ALL LOCAL UNIONS
SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 2

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

I attended the International Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 9-14, 2006.  Vice General Chairman Pat Perry and Assistant General Chairmen Jim Wisniski and Don Tortorice attended the National Association of Railroad Referee’s Conference in Chicago, Illinois, on September 15-16, 2006.

Assistant General Chairman Jim Wisniski and myself met with Jim Albana, Labor Relations, Kansas City Southern Railway Company, to discuss outstanding claims and the Communications back pay for Brother Fletcher.

International Representative 11th District Clair Scott had a retirement dinner on September 30, 2006, but I was unable to attend.

The Carrier is attempting to change the way we have run vacation assignments and scheduling in the past.  The General Chairman’s Coalition expects to meet with management on October 12, 2006, concerning this matter.  I cannot express enough that it is the obligation, duty and responsibility of each and every Local Chairmen to enforce the Agreements.  The National Vacation Agreement clearly states that management and the Organization will cooperate in the assignment of vacations.  It does not state the Carrier will dictate the assignment.   Foremost, it states that vacations may be taken from January through December.  Nowhere does it state will be taken as the Carrier would like to assume.  In the Morse Award, it states that every effort will be made to attempt to allow the person to take their vacation when they desire.  These points must be clearly pointed out to the Carrier as the Morse Award is the same as a Board Award.  It is the author’s clarification of what the Agreement was meant to be.

The Carrier is embarking on taking up collections for United Way and again I suggest that if we participate in this endeavor, that we strongly request that our members contribute to COPE first to take care of themselves and sign them up for the political check-off which should be their No. 1 priority.  It should also be emphasized that management is required to contribute to their PAC.  With them, it is not an option.

I hope everyone had a joyous Labor Day and participated in the various functions throughout the country during Labor Day.  We should now be on track preparing to get our voters out to vote in the upcoming elections.

Also hereto attached are the following items:

1.     Correspondence with the Carrier when they failed to provide a safe place to
        work for Electrician C.D. Wendt and what appears to be their position
        dealing with safety – to discipline the employee rather than fix the cause of
        the injury.  Please have the Local Chairman review and file this information
        for future reference; details
2.    Working Families e-Activist Network newsletter; details
3.    ACLU Christmas card suggestion; details
4.    Labor Member V.M. Speakman RRB Newsletter for September; details
5.    RRB Scheduled Informational Conferences; details
6.    RRB Job Vacancies List; details

All of the information listed above can be posted and disseminated to our members.  I am also enclosing the System Council No. 2 Financial Report for August 2006, along with this letter which should not be disseminated or posted.

With best wishes, I remain

Fraternally yours,

Vic Janecek

General Chairman, SC#2