No he is not telling you the whole truth only what is necessary to keep you stupid
by Anonymous
October 24, 1985
Advisory Board Members
All General Chairmen U. S.
State Legislative Board Chairmen
Special Representatives
Local Chairmen U. S.
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
Three weeks ago you received a copy of a letter I wrote to UTU President Hardin outlining a new concept in railroad operating policies titled "THE LAKE ERIE IDEA." This concept is designed to benefit not only locomotive engineers but all railroad employees, since it has for its purpose the revitalizing of the railroad industry by making it possible to gain new business from its competitors in the transportation field. You will recall that In my letter I invited President Hardin to join with us in making this concept a reality and thus provide thousands of new jobs for not only BLE members but UTU members as well.
Judging by his harsh response, I can't believe that Brother Hardin fully understands our concept. It is designed to help his members -- not hurt them. I sincerely hope that he will reconsider and view our plan in the spirit in which it was intended -- for the overall good of all railroad employees in every craft.
The October 5, 1985 issue of the UTU newspaper contained some misinformation about "THE LAKE ERIE IDEA" and about BLE policies in general that cannot go unanswered. For your ready reference, here are the facts:
"THE LAKE ERIE IDEA" is a concept designed to reduce costs on new business by an estimated 60 percent in the first year and 80 percent in the succeeding years. An engineer and a co-engineer will operate the new jobs with the co-engineer's position being filled by ground service employees. The two employees would receive a significant increase in their base rates of pay, yet total labor costs would be reduced, allowing railroads to out bid non-union truckers for hauls exceeding 150 miles. The benefits from increased productivity would be shared by labor, the shipper and the company stockholders.
The Lake Erie concept is designed to protect operating
employees currently employed by freezing the current number of jobs and the number of people on them. A terminal with 50 jobs employing 200 operating employees will never have fewer people unless business decreases below current levels. New business jobs will be filed by people bidding off existing "old" jobs onto the new jobs and vacancies created would be filled by furloughed employees. If no one in a particular craft is furloughed, the vacated positions are "vacancy blanked" and again can be filled if there is a decrease in business, regardless if it is old or new business. The frozen numbers will retain a fixed number of jobs (old and/or new) employing a fixed number of people.
No one currently employed would be furloughed under the Lake Erie Plan and the total number of operating employees will increase as new jobs are added. The Lake Erie idea was designed to help all operating craft personnel and to create future positions for those who will be without jobs because of the caboose-off situation.
Brother Hardin states that the UTU has vigorously refused to even consider the carriers demands that ground crew employees agree to operate locomotives by remote control, yet the UTU National Section 6 Notice served on or about January 3, 1984 contained a provision that train or yard crews would not be required to work with a remote control locomotive operated or controlled by anyone other than a member of that train or yard ground crew.
Contrary to Brother Hardin's statement that the BLE eliminated the craft of fireman on three (3) railroads where it gained representation rights, the fact is that we changed the craft name from locomotive fireman to reserve or assistant engineer, which was beneficial to the firemen involved.
We stand behind our projection indicating a monetary loss if the UTU agreement was ratified and, in fact UTU members support this fact.
It is true that Brother Hardin came to us with a proposal that we bargain together in this round of national negotiations, however, once we discovered his intention to agree to elimination of locomotive fireman, we declined his offer.
To say that we acknowledged the UTU as the leader and that we agreed to "...lay back and wait until the [UTU] made an agreement..." is ludicrous. In fact, the BLE has met with the carriers both separately and under the auspices of the National Mediation Board twenty-four times to date.
It always amazes me that BLE members continue to be barraged with the great fireman "sell-out" myth. The fact is that the BLE spent nearly $1 1/2 million attempting to save the craft and we nearly went bankrupt in the process. We accepted a "lonesome pay" allowance only after the fireman issue was settled and the jobs were lost.
Finally, President Hardin states that he does not believe I am behind the Lake Erie Plan, that this is only a desperate attempt to get members, and that it will be rejected by our members. I want to say to you that I am 100% behind this plan, that it is not just an attempt to increase membership and that our members have not rejected this concept.
Our mail is running overwhelmingly in favor of the plan, and members who were in attendance at recent regional meetings at Phoenix and Kansas City were outspoken in their praise.
Again we say that we hope that President Hardin will re-think this concept and join with us in making it a reality. We bear him no ill - will and seek only his cooperation.