Railroaders place to shoot the shit.

The question was asked of hundreds of attendees at the first of two 2010 regional meetings. The second is scheduled for Aug. 23-25 in Asheville, N.C.

Futhey asked attendees to stand if they had witnessed an improvement in representation, union finances, internal procedures and management transparency since he took office Jan. 1, 2008. Virtually the entire audience stood.

Futhey then presented the following summary of UTU progress over the past three years:

* Union bank balances, after payment of expenses, improved in each successive month (with the exception of two months each year with three staff payrolls) -- more than doubling since 2007. General Secretary & Treasurer Kim Thompson was credited with aggressively cutting operating costs; and UTU International officers with having reduced travel expenses through coordination of assignments and expanded use of electronic communications. The UTU International's move to smaller, more efficient headquarters space, and the addition of modern computers, will further reduce costs, while improving member services.

* UTU Insurance Association reserves stand at $24 million as the UTUIA added policyholders and proved its products to be secure and price competitive.

* Discipline Income Protection Plan (DIPP) reserves now exceed $8 million. Instead of the DIPP facing liquidation as it did three years ago, it now aggressively protects members by paying claims that competing plans frequently disallow.

* Increased research, drawing on senior staff skills in finance and economics, made the UTU a more formidable presence at the bargaining table. "More in-depth research into carrier finances provides credible justification for our Section 6 notices," Futhey said.

* The workload of local treasurers has been cut substantially through application of Winstabs and the UTU International's direct receipt of dues. Treasurers acknowledge that what previously took five hours to accomplish now is accomplished in one hour.

* Organizing the unorganized brought hundreds of new members in the airline, bus, rail and transit industries into the UTU.

* The UTU succeeded in having a bus portfolio -- aimed at lobbying Congress and regulatory agencies on bus safety and driver training -- added to the responsibilities of the AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department in Washington, D.C.

* Not only does the UTU have a diversity program, but diversity was applied within the UTU so that every voice within the organization is heard and respected.

* An expanded get-out-the-vote drive, using modern communications tools, is helping elect candidates to state legislatures and Congress who understand the needs of working families. Those elected with UTU support return to seek advice from UTU state legislative directors and the UTU National Legislative Office. The UTU Auxiliary, led by Carol Menges, works closely with the National Legislative Office assisting members and their families to register to vote and to vote on Election Day. Increased UTU PAC contributions help elect labor-friendly candidates.

* Since passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act, which tightened penalties for carrier intimidation and harassment and added whistleblower protection, UTU designated legal counsel have pledged to support members each and every time a carrier violates one of the law's provisions.

* A UTU Rail Safety Task Force was created to supplement efforts of the UTU Switching Operations Fatalities Analysis (SOFA) Group and the UTU Transportation Safety Team to improve workplace safety. Results of a recent task force survey of members on fatigue, harassment and intimidation are already being reviewed by the FRA.

* The UTU successfully partnered with Amtrak for a $300,000 federal grant for the UTU to train -- by producing manuals and videos -- on-board passenger-train staff in recognizing behavioral traits of terrorists and deranged individuals. The UTU has approached the Class I railroads about expansion of the program to freight carriers. There are favorable indications that the carriers are interested.

* Among accomplishments of the National Legislative Office was gaining an FRA requirement that in implementing mandatory positive train control, carriers must provide separate computer screens in each cab -- one for the engineer and one for the conductor, validating that two sets of eyes and ears in the cab are essential for train safety.

* A promise was kept to yardmasters that in addition to preservation of their craft autonomy, they would continue to have a voice at the UTU International.

* Officer training now includes additional and more needs-directed regional meetings workshops, such as training in situational awareness and for hazmat first responders.

"You have become warriors through your commitment at this meeting that we stand united in support of our membership," Futhey told attendees. "Let the message go forth that if anybody tries to tread on us they will be beneath our feet."