The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers is conducting a survey to better understand your experience as a member of this union. Your participation in this survey would be greatly appreciated.
As a member of the Transportation Division of SMART, your feedback and insight are critical to discovering how we can ensure this union works better for everyone.
Below is a link to the survey, which should take less than a few minutes to complete. Please note the survey will close on Friday, May 17.
The following was written by former UTU Director of Public Relations Frank N. Wilner.
“Here’s looking at you, kid,” is a cherished line from the movie Casablanca, but when the looking is through a hidden camera lens in the locker room or even visibly trained on crewmembers inside a locomotive cab, well, you won’t hear the more famous line, “This could be the start of a beautiful friendship.”
In fact, Kansas City Southern Railway, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the United Transportation Union are heading to federal court over the railroad’s announcement it intends to install inward facing cameras in its locomotive cabs as a safety overlay to monitor crew behavior and train-handling techniques.
Local 14, Cincinnati, Ohio CSX conductor Vincent “Vinny” Kelly, 38, died Jan. 24, GO 049 General Committee Secretary Erik R. Belew reports. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Melissa; daughter, Brittany; and sons Joshua and Vincent. Local 239, Oakland, Calif.
This Union Pacific local held a retirement barbecue March 15 at the East Oakland Yard office for former Local Chairperson, Delegate and General Committee Secretary Brian Lewis, who ended his 35-year railroading career Jan 1. The gathering, organized by Local President Tom Cahill, was attended by more than 50 current and former UTU members and retirees. Pictured, from left in the front row, are Matt Kurtz, Local Chairperson Dan Fretty (100), Lewis, Ted Olsson and Vice Local Chairperson Robert Hudson. In the back row, from left, are Local President Darin Spencer (100), Cahill, Lance Jenkins, Local Chairperson Dan Spencer, retired member Bob Paulson (1801) and yardmaster Leslie Dixon (1801).
Local 240, Los Angeles, Calif. Local Chairperson Harry J. Garvin Jr. and the members of this local congratulate the following brothers who recently retired: conductor Brett D. Ray, March 18, after 33 years of service; conductor Herb M. Dean, March 1, after 33 years of service; conductor Mike L.M. Pierce, March 1, after 35 years of service and Georgia L. Davis, April 1, after 34 years of service. Garvin also noted the deaths of members Edward G. Sheehy, 79, and conductor Lloyd G.L. Williams, 59. Local 243, Fort Worth, Texas
This local hosted a CPR class at its monthly meeting in April, where 12 members were CPR/AED-trained, according to member Steve Cline. Members that completed the training were entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card, which was awarded to Michael Taylor. Besides Taylor, Rickey Claiborne, DeAndre Anderson, Secretary & Treasurer Cameron Cullum and Vice Local Chairperson Mark Truelove and others received the certification, which was taught by fellow member Joshua Livingston. Pictured above, from left, are Livingston, Claiborne and Anderson.
Local 311, La Crosse, Wis. Legislative Rep. Rick Hauser recently received a plaque from Local President Loren Molling in recognition of his hard work in educating local members about the importance of donating to UTU PAC. “Rick simply emphasizes to the members that they are entering one of the best job markets out there, and the UTU helped to create those high-paying jobs with great benefits,” State Legislative Director Craig Peachy said. Hauser said his local has doubled its PAC contributions over the last few months. Legislative Rep. Bruce Przybylski of Local 312 at Madison, whose local was second in the nation in average contributions per member, per month, was also awarded a plaque, Peachy said. Local 313, Grand Rapids, Mich. Michigan State Legislative Director Jerry Gibson would like to thank everyone for their donations and prayers for his daughter, Kelsey, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident Jan. 29. “While she is out of critical care, has opened her eyes and can recognize voices, we still have a long road for a full recovery. I am so proud to be part of an organization that, regardless if we had ever met, would step up to the plate and assist each other in times of need. Anyone that has never belonged to a fraternal organization would never understand that feeling of unity,” Gibson said. “Our family would like to extend a special thank you to Brother Don Silseth, who on his own, set up the fund for Kelsey.” Local 453, Clinton, Ill. Decatur (Ill.) Trades and Labor Assembly President Carl N. Draper (768) and Local Secretary & Treasurer Lloyd Holman attended the unveiling of the new additions to the Workers’ Memorial in Decatur. Each year April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers’ Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew their efforts for safe workplaces. This year, newly added names will be cut in stone instead of displayed on laminated sheets of paper. There are 108 names listed, 21 of which are railroaders, Holman said. Local 506, Herington, Kan. This trainmen’s local has developed a website at http://smartlocal506.angelfire.com, according to Local President Rusty R. Beames. The website features contact information for local officers, local news, agreements, an explanation of the union’s structure and more. Local 446, Cheyenne, Wyo.
This Union Pacific local recently installed Joshua “J.P.” Johnson as lodge historian, Local Chairperson Tyler Thompson reports. “J.P. was a natural fit for historian. He is a fifth-generation railroader, a published railroad historian and has college degrees in history and philosophy. He is also a steam locomotive fireman and engineman. Our lodge is proud to have him as our new historian and welcomes his vast knowledge and immense pride as a brother railroader,” said Local President Pat Wade. Pictured above, in his trademark conductor’s hat, is Johnson, being congratulated by Wade.
Local 583, Fond du Lac, Wis. Wisconsin Central/Canadian National conductor John T. Cetnar, 50, died March 30, State Legislative Director Craig Peachy reports. He is survived by his wife, Laurie, daughter, Jenifer, and sons John and Joseph. “Johnny had been battling cancer for quite a long time. It was a courageous battle. He never gave up and always tried to make every meeting for the local. He always wore a smile on his face and was upbeat,” Peachy said. A memorial fund in Cetnar’s name is being established. Local 1440, Staten Island, N.Y. Trainman John “Flyman” Burman, who retired in 2011, has been inducted into the Railroaders’ Hall at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pa., according to Secretary & Treasurer Vincent LaBella. He had previously served as the local’s president and secretary & treasurer. “Mr. Burman’s passing in 2011 left a sad hole in his peers’ hearts, as he was known for really enjoying his job and being a leader amongst his peers. The members of Local 1440 congratulate Mr. Burman’s family on this accomplishment and would also like to thank motorman Anthony Sutera for his assistance with this process,” LaBella said. Others wishing to nominate another individual for the hall may contact Sutera at rzx724@gmail.com. In other news, LaBella reported the retirement of engineer Charles Brodbeck, who worked on Staten Island Railway from 1985 until 2013. “He served the passengers, co-workers and the community with polished professionalism,” LaBella said. Local 1892, Houston, Texas Yardmaster James Boehm reports that his father, James Larry Boehm, passed away April 7. The senior James, 69, hired out with Union Pacific in 1972 as a switchman. He was a UTU member for 31 years. During the last 20 years of his career, he worked as a yardmaster.
Retired Norfolk Southern conductor and U.S. Army veteran Kenneth Rospert has always held military personnel in high regard, and an idea he had four years ago to honor local veterans has finally come to fruition.
On Veterans’ Day 2012, nearly 1,000 people gathered in Bellevue, Ohio, for the dedication of the city’s Fallen Soldiers Memorial.
“There has never been anything to honor soldiers from Bellevue who served or were killed in the line of duty, so I felt this was something we needed to do for our community,” Rospert said. “I was still working at the time, but I knew it wasn’t something I could accomplish until after I retired.”
A member of Local 225 at Bellevue, Rospert serves as chairman of the board of the Firelands Federal Credit Union. He asked the board to consider a donation of land for the memorial and the board agreed to donate a portion of commercial property in downtown Bellevue.
“I visited a lot of other veterans’ memorials and brainstormed with other veterans to accomplish what we wanted to accomplish,” Rospert said. “A lot of people stepped up for this project and all the work was done by volunteer help.”
The monument recognizes all Bellevue veterans and all branches of the U.S. military. It consists of a large headstone with the names of all Bellevue veterans killed in the line of duty since World War I. It is surrounded by flags honoring each branch of the military and has an American flag and a POW flag at its center.
“We raised money for the big headstone by selling pavers that have the names and ranks of all local soldiers killed in the line of duty, or who wore the uniform. We also received money from individual donors and the Bellevue Hospital was a corporate donor,” Rospert said. “Each paver tells a story of somebody’s father or mother, brother or sister, and it has all their information.”
Firelands Federal Credit Union had its beginnings at the railroad in 1955, when seven Nickel Plate employees joined together to form a financial savings club. Each of them put in $5 to $10 and they applied for a charter from the federal government in 1957. In 1970, it was opened to anyone who lives or works in the community and currently has 26,000 members.
“My son was a big motivating factor behind this. He served four tours of duty, twice in Afghanistan and twice in Iraq, as commander of the Army Rangers’ assigned to the 82nd Airborne,” Rospert said.
Retired conductor Kenneth Rospert stands beside the Fallen Soldiers Memorial in Bellevue, Ohio, in December 2012, a project he oversaw from start to finish.
WASHINGTON — Amtrak rolled out three new locomotives on Monday, the first step in the railroad’s plan to modernize its aging fleet of trains.
The three are the first of 70 new locomotives the railroad is buying to operate on the Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston. Amtrak said they would operate at speeds up to 125 miles per hour on the Northeast route, matching the top speed of its current regional trains.
The U.S. Justice Department is weighing in on an appeal by BNSF railroad over a $145,000 judgment to a former employee hurt on the job, saying a judge’s order to pay the full amount without deducting federal railroad retirement taxes could be “harmful to the United States because … it may interfere with federal tax collection.”
The case stems from a lawsuit filed in 2004 by Eddie Heckman, who was injured on the job a year earlier.
During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks.
According to KCS, each locomotive will have two cameras – one behind the engineer focused on the control panel, and one across the cab focusing on both crew members. (Some locomotives with cameras installed already are in use in Mexico; others are being fitted for cameras in Shreveport.)
The carrier told the two presidents that it has “management prerogative” to take these actions and does not have to, and does not intend to, bargain with the unions over the use of these cameras, or the effects of this dramatic change on its operating craft employees.
Without notifying the unions, that same day KCS filed suit in federal district court in Shreveport, La., to obtain a ruling allowing it to implement its plan. Upon learning of these developments, BLET National President Dennis Pierce and Mike Futhey, President of SMART Transportation Division, together told the carrier that both unions vehemently disagree that the carrier has the right to install and use inward-facing cameras unilaterally without exhausting the bargaining processes of the Railway Labor Act.
The two presidents and the leadership of both unions view this as a serious change in working conditions and have agreed to work closely to resist its implementation. A coordinated effort is being undertaken in response.
Not only will both unions be fervently opposing KCS’s lawsuit, they will be asking the court to enjoin the carrier from going ahead with its plan.
As of now, and until the court has issued a ruling regarding the parties’ respective rights, the carrier has agreed not to turn on or use the cameras.
Union members who work for KCS on a locomotive that has a camera installed should request assurances from the proper carrier officials that the camera is not turned on and not in use. Any instance where that assurance is not given should be immediately reported to your general chairperson.
Also, to avoid any possibility of discipline, no member should attempt to move, cover or otherwise tamper with the cameras they encounter. Cooperation in this manner is vital.
Lastly, train and engine employees can be assured that their unions are diligently working to protect them and their interests in this matter. No legal stone will be left unturned in opposing the carrier on this issue.
Effective April 2, 2013, item 12 has been added to the list of exclusions for which benefits under the Discipline/Income Protection Program will not be paid to a participant who is suspended or discharged from employment for disciplinary/decertification reason.
Item 12 has been added to the list as a result of action taken by SMART Transportation Division Board of Directors.
The complete list of exclusions is as follows:
1. Conduct endangering the life or livelihood of a fellow employee;
2. Unavailability for duty, sleeping on duty or missing calls;
3. Insubordination;
4. Misuse, theft or destruction of property of the participant’s employer;
5. Falsification of reports;
6. Failure to take or pass a required examination;
7. Failure to qualify for mandatory promotion;
8. Use, possession or evidence of intoxicants or illegal drugs while on duty or subject to duty;
9. Discipline due to criminal or civil action;
10. An act or acts, or failure to act, which constitutes a violation of public policy;
11. Involvement in altercations, verbal or physical; or
12. If decertified, the failure to exercise seniority to its fullest that does not require a change in residence.
Active and retired railroad employees covered under The Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan or The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan may be eligible for life and accidental death and Dismemberment benefits from MetLife.
For eligible active employees, the death benefit is in most cases $20,000, and there may be an additional AD&D benefit that could pay up to $16,000. For eligible retired employees, the death benefit is $2,000.
Most employees filled out a designated beneficiary form when they began work for a participating railroad and MetLife urges employees and retirees to keep this form with your other important papers. If you need to update your beneficiary form, or if there is doubt as to whom you designated, it is recommended that you complete a new form and send it to MetLife.
A beneficiary form, as well as a copy of the full summary plan description book, can be found at www.rrinfodepot.com. There is a direct link to that web page from www.utu.org. Hovering over the “Healthcare” tab on the UTU home page will provide you with a drop down menu for the Railroad Information Depot.
You can also obtain information about this benefit by calling MetLife toll-free at (800) 310-7770.
This is a very important benefit for all eligible active and retired railroad employees covered under the national health and welfare plans, although many employees, especially retired employees, may not be fully aware of it. We urge you to post this notice at appropriate work locations on the property and remind all retirees with whom you may come in contact that they should contact MetLife to inquire about their eligibilty for the $2,000 death benefit.
Norfolk Southern conductor and UTU member Jerrick A. Jackson, 47, was shot multiple times and killed May 7 in an apparent robbery at his home in Atlanta.
Jackson was a member of Local 1245 in Atlanta and the local has established a memorial fund to assist his family, Local Secretary & Treasurer Jay C. Roy reports. Contributions payable to the Jerrick Jackson Memorial Fund, c/o Kim Little may be sent to the Jerrick Jackson Memorial Fund, c/o UTU Local 1245, 75 Biltmore Ln., Dallas, GA 30157.
According to a report by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jackson and his fiance were returning home from a fast-food restaurant around 1 a.m. when they were approached by several males with guns drawn.
After robbing Jackson and the woman of a wallet and purse outside the home, the suspects ordered the couple inside the home, where Jackson and one of the suspects began to fight, according to police. One of the suspects then shot Jackson several times before the suspects left the home.
Jackson’s soon-to-be step-daughter, Anbiya Mitchell, told CBS Atlanta News she had no idea why anyone would want to rob and murder the man she called dad.
She said she was upstairs when she heard her mother and Jackson being forced inside their home. “At that time, I barricaded myself in my room and call 911,” Mitchell said. “I loved him. And I really do consider him a hero because he did protect me from the four guys getting upstairs.
Jackson was the younger brother of Bishop Wiley Jackson, founder and pastor of the Gospel Tabernacle Cathedral. In a statement released May 7, Wiley Jackson asked that those responsible for his brother’s death to surrender.
“To the young men who committed this senseless act, as a man of faith and a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I have already forgiven you,” he said. “But I ask you to turn yourselves in so that you can begin the process of true redemption.”
Roy said Jackson was a great person who genuinely cared about others and offered any help he could give. “That guy was well liked by everybody. Everybody down here is just in shock,” he said.
Roy said Jackson hired out with Norfolk Southern in May 2006. He was qualified as a conductor on the Georgia Division, Inman Yard/North District on Oct. 1, 2006, and has been an active member of Local 1245 in Atlanta since Dec. 1, 2006.
A service will be held for Jackson on Monday, May 13, at 2 p.m. at The Gospel Tabernacle Cathedral at 277 Clifton St. S.E. in Atlanta.
WASHINGTON — Amtrak rolled out three new locomotives on Monday, the first step in the railroad’s plan to modernize its aging fleet of trains.
During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks.
Effective April 2, 2013, item 12 has been added to the list of exclusions for which benefits under the Discipline/Income Protection Program will not be paid to a participant who is suspended or discharged from employment for disciplinary/decertification reason.
Active and retired railroad employees covered under The Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan or The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan may be eligible for life and accidental death and Dismemberment benefits from MetLife.