By Dennis R. Pierce
BLET National President
CLEVELAND, February 7 — My last message stressed the importance for all of us to set goals for 2011. We face many hurdles in this New Year, but the BLET is taking the steps needed to insure that the membership’s needs come first and foremost.
With the swearing in of three new National Vice Presidents, who joined the Advisory Board on January 1, 2011, all Advisory Board assignments were thoroughly reviewed, and revised assignments were issued in early January, 2011. First Vice President Lee Pruitt notified all Advisory Board officers and General Chairmen of the new assignments, and I am confident that our General Committees will all receive the assistance they need from the National Division.
In addition, a thorough review of the National Division’s Executive Department was concluded shortly after the first of the year. On January 15, 2011, new Executive Committee assignments were published, and these assignments insure that all officers on the BLET Executive Committee share in the responsibility of managing the National Division’s day-to-day operations.
We also are taking steps, in conjunction with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, to strengthen the Teamsters Rail Conference so that it becomes the focal point of joint efforts by the two unions. The Rail Conference will continue to play a key role in our representational activities, as well as our legislative and regulatory work. Also, the Passenger Rail Advisory Committee will be the vehicle for advocating for more high-speed passenger and commuter rail projects, and to defend existing projects from attack by anti-rail forces.
Another core item on our agenda is to increase our outreach and contact with BLET members in the field. During the fall, First Vice President Pruitt and I — along with Vice President & National Legislative Representative John Tolman and assigned Vice President Marcus Ruef — visited a number of locations on the Northeast Corridor where our passenger and commuter members work. I also took advantage of this visit to ride the head end of several commuter and passenger trains, including Amtrak’s Acela Express.
While the primary purpose of the trip was to sit down with SEPTA management in an effort to resolve a dispute over cab configuration on new equipment, we also used the time to familiarize ourselves with the various passenger and commuter operations on the Corridor, and to interact face-to-face with several dozen members. This trip was the first time since creation of the Passenger Department that the Executive Committee has been in the field to hear from our members.
I found our interaction with those Brothers and Sisters significant in several ways. We had an opportunity to tell them, in detail, the things we’re working on that are of specific interest to them, such as the passenger/commuter Hours of Service regulations. We were able to hear — first-hand and unfiltered — their personal satisfactions, dissatisfactions and concerns. And, most importantly, we were able to have a dialogue about how the BLET in general, and the National Division in particular, can better meet the needs of these members.
Another key piece of our agenda for 2011 is to continue to get out in the field, and that will be the job of everyone on the Advisory Board. Our Passenger Department trip was just one segment of a plan to attend Division meetings we’re invited to whenever our schedules permit. That direct contact with the membership will be a cornerstone of my administration in the New Year.
Also at the top of our agenda is bringing our national negotiations to a successful conclusion, which means an agreement that fairly compensates BLET members for their continuing contribution to several years of record carrier profits. Earlier this month, after more than a year of no real progress at the table, the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition — with whom we’re bargaining on health and welfare issues — invoked the services of the National Mediation Board.
I expect that our wage/rules bargaining will shortly be in mediation, as well, because the carriers have been unwilling to engage in focused economic talks until paths to a health and welfare settlement can be identified. Several years of excessive increases in medical costs nationally have complicated negotiations in a way we haven’t seen in 20 years. But we can’t — and won’t — sit idly by while our members receive no wage increases and the largest Class I carriers reap billion dollar annual profits.
We’re also moving forward with resolving disputes over the carriers’ implementation of changes to the Hours of Service laws made by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. This has been particularly challenging because so many different agreements are involved, but an arbitration plan and structure is in the works that will allow us to move forward in defense of our earnings and working conditions.
All of these agenda elements involve a common thread: being active and involved, which extends to every BLET member. In order for us to win the best possible outcome, we all need to pull together and work together toward our common goal; and everyone has a role to play in our struggles.
Defense of what we have and the fight to improve conditions begins with the members. It is the members who initiate the claim/grievance process to enforce our collective bargaining agreements. It is the members who provide month to month direction to our Local Divisions.
And it is the members, responding to calls to mobilize, that give us the strength of numbers to influence legislation and bargaining. Please be sure your BLET agenda for 2011 includes being more active in your union.