2010 SECOND QUARTER REPORT

ALL LOCAL UNIONS
SYSTEM COUNCIL NO. 2

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

On June 1^st, 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 5^th, 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 5^th, AGC Shell met with Kansas City Southern Labor  Relations in Kansas City Missouri to discuss outstanding claims  and other issues of concern. On April 6^th, Brother Shell assisted  LU 1832 Local Chairman Darin Nearmyer with a disciplinary  investigation at Harrington, Kansas. On April 7^th, Brother Shell  also  met with the officers of Kansas City Local 1832.
• During the week of April 5^th, I attended the National Freight  Railroad Bargaining session between the Bargaining Coalition  and the NCCC.
• During the week of April 19^th, 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 21^st & 22^nd, AGC Shell and I attended  arbitration before Public Law Board 7160 with the Kansas City  Southern Railway.
• On April 30^th, VGC Perry attended the Railroad Retirement  conference and seminar in Omaha, Nebraska.

May 2010

• On May 5^th, 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 6^th, 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.

 

n the date of May 12th, AGC Tortorice and I met with the IBEW  Certified Training Instructors (CTI’s) assigned at the various  locations on Union Pacific Railroad. At that time we discussed  common concerns such as daily hours, travel time, and  compensation. We are currently pursuing these issues with the  Carrier. During the week of May 10th, AGC Shell met with Brother Perry  concerning the transition of the VC-ST Office and associated  duties. On the date of May 19th, AGC Tortorice and I attended the IBEW  Coordinating Council and General Chairmen’s meeting in  Phoenix,  AZ. Also, on the date of May 19th, AGC Shell met with the “SC2  Steering Committee” designed to address training needs for new  or inexperienced local chairman. The members of the committee  in  attendance were Chris Stoner – LU 1832, Rick Reynoso – LU  889, Dave Hunt – LU 1920, and Jay Ochoa – LU 1814. On the dates of May 20th & 21st, the System Council staff and I attended the annual IBEW Railroad Department conference held  in  Phoenix, AZ. June 2010 On June 3rd, VGC Shell met with the Telecom Department  employees assigned at North Little Rock, Arkansas – LU 807. During the week of June 7th, AGC Tortorice assisted Denver,  Colorado Local Union 708 with a disciplinary matter which was  ultimately resolved.  During the week of June 8th, AGC Tortorice handled a   disciplinary  hearing at the Rockland, California Progress Rail  facility (Local Union 800). On June 14th, VGC Shell and I attended the monthly Union  meeting  of Fort Worth Local 942. On the dates of June 15th – 17th, VGC Shell finalized the transfer  of the VC-ST office to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. On the date of June 29th, the System Council staff and I attended a  retirement dinner for Brother Pat Perry, and on June 30th,  attended  a “claims” meeting with Union Pacific Railroad. 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: RRB Labor Member Speakman’s letter – April 2010 publication; see rrb.gov RRB Labor Member Speakman’s letter – May 2010 publication; see rrb.gov RRB Labor Member Speakman’s letter – June 2010 publication; see rrb.gov RRB job vacancy list ; see rrb.gov RRB Scheduled Informational conferences; see rrb.gov Dave Banducci letterrom Denver local 708 Local Chairman Dave Banducci; BLANK OFFICER FORMS With best wishes, I am Fraternally yours, Jim Wisniski General Chairman Enclosures Cc:      IVP’s System Council 2 Bill Bohne, Director of Railroads Pat Perry, VGC SC2 Staff