Division 724
Salem Vacation Request
Salem Engineer vacation request will be due December 1 2015.
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Health FSA open enrollment for 2016 ends October 31
Reminder: Health FSA open enrollment for 2016 ends October 31
CLEVELAND, October 23 — Open enrollment for the Health Flexible Spending Account Plan (FSA) 2016 benefit year runs from October 1 through October 31, 2015. Members must enroll in the Health FSA every year — FSA enrollment is not automatic each year so interested members should act soon so they do not miss out on enrollment for the 2016 Plan Year.
The FSA Plan is available to BLET represented engineers working on participating railroads, and all train service employees of the Texas Mexican Railway. This important health care benefit was secured by the BLET in the 2012 national contract. At least 7.5% of eligible engineers must participate in the FSA Plan in the 2016 Plan Year, and subsequent Plan Years, or the Carriers will have the right to terminate the plan.
To Register
You can enroll online at the Your Track to Health website:www.yourtracktohealth.com/
Once there, click “Login” in the upper-right corner. If you have already registered, enter your username and password. If you have not registered, select “New User?” at the bottom of the screen to complete your registration. Once logged in, look to the upper-left corner of the screen and select the option to “ENROLL NOW FOR 2016.”
Review your personal benefit information and enroll in the Health FSA. Again, open enrollment ends at midnight on Saturday, October 31, 2015.
Who is eligible?
Except as noted at the end of this paragraph, locomotive engineers and Tex-Mex train service employees covered by the Health & Welfare portion of the most recent National Agreement, dated January 5, 2012, are eligible to participate in the FSA Plan. The national FSA is distinct and separate from the on-property BNSF FSA Plan. The participation rates identified in this News Flash do not apply to BNSF engineers.
What is the FSA Plan?
The FSA Plan, administered by United Healthcare, is designed to allow you to use pretax dollars to pay for certain medical expenses that are not covered under any health plan (including a railroad health & welfare plan) or any other source. You can then use your FSA account to cover eligible expenses, which means you’ll be using pretax dollars to pay for those expenses. The FSA program was recently enhanced with the addition of an FSA debit card to make it easier to access and use your FSA funds. Visit Your Track to Health for more information:
tinyurl.com/RRHealthFSA
What can you save?
You could save hundreds of dollars in taxes each year with the FSA. The amount you could save in taxes depends on how much you set aside and the amount of your expenses.
Also, the FSA Calculator Tool allows you to input annual estimated out-of-pocket costs for medical services (such as deductibles, co-payments, eye exams, dental exams), then shows you how much money you will save on taxes by using the FSA. To check out the potential savings for you and your family, visit the FSA Calculator Tool here:
tinyurl.com/fsacalculate
How do I sign up?
Information to sign up for the FSA is contained in open enrollment packets that are being mailed during the week of September 21, 2015. Eligible members should receive this information prior to the open enrollment period, which runs until October 31, 2015. This year, open enrollment is again being done on-line (www.yourtracktohealth.com). Please call Railroad Enrollment Services at 1-888-298-9754 if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit the Your Track to Health website for answers to commonly asked questions regarding the Health FSA program:
tinyurl.com/RRHealthFSA
The new plan year begins January 1, 2016, but you will need to make your elections during the open enrollment period — even if you enrolled last year you will need to re-enroll for the upcoming plan year as this is a program that requires annual enrollment and elections — or you will miss the train on this one!
More information is available in the attached flyers provided by United Healthcare:
www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/Health_FSA_2016.pdf
and
www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/Health_FSA_Flyer_2016.pdf
Friday, October 23, 2015
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Running Through Final Terminal
The new game to short Extra Board Miles:
At Salem, IL we have had Corridor Managers and Dispatchers frequently asking crews to run through to Kell or St. Peter due to no outbound crews.
BLE UPCR Article 26(d). Chain gang engineers will be run "first in, first out" of terminals. Available chain gang engineers run around by engineers of their own territory, or those of others, will be allowed one half basic day. Engineers will not be permitted to run by terminal points where ...it affects other engineers in like service, except in cases of wrecks or washouts.
Please do not volunteer to run through the terminal. If it has to be done make them force you. This work should be covered by the extra boards and if pool crews do it they may get paid but the extra board isn't getting its miles and will be cut. So don't cut your own Brothers/Sisters throat.
Camera Claims
Not been reciving many of these of late. They are simple to fill out. Do a non-service with the same date and time as the working slip, copy, change the required info, submit, and turn it into me.-Chad-
InwardFacing Camera Claim
Claim 1 day’s pay at the applicable rate forbeing required to operate a locomotive equipped with an inward-facing camera installed and intended to make a video record of in-cab crew activity, and thereby being subjected to the creation ofsuch videorecord. I operated train (ZXXYY-22) with locomotive (UP 1234) from (circ-7 to circ7) on (date(s) 3/4/15-3/5/15) Installation of these cameras is a violation of Article XVII Section 3 ofthe May 19,1986 Arbitration Award 458.
Please file claim under xx-claim not found. Print out timeslip once denied along with detailed copy of working trainslip showing engine numbers and turn into Local Chairman.
Board Changes
Good morning, have built the below boards to move the St Louis North Pools to Dupo. We anticipate starting to move the crews to the new boards around 0700-0800 Wednesday October 7.
1. MX001 DE/DT21 - changed to C 015 DE/DT23
2. MX001 RE/RT21 - changed to C 015 RE/RT23. These boards have AFHT's of ZS127, SM198 and ZB145.
3. MX001 RE/RT22 - changed to C 015 RE/RT24 These boards have a AFHT of ZS042.
4. MX001 TB/TC/TE/TT21 - changed to C 015 TB/TC/TE/TT23
5. MX001 TB22 - changed to C 015 TB24
6. MX001 ST25 - changed to C 015 ST23
7. MX001 XT25 - changed to C 015 XT23
8. MX001 WE/WT25 - changed to C 015 WE/WT23
Eric R. Mathis
ISS
591-3426
Ft. Madison/Kansas City-St. Louis Issues
Brothers and Sisters,
I have received several calls and read various emails related to the Ft. Madison run and a supposed run from KC-StL and I will address those now.
Ft Madison: It does appear from what we have seen that the Carrier is moving trains from the Ft. Madison run to other areas. I have specifically asked the Carrier if their intention is to eliminate this run and have been told no. I think the reality of the train movements speak for themselves, the UP wants to eliminate the payments to the BNSF. We are looking into to our options at this time.
KC-St.L: The Carrier has wanted this run for decades, and they mention it often but nothing has changed in the BLET's position and the BLET has not agreed to this run.
In Solidarity
Kyle
Instructions for DG unit reporting
When reporting the use of DG units for power, there are two options for “requested by.” Those choices
are “Dispatcher” and “Crew.”
o Dispatcher – Selecting this means the dispatch center contacted the train and requested that more power be added because they have decided to exempt the train from TPA requirements. Dispatcher will provide a control number that indicates the power addition was approved by train management.
§ The only reason to select is “Dispatcher – TPA exemption.”
§ Record dispatcher initials and the control number in the spaces provided.
§ There is no need to report DG units used on premium service trains operating under Form C bulletins voiding FCS and ordering all units on line. These trains are exempt from DG unit reporting.
o Crew – Selecting this means that the crew has determined they needed to use a DG unit to avoid stalling on grade, and not for the purpose of operating faster than the speed maximum TPA would allow. Selecting “crew” means that a control number from dispatch is not required, since the crew has not added more EPA than the minimum required for maximum TPA limits – and the dispatcher has not contacted the train and requested added power. Reasons available to select are:
§ Avoid stalling – mechanical means that in the crew’s judgment, the train would have stalled on the ruling grade without using the DG unit because another unit had a mechanical failure. Report the DG unit used, and then the initial and number of the failed unit in comments and a brief description of the failure. Be sure to report defects when tying up as well.
§ Avoid stalling – tonnage means that more tonnage was added, increasing the TPA above the maximum, after the BC was generated. Indicate in comments what the actual tonnage was that required more power to avoid stalling on ruling grade, and where the tonnage was added. Use the provisions of ABTH
31.8.7 C to determine the minimum required EPA for the revised tonnage.
§ Avoid stalling – other is for other circumstances that require use of a DG unit for power in order to prevent stalling on grade. Explain the circumstances briefly in the comments section. Some examples would be:
- · DG unit ended up being the leader,
- · Instructed to hand off a unit to another train,
- · Units shown on the BC are incorrect,
- · Excessive wheel-slip at low speed on ruling grade, or
- · Other events or conditions outside of engineer’s control.
§ Written instructions – means that there are written instructions, such as Superintendent’s Bulletins, that require using extra units in the locomotive consist for power. Briefly describe the instructions in comments.
Locomotive Shutdown for terminating Salem trains
Got an email this moring. Managment wants trains that you yard that terminate at Salem for switching to have all units shut down when above 35 degrees. Ex ADESPJ, AGBSM, ASMSHJ, ADTSMJ (Q233). If the train is scheduled south of Salem leave at least the leader running to maintain air.
Salem-Villa Grove Flip
Engineers: When paid a "flip trip" rate Salem-Villa Grove you need to claim the 2 trip rates your entitled to due to turn service. Here's how.
