UTU and BLE going for it all

[Anonymous]

I see the BLET is looking for an "A" card vote on the NS, and the UTU is going for exclusive representation on the UP. I wonder if the unions see the seperate operating crafts as being a lost cause and are going for survival. I always thought it would be tuff to break the crew consist agreement, but now am not so sure. Any thoughts/perspectives on this?

[Anonymous]

I think the BLET is trying somewhat to preserve craft lines, and the UTU is in a death knell struggle to fini***he job of being the company whore they started in 1985, but have been wrong before and could be now...

[daveklepper]

I truly pray they get together and stop squabling.

[Anonymous]

I think past practice by the Useless Transportation Union has already decided that there is no chance of that...

[wabash1]

the blet is going to try and keep 3 crafts of train service we want to keep the crew consist agreement. the other labor orginazation only wants to make railroads non union. The only thing that utu is been good for is proporganda. and even they know that thier people are getting tired of thier lies.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you 100% wabash, it's time for labor representation to work together to preserve the crew consist agreement. I don't really think engineers want to run by themselves unless they were making money hand over foot. With the current administration in office all labor unions are in danger, and a PEB could really tear things up; so it is in the best interest of all rail labor to stop squabbling and unite against the true enemy.

[Anonymous]

Why dont we just have one union and stop the bickering among'st ourselves. While we are squabbling the heads in the companies are kick'n back and waiting for the unions to self destruct. I agree with stephenson on the administration and that is why we should be as one.

[daveklepper]

There ought to be a real grass roots movement for what Triple Valve wants to happen!

[Anonymous]

I really think the FELA and one man crew are two things our next contract must have. If the Carriers want to bully us with Political power, then we should all come together and walk off the property. I have serious safety concerns with both one man crews and losing FELA. As soon as FELA goes out the window the RR's won't be singing their "SAFETY FIRST" tune anymore. Unfortunately, I think we're going to have to keep going backwards before we can go forward. Call me a pessimist, but I just don't like where the current negotiations are going. [soapbox]

[BigJim]

It's time for all employees to ditch the BLE & UTU and start one union. That said remember back in the '80s how the BLE said it didn't need a conductor on the train with them!

[Anonymous]

Out my neck of the woods, the various union bosses/reps are most often referred to now as, "They[the Company] can do that..." I am very close to my railroad anniversary number 35 (!), and I long ago gave up hope of seeing ANYTHING good or even useful from that bunch. Let me also say here that if the remaining unions did merge, and trust me in this, there would be MORE vice presidents than there were in the previously separate unions. I just can't wait to get the age so I can dump the air on this here career!

[Anonymous]

if this gets to canada, the UTU would be out on its ear at CN just like it happened at CPR.
I would hold my nose (because of the Teamster factor) and vote for the BLE. Up yours, Bob Sharpe!

NARguy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Triple_Valve

Why dont we just have one union and stop the bickering among'st ourselves. While we are squabbling the heads in the companies are kick'n back and waiting for the unions to self destruct. I agree with stephenson on the administration and that is why we should be as one.

T_V -

Sounds like what I have been saying for a LONG time, unify and overcome. Oh, and while we're at it, clean house of some of the backroom BS at the top such as the Byron Boyd fiasco...

LC

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by skeets

Out my neck of the woods, the various union bosses/reps are most often referred to now as, "They[the Company] can do that..." I am very close to my railroad anniversary number 35 (!), and I long ago gave up hope of seeing ANYTHING good or even useful from that bunch. Let me also say here that if the remaining unions did merge, and trust me in this, there would be MORE vice presidents than there were in the previously separate unions. I just can't wait to get the age so I can dump the air on this here career!

I'm inclined to agree...

LC

[wabash1]

If the blet gets the contract for conductors their is no reason for the 2 union to merge. then we wont have the pay structure they tried having when the utu decided to try and hostile take over the ble. in short when the vote goes on the ns it will be for 3 crafts and then you pay 1 small due per month to 1 union not to 2 unions and then you dont pay out to officers of the old union

[BigJim]

"blet gets the contract for conductors" "in short when the vote goes on the ns it will be for 3 crafts and then you pay 1 small due per month to 1 union not to 2 unions and then you dont pay out to officers of the old union"

IN SHORT...You will out of a JOB!!!

[Anonymous]

as an outsider looking in,but an ex BR union official(ASLEF).the UTU looks to be a gaffers union,whilst the BLE seems to be a genuine trade union.So why dont all train crews join the BLE.

[ValleyX]

My, my, my, if you believe that, Big Jim, well. . .I've watched the UTU wreck things for my entire career, I can't see where they've benefited anyone for any reason and if you can't see that, then you're one of the blinded UTU members led down the primrose path. I have belonged to both and I'm not without a extensive number of years experience, well into third decade and only a few years to go.

[wabash1]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BigJim

"blet gets the contract for conductors" "in short when the vote goes on the ns it will be for 3 crafts and then you pay 1 small due per month to 1 union not to 2 unions and then you dont pay out to officers of the old union"

IN SHORT...You will out of a JOB!!!

You are so full of it . you make a stament with no info to back it up. and if you are a utu member( which i dont think you are or a railroader) why cant you see what the utu has done over the years. i have belong to both unions and by far the blet is the best . the utu is only interested in taking your money. And losing your jobs. Point the cabooses are gone the brake mans job the switchmans job . only if you have a local can you have these men ( sometimes) now the ble has not lost jobs. and even with the remote i still have my job. ... I can hear you know saying the famouse words from the utu we cant fight technology and it is true. but we dont haft to embrace it. either. and while we are at it we didnt want the remotes. and if the utu thinnks they will run america with remotes they are mistaken just like they have been since 1985. ( or no sense ).

I dont care if it passes senority lets me keep my job. all the new hires will be doing with out jobs because they wont listen and the ole head conductors who think they will lose the productivity fund and other things get what they deserve. and the utu officials who went to prison and made lots of boy friends....just like out here only outside of prison its called dues payers

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

There ought to be a real grass roots movement for what Triple Valve wants to happen!

there is. ROCU has formed to promote operating unity and a democratic merger of the two organizations.

for more info see

www.rocutoday.com
[e-mail]

www.straighttrack.org

[Junctionfan]

I don't understand the reasoning for the multiple unions in the first place. The UAW serves the auto sector, the United Steel Workers of America serves the steel and like steel products sector; why was there a United Railworkers of America?

In Ontario, the board of education often has labour problems because of the various unions and the variety of contract negotiation periods. There is a union for the public (kindergarden to grade 8) teachers, a union for the catholic teachers, a union for the secondary school (Grade 9-12) teachers, and a union for the cleaning and support staff.

Needless to say that schools don't usually get much done or cleaned for that matter because there is always some kind of "work to rule" like action and so the school environment is spoiled. It would be easier if the board could deal with all of the contracts through 1 union and negotiate the all the contracts at the same time at least concerning the teachers.

[BigJim]

Usual Suspect,
Thanks for the links.

[Anonymous]

Rail Crafts United sounds like a great concept. It will take some doom and desperation to get it really going. People don't like change, and trust for either union probably isn't at an all time high, yet no one wants to look like the outsider in regards to their own union at a time like this, even if it is to improve everyones work security. Somthing needs to happen, and I don't see either the UTU or the BLET as the best long term answer. .

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I'm not absolutely sure of this but does the Railway Labor Act (which covers railroads and airlines) still require labor to be organized on a craft basis? This may be the reason that no single union has represented all employees (including non-ops such as clerical and shopcrafts) on any railroad.

[wabash1]

it is not a AFL-CIO organization i dont want it. yard bird how can yo sit there and say that the blet or utu is not the best long term answer . You want a labor organazation that has no idea about railroading to represent the railroad. yes the carrier wants to do away with fela. to bad it wont happen easly ( with out a fight) and this is something the utu would do to pay back the blet . im sorry but they be better off saving the money trying to convert us .

[Anonymous]

What I mean wabash is that the decades old anger between the ble and the utu serves no one for the long run. I belive in seperate crafts, but one union looking out for both sides of the cab would be great. Less money spent on admin, and more energy put to barganing and political lobbying. If one union were to represent both crafts it would have to be a melding of utu and ble members and officers. I agree, no outside union could effectivley manuver and grasp the complexities of the R.L.A. I belive it's the highest union officials who don't wi***o lose positions, power and perks are the greatest obstacle to this occurring