ALL LOCAL UNIONS
SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 2

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

It is hard to believe that the first month of 2007 has already come and gone.
On the dates of January 15 and 16, 2007, Vice General Chairman Pat Perry and Assistant General Chairman Jim Wisniski met with the officers of Local Union 1832 and held conferences with Labor Relations officer Jim Albana on the KCS Railroad Company and hopefully, have put to rest once and for all, the back payment on the last contract for Communications worker George Fletcher.

Also, we have settled an outstanding claim with James Rankin and he is to receive an additional $11,824.34 on his claim when he was unjustly dismissed from service by the KCS Railroad Company.

On January 17 and 18, 2007, VGC Perry and AGC Wisniski then visited the Shops at North Little Rock, Arkansas, and met with the employees on both shifts, then met with the officers of Local Union 807, along with Assistant General Chairman Randy Shell of Pine Bluffs, Arkansas.

They also met with the officers and visited the points at San Antonio, Texas, on January 23 and 24, 2007, and met with the employees at Laredo, Texas, on January 25, 2007.

Assistant General Chairman Don Tortorice has been working on claims from Los Angeles, California, basin area and Roseville, California, along with trying to complete submissions for our upcoming Public Law Board from his area, as well as assisting VGC Perry with a couple of submissions.

I have been negotiating an agreement with the Carrier concerning the cost of living for the Los Angeles basin area and West Colton. However, the Carrier refuses to completely reinstate the old COLA Agreement with the points identified in that Agreement. The Agreement sent from Labor Relations was in the same amount of $400.00 which was unacceptable and I have approached Neal Spencer, Director of Communications, and the Labor Relations Department and it was understood and agreed to increase the amount to $500.00 effective February 1, 2007. However, at this writing, I have not received that agreement. However, I have sent our agreement indicating the sum of $500 COLA effective February 1, 2007, and am presently awaiting their signature and/or the change in the agreement. As soon as a complete agreement has been reached and signed, copies will be forwarded to those Local Unions involved.

Assistant General Chairman Jim Prizmich met with the Communications Department Supervisor Bill Henry and Neal Spencer, Director of Communications, along with Larry Gallegos, concerning the site at Kyle Railroad and with those responsible for the upkeep of that railroad on January 29, 2007. Kyle Railroad agreed to replace the ceiling and roof at that site and did make a good faith effort to keep the place in a sanitary condition so our employees will not be subjecting themselves to unsafe conditions.

On January 31, 2007, and February 1, 2007, Vice General Chairman Pat Perry met with NCCC in Washington D.C. on our current wage negotiations. No meaningful progress has been made. This was the first meeting with the mediator assigned by the National Mediation Board.


1.     Daily Labor Report on Illinois Law on Medical Care for Rail Workers
        Preempted by U.S. Safety Rule, Court Decides;; details
2.     RRB Disability Earnings Limit Increased; details
3.     FRA 2007 Random Testing Rates; details
4.     Information on Union Pacific’s Request to Outsource Safety Inspections to
        Mexico; details
5.     RRB Job Vacancy List; details
6.     RRB Newsletter from Labor Member V.M. Speakman, Jr. for January
        2007; details
7.     Letter from Attorney Mike Wolly concerning GTW v. BMWE concerning the
        right to strike during negotiations; and; details
8.     AFL-CIO Working Families e-mail concerning the minimum wage;  details

Also, enclosed please find System Council No. 2’s financial report for the month of December 2006, which is not to be posted or disseminated.

 

Fraternally yours,

Vic Janecek

General Chairman, SC#2