Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

UTU headquarters employees had their own response to Sullivan, which they delivered May 26 in a show of support for Futhey.

Dozens of UTU staff assembled in the UTU headquarters lunch room May 26 wearing orange and blue T-shirts proclaiming, "FOF," for "Friends of Futhey."

Employees said their purpose was to show appreciation to President Futhey for saving their jobs by fighting the SMWIA forced merger attempt.

The event marked what would have been their last days of employment had the SMART merger occurred.

The lease, at what was the UTU headquarters until earlier this month, expires at the end of May, and the SMWIA contemplated no plan to continue the service provided by the existing staff.

The Futhey administration signed a long-term lease at a new headquarters location in North Olmsted, Ohio, where UTU's long-time and loyal staff, represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), look forward to many more years serving UTU members.

Among the "Friends of Futhey" are, from left, Jeff Weisbarth, director of membership services; Charlotte DeArman, billing auditor and chief steward of the UTU International employees' OPEIU Local 17 bargaining unit; and Rich Ross, UTU's director of organizing.