Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Twenty Three Years


Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Twenty Three Years
Permalink  
 


And nobody celebrated,

And we all forgot.

Yesterday.

Snippy hangs his funnel in shame.


-- Edited by Snippy at 11:20, 2008-11-01

Attachments
sytsma-ab_LEP.pdf (1,730.4 kb)
__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 

UTU's Chief: A Little Bit of Debs and Dempsey 

By Frank Wilner 

Reprinted with permission from the February 1998 edition of Railway Age magazine 

 

In his navy suit, white shirt, and conservative tie, the trim, silver-haired, and polite-speaking Charlie Little does not appear to be a firebrand labor leader. Yet Little, president of the United Transportation Union, is following the historic footsteps of the incendiary Eugene Debs who envisioned a consolidated railroad union as an appropriate countervailing force to Wall Street wealth and power.

 

But don't be misled here, either. Little's search for compromise and avoidance of congressionally imposed settlements causes him to be compared with management's most trusted negotiator-Bill Dempsey of a generation ago. It was Little, after all, who broke ranks with his peers and opted for binding arbitration in the previous round of national handling, and it was Little who counseled with general chairmen and eventually supported the UP-SP merger and Conrail carve-up in exchange for what he promises is more extensive income protection than available under the New York Dock conditions routinely imposed by STB.

Now Little, who clearly marches to a different drummer than his peers, is quoting another great communicator-"if not us, who; if not now, when?"-in his quest to merge BLE and UTU into "the largest and most powerful operating craft union ever." Actually, Little's appetite is the same as that of his fellow labor leaders-"more, now" as well as protection of jobs, benefits, and quality of life. It is his tactics that differ-emanating from hope rather than cynicism. 

 

"Charlie knows technology isn't going backwards," explains National Mediation Board (NMB) member Maggie Jacobsen of previous actions by Little. "Instead of expressing hostility and insecurity and turning me into a fire hydrant, he's assimilating into the new culture, participating in interest-based problem solving and creating a sense of purpose." (She has not discussed Little's desire to merger BLE and UTU into a single union.) 

 

Little recognizes that as railroads grow larger and stronger, it is increasingly difficult for fragmented unions to influence corporate policy or a Congress that is growing more conservative. 

 

In fact, BLE leadership similarly recognizes the advantages of a single union inside the locomotive cab, with BLE International Vice President Bill Walpert exclaiming last summer that "there eventually will be one operating craft across the country." But BLE's leadership fears extinction should a merger occur now when UTU has twice as many members as BLE. 

 

So a forthright Little is asking NMB to require a rank-and-file vote aimed at imposing single-craft representation of all train and engine service employees wherever BLE and UTU represent workers inside the cab. 

 

Through a single T&E union, he envisions an enhanced ability to withstand carrier attempts to whittle crew size to one-and, eventually, obliterate engineer-only operations by relying entirely on remote control. 

 

The foundation upon which Little builds his quest for single representation is the seven-year-old PEB 219, which requires all post-1985 hires to accept promotion from brakeman to conductor to locomotive engineer, and a 1993 NMB decision recognizing a consolidated craft of T&E employees on the Florida East Coast. 

 

Little observes that hiring qualifications for brakemen, conductors, and engineers are similar, operating crews receive common training, operating rules are equivalent, and as brakemen and conductors are promoted to engineer-and as engineers occasionally "flow back" to position of conductor and brakeman-an operating employee is represented at various stages of his or her career by BLE and UTU. 

 

"The distinction between the duties and training of engineers, conductors and brakemen has been blurred to the point of extinction," insists Little. He further frets that the cost of duplicate union structures is making it prohibitive for BLE and UTU separately to provide suitable representation. 

 

Perhaps if BLE and UTU didn't have a documented history of raiding each other's memberships - with more charges of this sort hurled between the two than any other unions in the history of AFL-CIO-and perhaps if BLE hadn't crossed UTU's picket lines during the Soo Line strike there would be less of a warlike attitude between leaders of the two unions. 

 

To critics who see Little playing into the hands of carriers that hope to obliterate craft lines and create a ubiquitous railroader who can be trained for and assigned to a multitude of tasks, Little asserts he is a defender of craft distinctions and separate seniority rosters. He points to UTU's heritage of uniting, while preserving, autonomous crafts including brakemen, conductors, firemen, switchmen, and yardmasters. 

 

For sure, Charlie Little has disturbed a hornet's nest and the outcome of his latest initiative is anything but assured. In the process he is forcing his fellow labor leaders to confront an observation of the legendary United Auto Workers chief Walter Reuther: "We have to work out common demands and bring to bear upon the collective bargaining process the full power and leverage of a united approach."


 



__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

I dropped the ball.
cry

__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 




-- Edited by Snippy at 12:27, 2008-11-01

__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

Happy Halloween from Your UTU




Attachments
stupid.wav (6.9 kb)
__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 



Attachments
littlecoat.wav (283.2 kb)
__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

"They like it. It's brought a bit of fun back into railroading," says John Hancock, a UTU general chairman on CSX. "It's kind of like model railroading.like having your own HO-scale train out there."

http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=807



Attachments
__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 





Save Our Union - Update on the UTU SMWIA - SMART Merger - 10/30/08

U.S. District Judge Adams has recently issued three separate orders which are described below. In addition we also have an update from Concerned Delegates to Save Our Union.

INTERVENORS MOTION TO DISMISS
The seven intervening UTU officers had submitted a Motion to Dismiss our entire lawsuit, and with it the injunction preventing the acquisition of the UTU by the Sheet Metal Workers. They argued that Judge Adams had no jurisdiction to hear our case which, they contended, didnt seek to rule on the lawfulness of a merger referendum, but rather to overturn the election of SMART officers by the 2007 UTU International Convention. And since only the U.S. Department of Labor is authorized to sue to overturn elections, not members, the Intervenors contended that the court had no choice but to find that it lacked jurisdiction over our member-initiated lawsuit.
In his Order denying their Motion to Dismiss, the Judge noted that Intervenors arguments now stand in stark contrast to the factual record developed in this matter.(emphasis added)

In fact the Intervenors own campaign literature from the convention completely disproved their allegations. Each of them had circulated campaign literature clearly stating they were running for office in the UTU. Additionally, in their court filings they slipped up and admitted that they were elected officers of the UTU. As Judge Adams said, Effectively, Intervenors seek to have their cake and eat it too. They sought intervention contending that as the elected UTU Board they had a duty to fulfill the wishes of the electorate. Once successfully involved in the case, they now seek to argue that they were never really elected to the UTU Board. While these inconsistenciesplayed no role in the Courts decision, they are troubling. (emphasis added)

ORDER STAYING PROCEEDINGS

In this Order, Judge Adams concluded, that the interests of justice are best served by the imposition of a stay [of further proceedings at the District Court level] pending a decision from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on this Courts jurisdiction to decide Plaintiffs requests for injunctive relief.

PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGEMENT

In early January 2008, the Plaintiffs had filed a pro forma Motion for Summary Judgment which would have promptly and finally forbidden consummation of the SMART merger. The Motion was based on two facts. That motion was, however, promptly put on a back burner when the Seven Dwarfs sought to intervene in the action; instead, the Court focused all of its attention on whether to permit them to join the case and obstruct what would otherwise have been a quick settlement between the plaintiffs and the UTU to finalize a SMART Constitution and put it out for an up-or-down, democratic vote by the UTU membership. Eventually, the Judge ruled that he had no choice but to allow them to join, and to derail, the litigation.
In what was, essentially a house-cleaning action, Judge Adams denied the Plaintiffs motion without prejudice to their refiling it after the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati has ruled. At that time, we are confident that the District Court will be in a position to move forward, once again, and wrap up the case.

STATUS OF INTERVENORS APPEAL

The Intervenors have filed their appeal with the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, OH. The specific issues they announced their intention to raise are:
  • Whether the District Court erred in granting a preliminary injunction;
  • Whether the District Court had subject-matter jurisdiction to enjoin a union merger, thereby invalidating the results of a union officer election;
  • Whether the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act mandates the substantive method for conducting a union merger;
  • Whether the Merger Agreement between the United Transportation Union ("UTU") and the Sheet Metal Workers International Union was violated when the UTU failed to mail to all UTU members a copy of the constitution for the proposed merged union.
The Appellate Court has issued the following brief schedule:
  • Intervenors-Appellants Brief Filed is due by November 17, 2008
  • Plaintiffs-Appellees Brief Filed is due by December 16, 2008
  • Appellants Reply Brief (Optional) dur 14 days thereafter.
As you can see, the appeal process promises to be lengthy. The Court will have the briefs in hand after the first of the year. At some point in time, they will most likely schedule oral argument by the lawyers. Thereafter, although theres no telling how long thereafter, the Court will issue an opinion either affirming Judge Adams orders, modifying or overturning them. At that point, we expect the case to return to Judge Adams who will eventually wrap it up and enter a final (rather than preliminary) decision and judgment.

SAVE OUR UNION WEBSITEwww.saveourunion.org

Some changes have been made to the Save Our Union website.
· You can now easily access the Court Docket and pertinent documents from the each of the court cases spawned by this flawed sell-out of our union. You can read the cases and decide for yourself.
· A history of the merger attempt is available.
· The forms to use in order to donate to the Save Our Union legal fund are available and we appreciate your needed donation. As you know we accept donations only from UTU members or subordinate bodies. Hopefully, once the case is adjudicated, the Plaintiffs will be awarded compensation for their legal costs and will be able to refund donations. You will promptly receive acknowledgement of your donation.
· The forum is still available for discussions and your comments.
· We also post submitted opinion articles and letters on our Blog. You can send yours to webmaster@saveourunion.org.
· We often receive news from supporting members and will post it as it becomes available.


CONCLUSION

Make no mistake about it. John Babler, Victor Baffoni, Roy Boling, James Brunkenhoefer, James Cumby, John Fitzgerald and Tony Iannone are doing and saying everything they can to use their Sheet Metal-paid attorney to prolong this travesty.

They still want a blank check from UTU members to create SMART in any form that Mike Sullivan desires. They still want the sell-out that they conspired with Paul Thompson & Mike Sullivan to create. They still place the lawful rights of UTU members behind their own selfish interests. They are still being paid a UTU salary and expenses to travel around our union and continue to parrot Paul Thompsons lies in an attempt to justify their horrid actions.

Here is what President Futhey, Assistant President Arty Martin and General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson had to say about those lies:

· "These unscrupulous individuals are spreading a vicious, unfounded deception that if the UTU doesnt merge with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association immediately, the UTU is facing financial failure,"
· SMWIA has a hand in the spreading of these false rumors about UTU finances."
· Moreover, the UTU membership was given incorrect information as to why the previous administration sought the merger.
· it became apparent that UTU finances were not as dire as had previously and wrongfully been presented to us and our members,"
· "This is the same outrageous, incorrect and irresponsible allegation that was made by the previous UTU International president when he attempted his merger cram-down last year. The allegation was wrong then. The allegation is even more wrong today."

They know their arguments will not hold up in court, so their only hope is to use Sheet Metal Worker dues to extend it until the Plaintiffs can no longer financially continue. Brothers and Sisters, we assure you that will not happen. The Plaintiffs are just in upholding our rights and united we will continue to support them as long as it takes. Justice will be done.

Make no mistake about it. John Babler, Victor Baffoni, Roy Boling, James Brunkenhoefer, James Cumby, John Fitzgerald and Tony Iannone (along with their master, Mike Sullivan)are the only ones who are standing in the way of a just and proper settlement. They are deliberately preventing our rights from being upheld. They are deliberately causing the legal costs to the Plaintiffs and the UTU to skyrocket.
They continue to do this at no expense to themselves. Not one penny comes out of their pockets. UTU dues pay their salary and expenses to travel around the UTU; and Sheet Metal Workers pay their lawyers fees as well as their litigation-related, personal expenses.

You know where they are getting their money and who they were elected to represent. The question is -- Who are they really representing and why?





Update on Babler, et al vs. Futhey, et al - Law Suit filed by Joyce Goldstein of the SMWIA on behalf of the seven UTU Officers
[This update comes from Concerned Delegates Committed to Save Our Union. The Court Docket and pertinent documents from the case are available on the Save Our Union website.]

The plaintiffs in this case are the seven UTU officers (J. Babler, V. Baffoni, J. Brunkenhoefer, J. Cumby, R. Boling, J. Fitzgerald and C. A. Iannone) who are facing charges before the UTU Executive Board. These seven officers are alleging that the Defendants (UTU President M. B. Futhey, the UTU Executive Board members and (3) UTU members) conspired to have charges brought against them before the Executive Board.

This suit was filed in April 2008 in an attempt by the seven officers to avoid standing trial before the UTU Executive Board. The seven officers are suing the Defendants as individuals as well as in their official capacities.
Two (J. P. Jones & D. G. Strunk, Jr.) of the16 individuals who filed charges against these officers for their violations of the UTU Constitution are being sued. They have also included in the suit UTU Local 982 member D. M. Murphy as an alleged co-conspirator.

When the suit was filed by Joyce Goldstein, (Sheet Metal Workers International Association paid attorney) she was, in our opinion, making an attempt to threaten each of the participants with financial retaliation for merely exercising their rights under Article 25 of the UTU Constitution.

Ms. Goldstein has tried to hold Case Management Conferences for the purpose of settling the charges, dropping the charges or having them withdrawn by the charging parties. A Conference was scheduled for October 2, 2008, but has now been postponed until November 10, 2008. All of the parties involved are required to participate either in person or by phone conference. There may be another date set up for a Case Settlement Conference up to two months from the November 10th date.

Each time one of these meetings is scheduled Ms. Goldstein shows her lack of understanding and knowledge as to just what authority each of the parties has with regard to handling of the charges under the UTU Constitution.

Parties in this suit will be going into the scheduled hearing before Judge Adams. We can only wait and see what the latest actions by the seven UTU officers will be, as they continue to be funded and directed by the SMWIA leadership. Thanks for your continued support.


** JUST IN **

We have just been made more aware of the problems rank-and-file members and retirees of the Sheet Metal Workers are having with their severely underfunded National Pension Fund. How much UTU money was Sullivan planning to use to fund the shortfall? Why didnt Paul Thompson reveal this to us before the merger vote?

Here are the basic facts as they have been presented to us.


1) In 2006 the SMWIA National Pension Plan covered 136,000 workers
2) It had guaranteed 7.45 Billion in Benefits, but only had assets of 3.1 Billion (22,879 per person) A deficit of 4.35 Billion.
3) Benefits were increased after the creation of the Fund.
4) The Fund is under funded by 43%
5) The SMWIA Staff Pension Plan was 81% Funded (230,848 per person)
6) As Rank and File members had their COLA cut the Staffs COLA fund tripled. Union contributions paid entirely for the increase, with nothing from Staff Salary.
7) Mike Sullivan received $133,198 in benefit Plan contributions in 2006.

There are links on the Save Our Union website or you can go to:
Sheet Metal Workers National Committee to Preserve our Pension " POP


__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

unionman

avatar.img?ID=76314

Critical

Posts: 27
Date: 12:21 PM, 07/03/07

Troll,
You just talked me into a yes vote.




__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 

FMB


Board Modification Mediator

Status: Offline
Posts: 6012
Date:
Permalink  
 

tin.jpg  

-- Edited by FMB at 15:56, 2008-11-02

__________________

 Karma, I have a list of people you missed. 



Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 

Low blow FuMBlelina.

__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

Snippy wrote:

Low blow FuMBlelina.







Attachments
__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 

Snippitina!!!!!!
727px-Drawn_love_hearts.svg.png

__________________

Tinhorn Dictator



500 - Internal Server Error

Status: Offline
Posts: 36507
Date:
Permalink  
 

The original iron thong

/download.spark?ID=357886&forumID=105367&type=tn
View image

__________________

© Equal Opportunity Annoyer

Troll The Anti-Fast Freight Freddie

 

 

 

 



Force Majeure

Status: Online
Posts: 23396
Date:
Permalink  
 

/download.spark?ID=357886&forumID=105367

__________________

Tinhorn Dictator

1 2  >  Last»  | Page of 2  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Chatbox
Please log in to join the chat!