Joint BLE (UP) General Committees of Adjustment

Public Safety Campaign

Remote Control Operations Chronology

• August 2000 – BLE and UTU jointly argue against remote control locomotives at FRA’s Technical Conference on Remote Control Locomotives held July 19, 2000.  The conference was attended by over 75 representatives of the railroad industry, rail labor and industry suppliers. The rail labor contingent was comprised of representatives of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) and the United Transportation Union (UTU). In opening remarks, the UTU informed the conference of the agreement between the operating craft unions to maintain a single position, stating: "Because of the significance of this issue to the lives and safety of the people working in our industry, the UTU and BLE are here today united and speaking with one voice. We are here today as one group to actively participate in development of a proposal on substantive provisions designed to ensure the safety of employees represented by both unions, and to limit the use of remote control to those operations currently existing." For conference testimonies visit the (DOT) website at: http://dms.dot.gov/ Click on simple search and enter Docket # 7325 (See article from August 2000 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter at:  www.ble.org).

• February 14, 2001 – The Federal Railroad Administration publishes its Notice of Safety Advisory 2001-01 that establishes recommended minimal guidelines for the operation of remote control locomotives.  "FRA has limited data on which to base an objective safety analysis and must therefore proceed prudently" (FRA-2000-7325-37).  To view in its entirety: “Notice of Safety Advisory 2001-01” visit the (DOT) website at: http://dms.dot.gov/ Click on simple search and enter Docket # 7325-37 (See article from March 2001 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter at:  www.ble.org)

• September 26, 2001 – UTU signs Letter of Intent with class 1 railroads during the BLE 7^th Quinquennial  Convention.  In an apparent move to pressure BLE members to vote pro-UTU merger, Boyd signs the Letter of Intent allowing U.S. class 1 railroads easy implementation of Remote Control Technology that employs UTU trainmen, replacing Locomotive Engineers in yards and terminals.  

• October 2001 – BLE states:  “In our opinion, the Letter of Intent is an attempt by the parties to circumvent the law and violate our rights as an organization to bargain on behalf of our members” (See article from October 2001 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter at:  www.ble.org).

• January 16, 2002 – The Locomotive Engineer Newsletter – Judge Gotschall issues a preliminary injunction preventing the BLE from striking over the issue of remote control locomotives (See article from January 2002 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter at:  www.ble.org).

• January 23 & 24, 2002 – BLE (UP) General Chairmen and International VP’s hold a Strategic Planning Meeting to discuss joint safety concerns regarding Union Pacific’s implementation of RCL technology.  The BLE also meets (1-24-02) with UP’s EVPO Dennis Duffy to discuss the BLE being omitted from the required process of negotiations involving RCO.  Discipline and other safety related topics are also discussed.  EVPO Duffy agrees to bring the parties to Kansas City to further discuss the BLE’s concerns.   

• February 13 & 14, 2002 – BLE (UP) General Chairmen and International VP’s meet with John Marchant Union Pacific Executive Vice President of Labor Relations to discuss the RCO issue.  The General Chairmen’s suspicions were confirmed regarding UP’s intentions on the use of RCO to eliminate the craft of Locomotive Engineer.  EVPO Duffy does not attend meeting.

• April 19, 2002 – All 6 BLE (UP) General Committees of Adjustment with I.D. support conduct an Informational Demonstration at the Union Pacific Annual Shareholders Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.  During the demonstration, Union Pacific President Ike Evans visits with BLE members.  He also agrees to meet and discuss BLE concerns over the implementation of RCO with the UP General Chairmen.  The BLE begins the process of working jointly with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) and receives Teamsters support locally as well as nationally.

• April 24, 2002 – RCO Incident – (UP) Yard – Des Moines, IA *

• April 28, 2002 – RCO Incident – (UP) Hinkle Yard – Hermiston, OR *

• May 15 & 16, 2002 – BLE (UP) Joint GCA Strategic Planning Meeting.  The coalition of (UP) General Committees meet to start developing a RCO Safety Awareness Campaign designed to inform the public, railroad employees, (UP) shareholders and (UP) customers of the safety and the operating inefficiencies which will be created by Union Pacific’s irresponsible implementation of remote control yard operations.  

• May 15, 2002 – All 6 BLE – General Committees of Adjustment representing Engineers on the Union Pacific file for injunctive relief in US 10th District Court (Denver, CO).  Lawsuit seeks to prohibit Union Pacific from operating remote controlled locomotives because of safety issues and training concerns for its employees and the general public (See article from June 2002 Locomotive Engineer Newsletter at:  www.ble.org).

• May 30, 2002 – RCO Incident – (UP) Neff Yard – Kansas City, MO *    

• June 4, 2002 – BLE (UP) General Chairmen along with BLE International President and VP’s meet with Ike Evans to discuss Union Pacific’s implementation of remote control yard operations.  General Chairmen present documentation to support that RCO reduces productivity, does not meet customer expectations and creates safety issues.  While General Chairmen met with Ike Evans in Omaha, an Informational Demonstration was conducted in Kansas City, Missouri to educate and to inform the public of the safety issues and the operating inefficiencies associated with RCO.  The International Brotherhood of Teamsters supports and inspires the BLE with their presence.

• June 9, 2002 – RCO Incident – (UP) Hinkle Yard – Hermiston, OR *

• June 11, 2002 – Houston, Texas – Informational Demonstration.  This Public Safety Informational Demonstration was organized and supported by BLE (UP) General Committees, the TX State Legislative Board, the BLE I.D., along with support from Teamsters and other Texas State AFL-CIO Affiliated Unions.  This event was well covered by local media (radio, newspaper and television).

• June 25, 2002 – North Little Rock, Arkansas – Informational Demonstration.  This Public Safety Informational Demonstration was organized and supported by BLE (UP) General Committees, the AR State Legislative Board and the BLE I.D.  Local and General Committee BLE members developed and ran a “Public Safety” radio ad.  Local BLE members in Pine Bluff place an ad in the Pine Bluff COMMERCIAL displaying a copy of our Public Safety Advisory flyer, that warns the public of the potential dangers associated with remote control yard operations.  This BLE event receives support from the Teamsters and other Arkansas AFL-CIO Affiliated Unions.  The informational demonstration was well covered by local media (radio, newspaper and television).  (Listen to an MP3 file of the BLE radio ad at www.remoteinfo.org).  

• July 23, 2002 – Kennewick, WA (IWC) – Rally & Informational Demonstration.  BLE runs a “Public Safety” radio ad and General Chairmen Dennis Pierce (BNSF) and Tim Donnigan (UPRR) are interviewed on local morning live radio.  The BLE International, General Committees from the UPRR & BNSF and State Legislative Boards supported and participated in this joint effort.  Teamsters’ Joint Council 28 and IBT Local 174 in Seattle, WA provided us with their show truck and participation. (Listen to an MP3 file of the BLE radio ad at www.remoteinfo.org)  

• August 6, 2002 – Saint Paul, Minnesota – Rally & Informational Demonstration.  BLE (UP) General Committees, State Legislative Boards and the BLE I.D. organized this Rally & Public Safety Informational Demonstration in conjunction with the annual meeting of the BLE State Legislative Board Chairmen.  The coordinated effort paved the way to more effective measurers in response to RCO.  This joint effort has been successful at various locations, such as Baton Rouge, Detroit, Shreveport and Marysville, by working with City Councils to pass (RCO) Safety Resolutions designed to protect public and employees’ safety (See article from December 2002 Locomotive Engineers Newsletter at:  www.ble.org).  On Sunday August 4^th UP General Committees and State Legislative Boards placed an ad in the St. Paul “Pioneer Press” displaying a copy of our Public Safety Advisory flyer, warning the public of the potential dangers associated with remote control yard operations. Teamsters’ Joint Council 32 and IBT Twin City Locals provided us with their Show Truck and participation.

• August 22, 2002 – Sacramento, CA – Informational Demonstration.  This Public Safety Informational Demonstration was organized and supported by BLE (UP) General Committees, CA State Legislative Board and the BLE I.D.  BLE members circulated Public Safety Advisory flyers several days in advance of the demonstration to commuter passengers in Northern California warning them of the potential dangers associated with RCO.  Teamsters and AFL-CIO Affiliated Unions  (Northern CA) joined the BLE.  This event was well covered by local media (radio, newspaper and television).

• September 25, 2002 – Fort Worth, Texas (SWCM) – Rally & Informational Demonstration.  This Public Safety Informational Demonstration was organized and supported by BLE (BNSF) (KCS) & (UP) General Committees, TX & LA State Legislative Boards and the BLE I.D.  Teamsters as well as Texas State AFL-CIO Affiliated Unions joined the BLE.  This event was well covered by local media (radio, newspaper and television).

• October 7, 2002 – Labor Day Weekend – UP General Committees sponsor a Public Safety radio ad on WHO-AM radio in Des Moines, IA to inform the citizens of Des Moines of the potential dangers associated with remote control yard operations (Listen to an MP3 file of the BLE radio ad at www.remoteinfo.org).

• October 16, 2002 – Judge Gotschall rules remote control operators (RCOs) are not allowed to effectuate yard  movements via remote control while inside the locomotive cab. Part of the order mandated that the rail carrier’s issue written instructions to RCOs to that effect.

• November 18 and 19, 2002 – Chicago, Illinois - Remote Control Arbitration Hearing held to supplement the written record before the Board in Case No. 1 of Special Board of Adjustment (SBA) No. 1141, Chairman and Neutral Member Gil Vernon presiding.  The Board of Arbitration included the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) (Robert Allen), UTU (Byron Boyd) and BLE (Don Hahs).  Oral arguments were conducted by designated legal counsel along with statements presented by industry and BLE representatives.

• December 18, 2002 – San Antonio, Texas – Information Demonstration. This Public Safety Informational Demonstration was organized and supported by BLE (UP) General Committees, TX State Legislative Board and the BLE I.D.  The BLE runs a “Public Safety” radio ad warning the citizens of San Antonio of Union Pacific’s plan to implement remote control yard operations in San Antonio (Listen to an MP3 file of the BLE radio ad at www.remoteinfo.org).  BLE members handout “Public Safety Advisory” tri-folds which inform San Antonio residents of RCO related safety issues and also provides them with contact information should they wish to notify their elected representatives and inform them of their RCO related safety concerns.  Teamsters, TX State AFL-CIO and Central Labor Council Affiliated Unions joined the BLE.  This event was well covered by local media (radio, newspaper and television).

• January 10, 2003 – Neutral Vernon issues Award No. 1 of SBA 1141, deciding in favor of the NCCC/UTU position with respect to implementation of RCO in yards and terminals, paving the way for an accelerated process of eliminating locomotive engineers from yard service. 

* Known RCO related incidents.  Carriers have proven to be highly secretive about RCO accidents in and around terminals, withholding details from employees and public alike.  Pictures of RCO related accidents described in this Chronology can be viewed at our RCO websites.

Remote Control Power Point Presentation

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