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April 2005 MONTHLY REPORT |
ALL LOCAL UNIONS
SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 2
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On the date of April 1, 2005, I returned
from Salt Lake City, Utah, where conference which was to be held on a
Communications worker there was cancelled by the Carrier.
On the date of April 7, 2005, I met with the Carrier at
Omaha, Nebraska, to attempt to secure an Implementing Agreement for the
transfer of work from Taylor to West Colton, California. The Carrier
remained adamant in their position and changed the language in the
Implementing Agreement which would deprive any employee bidding the position
from securing a TPPA or even allowing him moving expenses or any other
benefits of the 1964 Agreement on account he was not the affected employee
and the Carrier did not place him in a worse position since he voluntarily
bid the position. Your General Chairman explained that when the
Carrier started allowing employees to bid for positions, this was done
because too many employees were terminating their service with the Carrier
when forced to move and they were advised that they will shoulder the full
responsibility of any loss of employees on account of their change in
position.
On the date of April 21 and 22, 2005, conferences were held
with the NCCC concerning the Health, Welfare and National Wage movement.
A report of this conference will be forthcoming from President Hill’s
office.
On the date of April 25, 2005, Assistant General Chairman Jim
Wisniski, Assistant General Chairman Don Tortorice and myself met with the
officers at Houston, Texas, after securing Road positions for Dayton, Texas
(2), Free Port, Texas (2), Corpus, Texas (1), and Lufkin, Texas (1), and on
the date of April 27, 2005, Jim and I met with the officers and visited the
shops at El Paso, Texas.
The Carrier has embarked on charging our members with a Level
Five (dismissal) for dishonesty and removing them from service when they
sign for work which they did not perform. The Carrier is on solid
ground when doing this on account of
Second Division Award 6546 which is hereto attached. I request
that this Second Division Award be posted on the Company’s bulletin board of
the ramifications that can occur when an employee signs for work he did not
perform.
On April 21, 2005, Vice General Chairman Pat Perry and
Assistant General Chairman Jim Wisniski went to North Little Rock, Arkansas,
to meet with the management and Local representation there to address some
EEO issues. I was requested to send representatives by International
Representative Allan Scheer of the Boilermakers Union.
On April 29, 2005, I spoke with Assistant Vice President D.J.
Smith concerning the National Agreement, whereas the union dues and hospital
deduction would not be taken out during the same pay period.
Therefore, it has been understood and agreed that the dues deduction will be
on the 15th of the month versus the 1st of the month.
It has come to attention of this office that at some points,
they claim that the auditors have ceased paying federal pay when an employee
signs the blue form and it had been going on for some years without
objection. Therefore, should any point on the System not be receiving
federal pay ($.25 per hour) when signing a blue card, then proper claim
should immediately be filed.
All Local Unions should have their delegate credentials for
our upcoming System Council Convention in to the office within the deadline
date of May 10, 2005.
I have been advised of new telephone numbers for job
bulletining. They are as follows: 591-2987 Company Line Option
2-2-1-1 or 1-888-634-0410 with options 2-2-1-1. Please make a note of
these numbers.
I am attaching letter
to D.A. Moresette, General Director Labor Relations, concerning transfer of
work from Taylor to West Colton
click for details, California, dated
April 21, 2005.
I am hereto enclosing the following
information:
1. Thank you letter from the family of
Chuck Faulder who was tragically killed
in an auto
accident
details here.
2. Scheduled Informational Conferences from
the RRB dated April 1, 2005;
and
www.rrb.gov for details
3. RRB Job Vacancies List for the month of
April 1, 2005.www.rrb.gov
for details
4. E-mail from the Railroad Department
concerning TTD Rail meeting in
Miami Beach,
Florida, relative to rail security grants for training.
details here
5. Notice from Working Families e-Activist
concerning the bipartisan
Employee Free
Choice Act.
www.unionvoice.org
for details
6. Letter from Director EEO/Affirmation
Action Kathleen C. Vance
dated March 22,
2005, concerning EEO and Affirmative Action
Policies.
details here
7. Letter from Edwin D. Hill, International
President, dated April 18, 2005,
concerning the IBEW
Railroad National Negotiating Committee.
details here
8. Article entitled “Amtrak Union Calls for
Board to Resign”.p
details here
I am also attaching our financial report for the month of
March for your reference and review and which is not to be posted or
disseminated (hard copy only).
With best wishes, I remain
Fraternally yours,
Vic Janecek
General Chairman, SC#2
VLJ:se
Enclosures
cc: Ray Cobb, Director of Railroads
All IVP’s
