Engineers union threatens to strike BNSF

[Philip H]

https://railfan.com/bnsf-asks-judge-to-stop-potential-strike/?fbclid=IwAR2OgvS6u4SJgWouuZJ0rAIem9h2NzNPflsdr4pJIMuoUVfRSRHztcrWxhQ

[nkalanaga]

I would think that, instead of striking, if the policy violates current agreements, the union could simply get a judge to say so.

[Jbub]

I would think that, instead of striking, if the policy violates current agreements, the union could simply get a judge to say so.

Since this was posted to the wrong forum, thought I'd put it in the right one.

I've been following this for about a week now. First heard about it on the antiwork subreddit. It goes a little deeper than an attendance policy, apparently there hasn't been a pay raise for 3 years now and they keep tightening the attendance policy to the point if you are legitimately sick and unsafe to run a train that the absence counts pretty heavily against any time off requested in the future. I'm not sure what the employees unions have been doing for them over the last few years but reports make it sound like not much.

[carlso]

I'm not sure what the employees unions have been doing for them over the last few years but reports make it sound like not much.

If my father was still living, he could sure as heck answer that comment. He was a 42 year hoghead on the T&NO / T&L. They sure collect dues and pay some idiots to manage the union business. He commented many times before retiring in 1984 that the unions were losing or had lost any powers with the rail companies. I don't know, does the BLE even exist today ? ?

[pedro]

The unions are at the mercy of the Railway Labor Act, which makes it virtually impossible to strike for more than a few hours or a day. Any work stoppage will be deemed a threat to the nation and we will be ordered back to work. Unfortunately the current dispute over the attendance policy is more than likely to be pre-determined by a court (favorable to the carrier of course) to be a “minor dispute” and thus not strike-able to begin with. The UP already tried the same thing (similar attendance policy) and it was shot down. Realistically, the threat of a strike is largely an act meant to negotiate some sort of a compromise.

We have indeed been without a National contract for three years, but that is a whole different issue.

[badlandnp]

Looking at the work rules that BNSF is trying to implement, and listening to the few guys I do know, it seems to me like they are trying to force the employees to all quit or be hating the job so much, that when they decide to try autonomous trains, it will be easier to implement. The crews do a lot of 'turning it over to the computer' right now anyway. So they are getting the practice with the 'autonomous movement' with a crew to babysit right now.

[Hawghead]

I laid off sick on the 28th and 29th of December.  I started feeling better but couldn't shake some coughing and tiredness (I never get sick and on the rare occasions I do, it's never for more than a day or two).  With the new strains of Covid I didn't want to risk having it and passing it on to someone else so I went in and got a Covid test (I'm vaccinated and boosted).  I tested positive for Covid 19 on the 6th of January.  I contacted the railroad's Covid hotline and was put on quarantine for five days (the 7th through the 12th), yet I was still assessed penalty points for the layoffs on the 28th and 29th.  When I contacted the Covid hotline about this I was told that my medical leave of absence (the five day quarantine) didn't cover the 28th and 29th.

Scott

[Jbub]

I laid off sick on the 28th and 29th of December.  I started feeling better but couldn't shake some coughing and tiredness (I never get sick and on the rare occasions I do, it's never for more than a day or two).  With the new strains of Covid I didn't want to risk having it and passing it on to someone else so I went in and got a Covid test (I'm vaccinated and boosted).  I tested positive for Covid 19 on the 6th of January.  I contacted the railroad's Covid hotline and was put on quarantine for five days (the 7th through the 12th), yet I was still assessed penalty points for the layoffs on the 28th and 29th.  When I contacted the Covid hotline about this I was told that my medical leave of absence (the five day quarantine) didn't cover the 28th and 29th.

Scott

"Dear employee #348293

Thank you for letting us know that you have a highly transmissible illness that can last several weeks for some people, we understand that you care about your co-workers health as do we and ask that you quarantine between these dates. Your reward for being so compassionate to your fellow co-workers and staying home when you were most contagious is a work attendance penalty. Once again we appreciate you doing what is right and feel that the negative points assessed to you are more than generous.

With love and gratitude,
 
Your money grubbing bosses who hate labor"

[Hawghead]

"Dear employee #348293

Thank you for letting us know that you have a highly transmissible illness that can last several weeks for some people, we understand that you care about your co-workers health as do we and ask that you quarantine between these dates. Your reward for being so compassionate to your fellow co-workers and staying home when you were most contagious is a work attendance penalty. Once again we appreciate you doing what is right and feel that the negative points assessed to you are more than generous.

With love and gratitude,
 
Your money grubbing bosses who hate labor"

 

You know I'd almost feel better if they just came out and said that.

Scott

[Englewood]

My switchman showed up to work one day, with Covid symptoms. Parked at the shanty and called the manager. The manager shows up and the guy told him he was sick, but didn't want to get attendance points, so he showed up to work. The manager got mad and told him to go home and get tested and to call the nurse. I got to sit around for about 3 hours until the replacement switchman showed up. 😁 And my original switchman got no points!