Why always the UTES doing stuff in Congress we pay damn high dues to BLET and I BLET proud but think our BLET be doing more in Congress and showing rail labor who really leader of labor. Found this on UTES webpage.
Whopper of a safety bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In the face of withering opposition by railroad management and its congressional friends, the bi-partisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has secured a majority vote to send to the House floor the most labor-friendly safety bill in three decades.
H.R. 2095, the Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act, effectively eliminates limbo time, which is the practice of abandoning train crews on locomotives -- without pay -- after their on-duty time has expired. It is not uncommon for limbo time to stretch to six or eight hours per shift, which contributes to cumulative fatigue that has been tied to so-called human-factor-caused train accidents.
H.R. 2095 also:
* Requires certification of conductors, requires a uniform training standard for all new conductors, and periodic retraining of veteran conductors -- all essential to keeping pace with new technology, new equipment and new operating practices;
* Requires main-line switch monitors in non-signaled territory, or for trains to operate at restricted speeds approaching all main-line switches;
* Provides stronger whistle-blower protection for employees who report unsafe conditions and personal injuries;
* Requires that railroads install positive train control technology by 2014;
* Requires railroads to devise and implement fatigue management plans, and to guarantee train crews receive a minimum of 10 hours undisturbed rest between trips, and at least one 24-hour off-duty period every seven days;
* Requires a formal study of locomotive cab design, which takes into account the health effects of locomotive seats, diesel- fume inhalation for lead and trailing locomotives, and other cab working conditions;
* Requires that emergency escape breathing apparatus and training be provided train crews;
* Increases the number of federal safety inspectors;
* Increases significantly the civil penalties for safety violations, requires carriers provide injured employees with prompt medical attention, and requires that carriers promptly arrange transportation to a hospital for injured employees when the injured employee requests it; and,
* Changes the name of the Federal Railroad Administration to the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, which will require the agency to concentrate all its resources on safety.
"Limbo time exists because railroads, which boast to investors they are among the most computer-intensive and computer-savvy industries in America, cannot plan their operations to schedule seamless crew-change assignments," said UTU International President Paul Thompson. "This lack of planning contributes to cumulative crew fatigue, safety problems and dreadful customer service. Indeed, influential shipper groups joined the UTU in support of eliminating limbo time."
The bill limits limbo time to 30 hours per month per employee for the first year, and then 10 hours per month per employee after the second year. Currently, there is no limit on limbo time.
"UTU’s position was that there should be zero limbo time," said UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer. "The compromise was necessary to save the provision; but 10 hours per month per employee effectively eliminates limbo time because it is unlikely the carrier, which already is unable to schedule crews efficiently and provide transportation on anything near a timely basis, will be able to accurately calculate remaining limbo time for two separate members of a train crew."
Thompson said that H.R. 2095 would "never have exited even a House subcommittee had labor-friendly Democrats not taken control of Congress following last November’s congressional election. This bill is a direct result of our members’ political involvement."
The bill’s principal sponsors, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Rail Subcommittee Chairman Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) "fought unprecedented opposition by carrier-friendly lawmakers," Thompson said. "CSX CEO Michael Ward went so far as to threaten pulling jobs from its headquarters city of Jacksonville, Fla, which is Rep. Brown’s district."
Brunkenhoefer said, "Rep. Brown didn’t blink in the face of these threats. This is an old carrier-management trick when they fear they can no longer put profits ahead of safety. Carrier management typically pitches a tantrum and threatens to halt new investment and to pull jobs every time a bill not to their liking comes up for a vote. Been there, seen that. We commend Rep. Brown for not blinking because carriers fear that improved safety will take a few dollars from their vaults that already rival those of Ft. Knox."
Railroads, whose rain of money on Capitol Hill matches the pigeon droppings on the Capitol dome, can now be expected to mass their infantry, armor and artillery in a final attempt to destroy H.R. 2095 when the entire House votes on the bill when it reaches the floor -- perhaps as early as July.
"UTU members, their family and friends must continue to telephone and e-mail their lawmakers urging them to support H.R. 2095," Brunkenhoefer said. "A separate rail safety bill soon will be introduced in the Senate, and that, too, will face exhaustive carrier opposition." The Senate bill is not expected to be up for votes before Labor Day.
Thompson said, "We must concentrate thousands of telephone calls and e-mails on House and Senate lawmakers, at the appropriate time, to make clear to them that the public safety and national security must take precedence over additional earnings the carriers crave by stopping rail safety legislation.
"Rail safety legislation," Thompson said, "is about train crews going home from their jobs to their families in one piece. Carrier profits and executive bonuses should not take precedence over the safety and security of train crews and the American public. That’s the message to be delivered."