch w/Mark Dysart, President, and Leo Gannon, Treasurer, HSGTA; State Senator Steve Tolman (D-MA); State Rep. Rick Geist (R-PA). roads in the country” as he reintro- conduct was discovered.” Vice-President William C. Walpert—ID Office; BLE Education & Training Dept.; Internal Organizing, Mobilizing & Strategic Planning Dept.; BLE Safety Task Force; On-property negotiations, Union Pacific, Omaha; PLB 6355, Dallas; Gateway Western Mobilization Training, Collinsville, Ill.; duced the Genetic Nondiscrimination in The BMWE represents 45,000 rail Regional Convention Chairman mtg.; Div. 573 mtg., Wylie, Texas. Vice-President Edward W. Rodzwicz— Norfolk Southern-Eastern region, Imperial; Paducah & Louisville RR, Nashville; NS-E region engr. train- Health Insurance Employment Act the workers that build and maintain the ing center; S. Buffalo RR-Investigation on collision; Advisory Board mtg.; Mtg. w/ Pres. Dubroski, VP Sorrow, GC Wallace, VGC Thompson & 14 divisions, Harrisburg; SBA 894 Award 1666, Philadelphia; Assignment under direction of Pres. Dubroski; Mtg. w/ VGC W.A. Thompson; Section 6 week of February 19. Bills were de- track, bridges and building on the rail- notices for S. Buffalo RR; General office duties. Vice-President Don M. Hahs— BNSF system including MRL & ATSF, UP former SP West, Tacoma Belt; General office duties; BNSF on-property feated in the previous session of Con- roads in the U.S. and Canada. wage/rule; Travel to Chicago; PLB 4450, neutral D. Eisher, GC Donnigan, UP, Chicago; Travel to Omaha; UP on-property wage/rule. Vice-President Richard K. Radek— International Office; BLE Decertification Helpline services; Director of Arbitration Dept; National Railroad gress in part because opponents ar- An interview by Mike Wallace with Adjustment Board (NRAB); Illinois Central; Wisconsin Central; Indiana Harbor Belt; METRA; Belt Rwy. of Chicago; Paduca & Louisville; Chicago Central & Pacific; Arbitration/administration, NRAB various; IHB/METRA general assistance-negotiations; WC general committee session; I.D. gued it wasn’t happening. BMWE member Gary Avary and his service arbitration, IC, Boston; IC negotiations; WC screening conference; FRA Part 240.409 dockets this month: EQAL 99-21, 97-65, 98-67, 98- 21, 98-76, 99-37, 99-04, 98-92, 98-101, 97-54, 98-125. “The results of this unprecedented Vice-President Dale McPherson — I&M Rail Link; CP Rail/SOO, UP East Lines; Indiana Railroad Co.; M&NA;. LP&N, Longview Sw. Co. TRRA-St. wife Janice, the Nebraska nurse cred- Louis; Pacific Harbor Line; PLB 6281, Priester, CPR; CPR section 6 mtgs.; UP work/rest, Denver; CPR health & welfare; UP section 6 mtgs. Vice-President & Canadian Director Gilles Hallé—Ottawa office; Mtg. w/ CN Rail; CIRB pre hearing; Mtgs. at ID; EFAP mtg.; CN-W GCofA lawsuit are of immense benefit to not ited with making the genetic testing mtgs.; CN national negotiations; Canadian Club dinner; Mtg., re: Boultar seats; Railway association; Negotiations w/ CBCNS Railway. Vice-President & National Legislative Representative-Canada T. George Hucker—Ottawa Office; Canadian National Legislative Board; only BMWE and BLE members, but for discovery, was shown in a “60 Minutes” Algoma Central national negotiations; Mtg. w/ CP Rail pension cmte.; Core return to work cmte. mtg.; Port Authority mtg.; Triennial mtg. of New all workers,” said BMWE President segment on April 10. • Brunswick Legislative Board; Triennial mtg. of Alberta Legislative Board; CPR return to work mtg.; CPR pension dpt. mtg.

SAFETY TASK THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER NEWSLETTER SECOND CLASS Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers POSTAGE Since 1863, a Tradition of Forward Thinking PAID AT FORCE HOTLINE CLEVELAND, OH and additional mailing offices BLE Publications Committee: Edward Dubroski, International President (800) 306-5414 James L. McCoy, First Vice-President & Alternate President Russell W. Bennett, General Secretary-Treasurer Leroy D. Jones, Vice-President & U.S. National Legislative Representative John Bentley Jr., Editor Contact us: www.ble.org • (216) 241-2630 Thomas A. Pontolillo, Director of Communications Kathleen Policy, Associate Editor

COPYRIGHT 2001, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 4 • APRIL 2001

THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER NEWSLETTER (ISSN No. 0898-8625) is published monthly by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, 1370 Ontario Street, Cleveland, OH 44113-1702. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS Report major accidents when Records Department, 1370 Ontario Street, Mezzanine they happen Cleveland, OH 44113-1702. 0401