Directors Update - December 2009

Since my last update there have been many significant developments in a variety of areas that are of interest to our Railroad Division membership.

High-Speed Rail Program
As reported in my last update, the Obama Administration released its "Vision for High-Speed Rail in America" signaling a true commitment to Passenger Rail improvement and expansion. The Administration's strategic plan triggered a frenzy of interest in Passenger Rail projects throughout the United States, as illustrated in grant applications submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). On July 16, the FRA reported that it had received 278 pre-applications with a price tag of $102 billion. On October 6, just days after the deadline for Track 2 Corridor Applications, FRA Administrator Joe Szabo reported that the agency had received a total of 259 applications from numerous states with a total price tag of $57 billion. As stated in one news report, these applications exceeded allocated funding by 700 percent. Administrator Szabo outlined in a press release on Oct. 6 that, "due to the overwhelming response and our desire to lay the groundwork for a truly national high-speed and inter-city passenger rail program, we will be announcing all awards this winter." Announcements are expected to be made sometime after January 1, 2010. Given the focus on Passenger Rail and the significant changes in the governance of Passenger Rail as provided in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA), our Railroad Division has implemented a program to keep Railroad Division officers up-to-date on relevant developments. As part of this program the Division held a Passenger Rail Workshop at the International offices on Nov. 5, where Division officers were provided information on significant changes in both legislation and regulations that govern Passenger Rail improvement and expansion.

Pictured above are participants from the Nov. 5 Passenger Rail Workshop: Front row from left: Executive V.P. of Local 2054 Edward White, Director of the DLPA Portia White, President of 2014 Roy Murray, President of Local 1400 Jerome Lafragola, VP of Local 2055 Shawn Upton, TWU Attorney Richard Edelman, Director of Railroad Division Gary Maslanka, Int'l Executive VP Harry Lombardo, Administrative Secretary Fran Albach, President of Local 2020 David Kellner, Director of Transit Division Susan Resch, President of Local 2035 James Guido, Sec. Treasurer of 2001 Patrick Flannery, Sec. Treasurer of Local 2055 Brian DeLucia, Education and Research Director Robert Wechsler, Int'l Sec. Treasuerer Joseph Gordon. Back row from left: President of Local 2019 Fred Fink, President of 2016 Brian Kelly, President of Local 1460 Richard Adams, Sec. Treasurer of Local 2054 Michael Sullivan, President of Local 2001 John Feltz, Committee member of Local 2020 Larry Maciewski, VP of Local 2037 Shane Barendregt and Organizing Director Frank McCann, Jr.

In an effort to keep our membership consistently informed of Passenger Rail matters we will be establishing a section on our website devoted High-Speed Rail updates.

Preliminary National Rail Plan
As required by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, Section 307, the Federal Railroad Administration released its "Preliminary National Rail Plan" on Oct. 15. The plan outlines several initiatives in the coming months to receive input from all stakeholders, including rail labor. This process will include Web Conferences, Regional Meetings and a Docket where interested parties may submit comments on the preliminary plan. The plan has been sent to all Railroad Division locals for review and Division staff is currently reviewing the plan and preparing to participate in upcoming outreach initiatives. We also encourage the membership to review this plan, and to please forward any comments you may have to the Railroad Division office.

UPCOMING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS - SECTION 6 NOTICES SERVED
Pursuant to the terms of several agreements that cover Railroad Division members on various carriers the moratorium for serving Section 6 notices expired on Nov. 1, 2009. We have been preparing for the past several months, and in recent weeks served section 6 notices for members on both freight carriers and Amtrak

National Section 6 Notices
Click Here to view the National Carmen Section 6 Notice
Click here to view the Carriers (NCCC) Carmen Section 6 Notice

Amtrak / JCC
Click Here to view the Joint Council of Carmen, Helpers, Coach-Cleaners and Apprentices Section 6 Notice

Amtrak / ASWC
Click Here to view the Amtrak Service Workers Council Section 6 Notice

Negotiations are set to commence with meetings scheduled for mid-December and January. As we move forward and developments occur we will be providing periodic updates.

As the year concludes I would like to wish everyone a happy and health holiday season and new year.

A review of the past six months reveals a mix of both good news, and extremely difficult challenges that have confronted our Division as well as all working families. Unfortunately, the economic downturn has resulted in furloughs and associated hardships for a number of members employed in the freight sector. Although we may not have the ability to quickly turn around the economy, our Railroad Division Staff has been working diligently with Railroad Division Locals to assist in efforts to protect our members’ interests. These efforts and assistance will continue as we collectively work our way through these difficult times.

As we move into the second half of the year it may be easy for some to forget, or to put behind them, the past six months. I would emphasize however, that since the first of the year we have witnessed a number of changes in Washington that signal a new day to be remembered for years to come.  From the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, an unwavering advocate of Amtrak since its inception, to the appointment of numerous others to key positions in the Obama Administration, the landscape in Washington has changed dramatically. In particular, from a Railroad Division vantage point, the appointment of Ray Lahood as Transportation Secretary and Joe Szabo as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration is welcome news. Over the past few months we have taken advantage of the opportunities that both Secretary LaHood and Administrator Szabo have provided for Labor to discuss a wide range of railroad industry issues important to our membership.

On February 17, 2009 President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This legislation included $1.3 billion in stimulus funding for Amtrak. A considerable amount of this funding was designated for equipment repairs, which resulted in significant work force increases at both the Bear, Delaware and Beech Grove, Indiana shops. The Recovery Act also provides an historic $8 billion investment in high-speed rail development. Yes, high-speed rail has been on the radar screen for years, however, this Administration, without delay, has immediately signaled a true commitment to the development of high-speed rail with $8 billion to jump start the program and $5 billion more identified to be allocated in budgets for years ahead. The pace at which this program has been advancing since President Obama’s April 16 announcement releasing the Administration’s plan, “A Vision for High-Speed Rail in America,” further confirms the Administration’s commitment to high-speed rail. Stay tuned, we will be providing ongoing updates as the high-speed rail program advances. One more event worthy of note is the May 1st payment of the balance (60%) of retroactive wages to TWU members (JCC) employed on Amtrak. This payment marks the close of the final chapter in what has been a long and extremely difficult fight to secure justice for Amtrak workers.

Although this is only a snapshot of the past six months, there has been significant and welcome change on several fronts, change that will be remembered for years to come.  Change that clearly points to the direct connection between the political/legislative process and the work our Railroad Division members perform on a daily basis. Much remains to be done. As we move forward we will be keeping our Railroad Division membership updated. Equally important, we will be renewing our efforts to reach out and engage our membership in our efforts to continuously effect change that improves the quality of life for TWU Railroad Division members and all working families.