2009
Attention engineers on the Reserve Board:
Below is some useful information from member Brian Smatko on getting your job insurance suspended and reimbursed while placed on the reserve board:
BRCF: Go to the web site - www.BRCF.org
Follow the prompts leading you to "Member's Only, " then to "Relief of Dues."
There should be a form to fill out with Name, ID#, Address, etc. including security questions. After "Type of Relief," put "Complete Relief", and after "Reason for Relief", put "Reserve Board."
BRCF will suspend dues collection and refund up to 90 days of past coverage. Be sure to notify when going back to active status.
LECMPA: The web site is www.LECMPA.org
I could not get anywhere with the web site, so I called and spoke to a person. He said to Fax a letter or notice or something stating you are inactive and not in any working assignment. After trying to find something on the UP website, I came up with a Board Standings printout showing my Location, Board, name, seniority date, and the date I got onto the board. I drew a black box around my name and information, and "arrowed" the location, board assignment, and date, crafted a fax cover letter explaining this, and faxed both pages in, hoping this would be enough proof. It was accepted. I received a check for all my back J.I. to September of last year, and was placed on suspended basis. Again, I must notify them when going back to active duty. LECMPA numbers are: Tel. 800 514 0010, and Fax. 877 633 1910. I suggest a phone call to just check with them as maybe there is an easier way.
LOOK HERE
for info from the BLET National Division on the $4.71 increase on the Health Care Cost Sharing amount for 2009
LOOK HERE
for a copy of the
Safety Intervention Program
for the LA Service Unit
which has become effective in April 2008
notice: large file size 4mb
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LOOK HERE
for info on how to submit a claim when the carrier continues to use compensated time to offset when laying off on family leave
September 2007
Plan ahead, get involved
from the BLET National Division website: . Continuous good standing required to run in 2009 division elections CLEVELAND, September 24 — Although the 2009 Triennial Elections are more than two years away, BLET members must prepare now to ensure their eligibility to run for elected positions.
According to BLET bylaws, to be eligible to run for division office in 2009, a member will have to have been in continuous good standing for 24 months prior to the month of nominations. Specifically, such member would have to be sure to pay full dues from September 2007 through August 2009 in order to run in the 2009 Triennial Elections.
The Office of Labor Management Standards (OLMS), an office of the U.S. Department of Labor, requires unions to provide proper notice to all members regarding eligibility for office. This notice is posted on the BLET website and will appear in the October 2007 issue of the BLET monthly newsletter to satisfy that requirement.
Any members with questions regarding this policy or the dates outlined above should contact the BLET National Division in writing:
BLET National Division
National Secretary-Treasurer
1370 Ontario St., Mezzanine
Cleveland, OH 44113-1702
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December 2008
IMPORTANT NOTICE for engineers!
The time to "opt out" of Part B of the Short Term Disability Insurance Policy has been extended to the end of December.
If you do not wish to participate in this part of the plan, contact Alan ASAP via phone or email(see "Officers page") so that I can show you as opting out and you must also send me the signed form, otherwise you will be automatically enrolled eff. January 2009 and the $23.00 payment will be taken out with your monthly dues deduction.
You can contact Don or Alan for more info.
CLICK HERE
For a Q & A from the BLET National Division regarding the Short Term Disability program
NEW NATIONAL AGREEMENT REACHED
A tentative agreement has been reached February 28, 2007 between the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) and the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC).
Below is a brief summary of the major elements of the tentative agreement.
Detailed information explaining the tentative agreement will be sent to each member as part of his or her ratification ballot.
If ratified, the agreement will become effective June 1, 2007.
General wage increase on the following schedule:
July 1, 2005 - 2.5%
July 1, 2006 - 3.0%
July 1, 2007 - 3.0%
July 1, 2008- -4.0%
July 1, 2009 - 4.5%
Health & Welfare In-network availability for over 90% of all employees, up from 75% today Changes to in-network co-pays to pay for network expansion as follows: visit to family doctor from $15 to $20 visit to specialist from $15 to $35 ER visit (when not admitted as patient) from $30 to $50 Employee cost sharing payments are 15% of monthly premium (employees currently pay about 14-15% through employee contributions starting on 1-1-07 to pay for enhanced network coverage. Cost share adjustments will be made on 1-1-08; 1-1-09 & 1-1-10 Employee cost sharing on 1-1-10 will be capped at $200 per month, or 15% of the January 1, 2009 rate whichever is greater. There will be no increase during the period unions and railroads bargain over the next contract.
Elimination of the "Harris COLA" Carriers will withdraw all work rules proposals regarding staffing/consolidation, manpower utilization and productivity improvements and job actions
Profit sharing may be negotiated with the General Chairmen
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Important if you are on an extra board!
CLICK HERE
For a copy of the carrier's interpretation of the extra board guarantee.
You must perform service between layoffs regardless of whether they are compensated or not or risk losing the entire guarantee. Also, the carrier is counting layoffs from the end of one half to the start of the next half.
Effective April 17th, FELA attorneys Ed Pfiester and Victor Russo have joined forces with the Hildebrand law firm of Oakland
LOOK HERE
for more info
| ATTENTION
ALL EXTRA BOARD ENGINEERS
In addition to the most recent and new interpretation of the extra board guarantee, whereas, you must work in between all compensated & non-compensated layoffs in order to collect the guarantee, also, you must be aware that the noon mark-up rule no longer exists. Therefore, anytime you layoff, you will be charged for a 24 hour pro-rated guarantee day of $230+
I.E.: If you layoff at 1500 hours, you will be able to remain off for 24 hours and mark up the following day at 1500 and only be charged for one guarantee day. You will not need to mark up before noon. The other side of the equation is anytime you are off beyond 24 hours, you will be charged an additional day.
I know this is confusing and we will discuss this at the Tuesday October 9th meeting. We will also review the results and information from the GCA meeting held at the end of September.
Fraternally,
Don Carroll
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