The General Committee is constantly conscious of our furloughed/cut-off brothers and sisters and the obstacles they face. Consequently we are constantly striving to find ways to ease that burden.
Mindful of the above, and also knowing CSXT will soon be hiring a number of Signal Department employees to meet RSIA requirements mandating implementation of Positive Train Control by December 31, 2015, General Chairperson Lesniewski and the B&O General Committee entered into discussions with the Carrier directed towards allowing our furloughed members to apply for this impending Signal Department work.
Attached
here you will find a January 21, 2010 letter of understanding General Chairperson J. E. Lesniewski reached with CSXT Director Labor Relations R. D. Hiel which illustrates the fruit of the aforementioned discussions. Therein you will note that all furloughed brothers and sisters (at locations to be determined) will be given an opportunity to apply for positions in the Signal Department. Those making application, however, must be aware that
upon successfully completing their hiring, training and probationary periods in the C&S Department, they will be required to relinquish any and all Operating Craft seniority they possess. Each applicant will be made aware of this requirement upon making application.
Quite obviously the Carrier was not willing to spend their time/money hiring and qualifying a former trainman in the Signal Department only to have them return to the Operating Craft once they were recalled. Nevertheless the UTU has many brothers and sisters in “deep furlough” that may be anxious to find good paying employment under the terms and conditions described; or perhaps even some in “shallow furlough” who are interested in going in another direction at CSXT despite the fact they may soon be recalled. Who knows?
In any event, the General Committee is anxious to help our furloughed/cut-off members get a paycheck in any way we can… even if that means leaving the Operating Craft and the UTU in order to do so. After all the UTU is about the members, and what benefits the members will ultimately benefit the UTU as well!
