Confidential Close Call Reporting proving its worth
It’s confidential and no-fault. And the result, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, is a significant reduction in rail workplace derailments that too often lead to serious injury and death -- plus, as a bonus, better labor/management relationships and improved operational performance. We’re talking about four pilot projects called Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), whose core value is that railroaders don’t intentionally make mistakes, and the most effective means of correcting workplace errors that have the potential to cause death, injury and accidents is to investigate the cause in a non-judgmental environment. In a review of C3RS pilot projects on … Read More
Metrolink leading way installing PTC
Positive train control (PTC) is modern technology to reduce train accidents, save lives and limbs, improve on-time performance and produce revenue-enhancing business benefits for railroads. PTC utilizes the satellite global positioning system (GPS), wireless communications and central control centers to monitor trains and prevent collisions by automatically applying the brakes on trains exceeding authorized speeds, about to run a red light, violate a work zone or run through a switch left in the wrong position. For two decades, the National Transportation Safety Board has had PTC installation at the top of its public-safety objectives. The UTU worked with labor-friendly lawmakers to … Read More
Rails created early bus lines
By Calvin Studivant, Alternate Vice President, Bus Department – The relationship between railroads and bus companies has a long history not known by many UTU members. Beginning in the early part of the 20th century, railroads began acquiring or creating infant bus lines to extend their passenger networks to where rails didn’t reach. In 1926, Great Northern Railway (now part of BNSF) acquired control of a Minnesota bus line that had begun earlier in Hibbing with a seven-passenger Hupmobile whose capacity was actually 18 as passengers often stood on running boards and sat on fenders. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus operation, where the UTU represents … [Read More...]
Lullaby and goodnight — if only …
UTU members hearing about a National Sleep Foundation study just released might be tempted to roll their eyes and ask – depending on craft – “Does ballast contain rip-rap? Do buses have headlights? Do airplanes have wings?” Yet, sometimes, what is as obvious to transportation workers as closed eyelids on a fellow employee isn’t so obvious to those who shape and make laws and regulations at the state and federal levels. For all the efforts of the UTU’s National Legislative Office and state legislative directors, too many lawmakers still don’t properly understand the problem of transport worker fatigue -- that, at worst, it kills and maims, and habitually distrupts family … Read More
Healthier lifestyle, longer life a mouse click away
Small can be big – especially when “small” is small lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, more exercise, a reduction in alcohol consumption, and kicking a tobacco habit. Such lifestyle changes, say health care experts, may lead to “big” health improvements and a happier you. Americans spend more on health care than in any other industrialized nation, according to statistics, and those costs are reflected in steadily growing premiums for health care insurance. Notwithstanding this spending, Americans are not the healthiest. Consider: * Our nation’s population is largely sedentary * Obesity and diabetes are reaching monumental proportions * Tobacco and alcohol use are popular * Stress is epidemic Health care experts say that with small lifestyle changes, … (Read More)
Merger Updates
Below are the latest updates regarding the merger of the UTU with the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association. SMART will boost UTUIA financial strength (02/16/12) Committees work to create new SMART union (02/16/12) Working together to make SMART a reality (01/20/12) We are now SMART (12/19/11) Merger update: Moving forward constructively (11/10/11) Arbitrator rules in favor of SMART merger (10/11/11) Arbitrator named in UTU-SMWIA merger dispute (03/25/11) … [Read More...]
SMART will boost UTUIA financial strength
By UTU International President Mike Futhey – Congratulations go to Art Rayner, the United Transportation Union Insurance Association’s man of the year for 2011. Art Rayner Art was recognized for his sales and leadership performance – attributes that helped propel the UTUIA last year to one of its strongest financial performances. The competition Art faced from our other dedicated and determined field service representatives demonstrated that the UTUIA is financially strong and growing. And the UTUIA will grow even stronger as our merger with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association into SMART eventually allows 150,000 additional trade unionists to join the UTUIA through purchase of insurance and investment products. For 2011, the UTUIA’s assets grew by $3 million, … Read More
2011 National Rail Contract
What's New: Many will see $2 reduction in health care contribution – Change to benefits – New rail rate tables now posted online – National rail contract ratified – Click here for the latest news on the National Rail Contract – Q&As regarding tentative national rail contract – National rail contract ballots to be mailed Aug. 12 – Tentative national agreement slide show – National rail contract delivers ‘more, now’ – Documents To read the national … [Read More...]
FRA amends conductor certification rule
WASHINGTON – Responding to petitions for reconsideration to its Nov. 9, 2011, final rule on conductor certification, the FRA has delayed for six months the testing implementation dates and clarified other mandates affecting territorial qualifications and the definition of hostlers. The FRA, in a Feb. 8 Federal Register notice, said that because its final rule was published Nov. 9, 2011, six months later than contemplated, carriers were not permitted sufficient time to formulate training programs and have them approved by the FRA in time for testing to begin March 1, 2012. Therefore: * By Sept. 1, 2012 (rather than March 1, 2012), each railroad (other than Class III) shall designate as "certified conductors" all persons authorized by the railroad to perform the duties of a conductor as … [Read More...]
