JOB BRIEFINGS JOB BRIEFINGS JOB BRIEFINGS
The carrier's latest catchall rule violation is SSI Item #17- Job Briefing. Regardless of any alleged GCOR violations, the carrier will default to Job Briefings as their belief appears to be that if a "COMPLETE" Job Briefing occurred, whatever disaster they are trying to cite you for could not have possibly happened. So keep your Job Briefing books on you at all times when on duty, and FOLLOW THE CHECKLISTS IN THE BOOK. If your "COMPLETE" Job Briefing takes you 45 minutes every time, so be it. If that is what is needed to ensure everything takes place as Item 17 says "Safety, Quality, and Productivity are the result of well-planned and conducted job briefings." then that is how it should be done.
COST OF LIVING RAISE
Per agreement as of January 1st it appears a cost of living adjustment has been added to our rates of pay. As usual, thanks to the "Harris COLA" calculation, it figures out to being a little more than a half of one percent (.007% to be exact). This figure was calculated based on the difference in extra board guarantee between the last half of December 2007 and the first half of January 2008, since no official notice of the increase has been received from the carrier or the International by this Local. For comparison, the current CPI figured by the Federal Government (as of 11/07) is 4.6%. OUCH.Be aware that local managers are handing out FTX failures on crews entering Klamath Falls southward with DPUs needing to be set out. If you, at any time, work with the outbound crew while removing the DPUs and hanging/arming/testing the rear end device, or if you perform any kind of work at any time while on duty with any other crew, you must make a notation in your Job Briefing book that you "attached" the other crew and your crew together to perform the work, performed a complete job briefing covering the work being done, and make sure the other crew has done the same in their Job Briefing book.
Furthermore, managers are confronting operating employees while on duty to see if they have their Job Briefing book in their possession. This means carrying it with you, on your person, at all times while on duty.
Local Chairman Andersen retires=
Local 1573's Local Committee of Adjustment - Trainmen Chairperson Tim Andersen has resigned his position effective July 1st, 2007 due to his upcoming retirement from the railroad.
Message dated 03/01/2007-
When attending rules class or any other company business you are to be paid lost earnings including OT for your regular assignment or the earnings you would have made on the extra board. When making claims refer to Article 57, Section h(8).
I know most of you have already filed claims for this service but you should revise those claims to include this reference. The carrier is of the opinion that you are not entitled to lost earnings and will attempt to only pay you basic days.
Tim Andersen
Local Chairman UTU#1573