2010 SECOND QUARTER REPORT
ALL LOCAL UNIONS
SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 2
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
On June 1st, Vice Chairman/Secretary Treasurer Pat Perry retired with over twenty years of service with the System Council. We wish him a
long and healthy retirement. As previously advised, Brother Randy Shell assumed the office of Vice Chairman/Secretary Treasurer concurrent with Brother Perry’s retirement. Therefore, as of June 1, 2010, all
System Council No. 2 per capita and/or associated correspondence should be sent to Brother Shell at the following address:
Randy Shell
VC-ST System Council No. 2, IBEW
1910 Grider Field Ladd Rd.
Pine Bluff, AR 71601
Phone: 501-515-4991
As a result of recent officer elections for many System Council No. 2 affiliated local unions, there have been severalchanges with regard to those holding an office or local chairman position. Therefore, I am enclosing a Local Union update form to complete with the appropriate officer’s and local chairman contact information. Please complete this form and forward to my office so we may update our records accordingly.
During the week of April 5th, the IBEW negotiating committee along with the bargaining coalition members met with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) in continued efforts with the current round of national bargaining. The meetings commenced with detailed discussions concerning the demands set forth in the coalitions’ Section Six Notice’s. The NCCC provided their analysis of current and future costs relating to Health and Welfare insurance as well as their analysis concerning economic conditions affecting the rail industry. As IBEW Railroad Director Bohne’ advised during the annual Rail conference, the bargaining coalition is prepared to provide our analysis of the profits which the Carriers’ have continued to enjoy, even during the tough economic times. Following discussions, the NCCC expressed the need to readdress the cost of such proposals and will be prepared to discuss them during the next scheduled meeting in July. At this point, the parties’ are still in direct negotiations under the bargaining process set forth by the Railway Labor Act. In the event negotiations fail to pro-
gress, the next step will include Mediation at the request by either party.
April 2010
- On April 5th, AGC Shell met with Kansas City Southern Labor Relations in Kansas City Missouri to discuss outstanding claims and other issues of concern. On April 6th, Brother Shell assisted LU 1832 Local Chairman Darin Nearmyer with a disciplinary investigation at Harrington, Kansas. On April 7th, Brother Shell also met with the officers of Kansas City Local 1832.
- During the week of April 5th, I attended the National Freight Railroad Bargaining session between the Bargaining Coalition and the NCCC.
- During the week of April 19th, AGC Tortorice visited the Hermiston (Hinkle) Oregon facility and met with the Officer’s and Local Chairman of Local 799.
- On the dates of April 21st & 22nd, AGC Shell and I attended arbitration before Public Law Board 7160 with the Kansas City Southern Railway.
- On April 30th, VGC Perry attended the Railroad Retirement conference and seminar in Omaha, Nebraska.
May 2010
- On May 5th, the System Council staff and I met with Union Pacific Labor Relations concerning staffing and other issues of concern affecting the electricians working in the Carrier’s Engineering Department.
On the date of May 6th, the System Council staff and I, along with representatives from the IAM, NCFO, SMWA and ARASA met with Union Pacific personnel in an attempt to resolve issues with the Carrier’s implementation of its Mechanical Department vacation scheduling system and electronic overtime calling system. During this meeting, issues provided by the various local chairmen were addressed and are expected to resolve some of the previous problems.
June 2010
On the date of April 9th, this office received five arbitration decisions from PLB 7001 involving the Union Pacific Railroad. On the date of June 22nd, I received three decisions from PLB 7160 involving the Kansas City Southern Railway. All of the claimant’s and appropriate local unions have been notified of the decisions and provided a copy of these Awards. I am currently in the process of finalizing the next arbitration date with Union Pacific for sometime in September 2010. Throughout the quarter, the System Council staff was busy assisting local unions with day to day issues and researching and progressing disputes. During the quarter, VGC Perry also completed the fiscal year end reports and annual audit. During the months of May and June, the System Council staff and I researched and prepared our submission for a case docketed with the Third Division – National Railroad Adjustment Board where we are an interested third party to the dispute. Please find the following attachments for your review and dissemination:
With best wishes, I am Fraternally yours, Jim Wisniski |