Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

The UTU International is moving to a new location in the Cleveland area, which will result in substantial cost savings and a significant increase in productivity.

The move is taking place Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14, and will necessitate a two-day shutdown of the International office. During this shutdown, the UTU International telephone switchboard will remain open to permit emergency calls.

Additionally, the move will require a two-day shutdown of UTU and UTUIA e-mail; and a one-day shutdown of the UTU and UTUIA Web sites. The Web sites and e-mail access may also experience sporadic downtime shortly before the move and immediately following the move.

The new location will be open for business, with all International officers and staff, on Monday, May 17.

The move includes a significant upgrade to UTU and UTUIA computer capabilities as the UTU International shifts from an antiquated mainframe to more modern high-speed computer networking.

The UTU has been at its current location in Lakewood, Ohio, just west of downtown Cleveland, since 1974. During this period, UTU active membership has declined substantially due to rail mergers and crew-size reductions, and the number of UTU International and UTUIA employees has declined from more than 250 in 1974 to 95 employees today.

The new location, in North Olmsted, another Cleveland suburb and closer to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, will place the International in more modern office space. A significant reduction in space -- from 51,000 square feet in the Lakewood office to 37,000 square feet in the new location -- will result in a significant savings in lease costs. Negotiated with the new landlord was a reimbursement toward renovating, plus seven months of free rental.

The new location has the following benefits:

* A more efficient floor plan that will place UTU International officers and staff in closer proximity.

* New furniture will replace 40-year-old furniture that was not designed for today's modern computer operations.

* Closer access to Interstate 480 and the Cleveland airport will reduce travel costs for those visiting the International. The new location is in walking distance of several hotels and restaurants, which will reduce non-productive time for those traveling to the International for business meetings and training.

* Improved meeting and conference rooms.

The new North Olmsted location is in the Great Northern Corporate Center, at 24950 Country Club Blvd., Suite 340, North Olmsted, OH 44070.

Local, general committee and state legislative boards should begin mailing all business to this new address immediately.

The main UTU phone number will remain (216) 228-9400. Direct dial extensions will be changed and a new phone directory will be provided shortly.

"Although the new office address is on Country Club Blvd., there is no country club anywhere near the new offices," said General Secretary and Treasurer Kim Thompson.

'Our employees, represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union, are among the most loyal and hardworking to be found, and each is dedicated to serving our members as efficiently and productively as possible," Thompson said. "That is evidenced by their comments in the UTU News each month, where we have been featuring their photos and job descriptions for the past year."

Said UTU International President Mike Futhey, "This move is all about improving productivity and reducing costs."