PTC - Broadcast Message

Submitted by Brian Young on Mon, 01/29/2018 - 09:41

Brothers, 

 
  I know there are some of you receiving a Broadcast Message concerning PTC - EMS Integration. There is language in this message that you can be withheld from service on Feb 1 if not completed and/or charged with 1.13. 
 
I have spoken to the Superintendent, he has assured me that everyone will be given a proper amount of time to get this CBT Module completed. If you have not done so, I would complete this training within your next tour of duty.   
 
 
Brian 

 

Two year extension to “Cadillac tax”

Submitted by Micheal Mcgill on Wed, 01/24/2018 - 12:32
Brothers,
 
 
The one good thing about the Government pause/shutdown is there is an additional extension to the Cadillac tax to Dec.31, 2021.
 
Regarding the Cadillac tax extension, the language was codified in Division D, Sec. 4002 of the CR:
 
SEC. 4002. DELAY IN IMPLEMENTATION OF EXCISE TAX ON HIGH COST
EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH COVERAGE.
Section 9001(c) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act is amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ and inserting
‘‘December 31, 2021’’.
 
Sec. 4002 is on page 11 of the CR text, found at this link: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr195/BILLS-115hr195enr.pdf
 
 
John P. Tolman
Vice President & National Legislative Representative
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen
Teamsters Rail Conference

BLET Statement on Not-Guilty Verdict in Lac-Megantic Trial

Submitted by Brian Young on Tue, 01/23/2018 - 08:01

BLET Statement on Not-Guilty Verdict in Lac-Megantic Trial

(The following is a statement from Dennis R. Pierce, National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and President of the Teamsters Rail Conference.)

 
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, January 22 Although it remains a travesty that criminal charges were ever filed, justice was served in the unanimous not guilty verdict issued by jurors in the Lac-Megantic trial in Sherbrooke, Quebec, on January 19, 2018.
 
The trial against three former employees of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) began in September of 2017, and the jury deliberated for nine days prior to reaching their verdict. The trial laid bare the dangerous tendency of certain rail carriers to cut corners on safety. Leading up to the tragedy of July 5, 2013, the MMA Railway had begun the dangerous practice of one-person train operations, and the trial exposed how employees were forced to work with equipment that contributed to the accident.
 
As the jurors rightly determined, blaming the workers for the Lac-Megantic catastrophe was the wrong thing to do. Railroading is a complex system of operations, and many factors go into a safe operation. Determining the root cause of this tragedy is more complex than simply blaming the workers, but that all too often is what many rail carriers and government agencies do.
 
Our hearts and prayers continue to be with the victims and their families who were touched by the tragedy of July 5, 2013. It is our hope they and the three workers who were wrongly accused can find some closure from this verdict.
 
###
 
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) represents more than 57,000 professional locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States. The BLET is the founding member of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
 
The Teamsters Rail Conference represents more than 70,000 rail workers employed as locomotive engineers, trainmen and maintenance of way workers across the United States as members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED).

PTC on Marion Subdivision

Submitted by Dennis Dunn on Fri, 01/19/2018 - 15:57

When operating south to or or out of Paducah on the Marion, don’t forget that PTC is effect on the Marion Sub between MP 323.95 and MP 337.0. When you get your track warrant that covers these limits, it is important to open up the “Authority” menu and check to see that your track warrant is in the system and correct. If you are operating with PTC and it is not in there, as soon as your train drops to 15 MPH in those limits, the system will engage and think that you do not have authority. It will then put you into penalty or emergency. 

 

One possible cause for your track warrant for authority for that segment not showing up in the PTC computer is your train destination may have changed in route. For example, a Chiles train changed to a P&L train. If this happens your train symbol may have been changed without you knowing it. Although your track for authority on paper is correct, in the PTC system it is actually issued to the new train symbol. To correct the issue, you will have to have the dispatcher change your track warrant for bulletin number and train symbol. 

After this is done, log out of PTC and reinitialize with the new track warrant for bulletin number. After the system synchronizes, your track warrant for authority should now appear in the AUTHORITY menu. Verify that it is correct. 

 

If going south with a load, I would recommend not going by King if your track warrant for authority covering the PTC limits is not in the PTC computer. This is because when the PTC system stops you, you will be on the steep part of the hill. 

 

 

BED BUGS INFORMATION

Submitted by Brian Young on Tue, 01/16/2018 - 12:27
Brothers, 
 
   I have included some information on Bed Bugs. This seems to be a problem with a few of our hotels. If you find any of these condiditions please get the information back to me ASAP. 
 
  With That said I would like to remind everyone that with this ongoing problem we need to remain processional with the hotel staff. They are looking to place the Magnifying glass back on to us.... 
 
 

Brian 

 
 
File attachments: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Bed Bugs.pdf924.85 KB
PDF icon Call a professional - 15...el Bedbugs - Health.pdf763.99 KB
PDF icon Canine Report 1-5-15 BNSF.pdf90.02 KB
PDF icon FAQ List for Bed Bugs.pdf5.54 MB

2017 Back Pay Synopsis

Submitted by Micheal Mcgill on Tue, 01/16/2018 - 01:15
File attachments: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon 2017_BackPay_Synopsis_Communique_2.pdf152.84 KB

"No on Proposition A" Campaign

Submitted by Micheal Mcgill on Sat, 01/13/2018 - 02:53

Attached is a brief message guidance document for you to use when talking about Proposition A or Right to Work. The facts listed are sourced in the footnotes. These facts are the most up-to-date available. 

File attachments: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Messaging Document from We Are MO.pdf415.47 KB

Fair Fare Passenger Safety Act (HB1600) Hearing Schedule in Jefferson City

Submitted by Micheal Mcgill on Sat, 01/13/2018 - 02:47
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. the House–Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee will be hearing HB 1600 sponsored by Rep. Galen Higdon.  HB 1600 enacts a “Fair Fare Passenger Safety Act” prohibiting the use of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device to text or take part in a telephone call when operating a moving motor vehicle and is receiving compensation for the transportation of passengers.
 
The hearing will provide an opportunity to inform the committee members of the dangers of cell phone use while driving. This proposal passed the House last year but died in the Senate.
 
Below is a link to the bill.
http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills181/hlrbillspdf/5200H.01I.pdf
 
This Bill was written by and is being advanced by MOSLB Chairman Brian Kelley and its main purpose is train crew safety in crew vans.

PTC

Submitted by Dennis Dunn on Tue, 01/09/2018 - 13:31

If you catch a UPS train, be sure to read your Form C System Bulletins page in your warrant for bulletins. It recently changed to say that the Northern Region will use PTC on these trains.

 

Also, with the PTC rule migrating from the Superintendent Bulletins to the System General it is important to read it. There have been a few changes, one of which is use of Energy Management with PTC. If your PTC screen states that ENERGY MGMT SETUP REQUIRED, you must initialize and run auto control on the PTC screen, not engineer’s control screen. If you are using PTC, do not log-into Trip Optimizer on the engineer’s control screen. This is a change from the Superintendent Bulletin that said to log into but not to utilize.

 

 

There should be a course in your learning plan that shows how to set up and use Leader and Trip Optimizer with the PTC screen. If it is not, you can add it yourself. PTC Integrated EM System (PTCEM)

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