(BLET National President Don Hahs issued the following statement on December 29.)
CLEVELAND — The year 2005 was marked by many gains and positive achievements by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and its membership. As the year draws to a close, let us look back on those accomplishments so that they may inspire us to even greater things in 2006.
The year 2005 was one of solidarity at the bargaining table.
On January 3, 2005, we announced the creation of the new Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition, a unified national bargaining force that represents 85,000 rail workers. For the first time in decades, the majority of organized rail labor sat united at the bargaining table in an effort to defeat the “divide and conquer” strategy so often used by the National Carriers Conference Committee. After only a few bargaining sessions with the RLBC, however, the NCCC abruptly cut off negotiations on December 14 and asked the National Mediation Board to intervene.
The year 2005 was one of negotiating success.
On a regional basis, the BLET successfully negotiated strong contracts for several shortline railroads. BLET members on the Louisville & Indiana Railroad ratified their first ever contract on April 1, 2005. Pacific Harbor Line members ratified their new BLET contract on May 12. Utah Railway members approved a strong BLET contract on July 29.
The year 2005 was spent in pursuit of safety improvements.
The BLET spent 2005 continuing its efforts to secure federal safety regulations for remote control locomotives. On May 24, the Federal Railroad Administration issued a report revealing critical safety issues common in most remote control train operations: Loss of situation awareness; insufficient training; inadequate staffing and pairing of inexperienced crews; and inadequate practices and procedures governing remote control operations.
These findings validated many of the concerns raised by the BLET, and were a contributing factor in several high-profile remote control accidents throughout the year. On April 11, 2005, a fatal remote control accident in Riverdale, Utah, claimed the life of a Union Pacific switchman. It was his second day on the job at Riverdale at the time of the fatality. He had eight months of total railroad experience.
The BLET released its own Remote Control Hazard Study in August, which, among other things, charged that rail corporations should no longer be allowed to police themselves regarding remote control operations.
And, thanks to BLET lobbying efforts, Representative Gene Green (D-TX) introduced a remote control safety bill the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill sought to ban the transportation of hazardous materials by remote control.
The year 2005 was a busy one on Capitol Hill.
The survival of Amtrak came into question once again, and the BLET was there to ensure its continued funding. In May, the BLET and other Rail Labor unions created the Amtrak Action Alliance to fight for Amtrak funding on Capitol Hill. The Alliance lobbied all summer long and overcame the threat of a Bush administration veto to secure another year of funding for Amtrak.
The year 2005 was one of heightened rail security concerns.
On September 29, the Teamsters Rail Conference issued its indepth report titled, “High Alert: Workers Warn of Security Gaps on Nation’s Railroads.” The report summarized the results of the Safe Rails Security America survey campaign. BLET and BMWED members report of a lack of rail security training and no measures to protect rail property. As a result of the Rail Conference effort, railroad security has become a hot topic on Capitol Hill and has resulted in the introduction of a rail security bill in the U.S. House by Jim Oberstar.
The year 2005 was one of education.
The BLET’s Education & Training Department was extremely busy in early 2005. The National Division implemented a new online dues reporting system effective January 1, 2005, and the Education & Training Department conducted a nationwide series of Secretary-Treasurer workshops to introduce the new system to its STs.
The year 2005 was one of change.
On July 25, the Teamsters and BLET announced their withdrawal from the AFL-CIO to join Change To Win, a new labor federation that places greater emphasis on organizing. Change To Win held its first convention in St. Louis on September 27, 2005, and the BLET and Teamsters were well-represented at the inaugural ceremonies.
However, 2005 was also a year of loss for our Brotherhood. Beloved members of the Brotherhood’s family were lost last year, and I ask you to join me in honoring their memory.
Betty Child, Honorary Member and Office Administrator for the Brotherhood’s National Legislative Office in Washington, D.C., passed away on January 5. Betty worked for the Brotherhood for more than 30 years.
Brother Christopher G. Seeling died on January 6, 2005, in the Norfolk Southern accident in Graniteville, S.C., which happened in dark territory. Brothers Mark Cain and Arthur “Buddy” Irby died in the head-on collision of two CN/IC locomotives near Anding, Miss., on July 10, 2005. Brother G.Y. Bailey died on September 15, 2005, when his parked Union Pacific train was hit by another train in dark territory about 60 miles northeast of Houston. He was Local Chairman of Division 62 in Houston.
The gains and growth we enjoyed in 2005 were tempered by the losses we endured. May the new year be a year of greater growth and prosperity not only for the Brotherhood as an organization, but also for our individual members — the hard-working people who make this organization so great.
Best wishes for a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Don M. Hahs
National President