OH, BUT THAT WE REALLY COULD DO JUST THAT!
It is called getting out there and vote. Eolafan the power of the ballot box is real here in central IL we got rid of a lawyer turned politican named PAtrick Welch and replaced him with a succesful busnessman and named Gary Dahl. I am sure you see his trucks all the time since he founded DD Express based in Peru IL not to far from Aurora. He was tried of Mr Welch going after unions and the working man with his tactics. In fact local labor was supporting Welch until he started attacking Wahl’s trucking busness wrong thing to do since DD pays its drivers union wages without the dues and also Mr. Dahl is a Teamster himself.
For those that may be interested in what the ATDA says about the job action against the BNSF, below is a press release issued by the union:
March 3, 2005
PRESS RELEASE
Yesterday afternoon the ATDA withdrew its services on the BNSF Railway as a result of the BNSF’s illegal and unilateral change in the Agreement between the parties in direct violation of the Railway Labor Act. As a result, all train dispatchers who were working in the BNSF’s Network Operations Center in Fort Worth, Texas walked off the job, after ensuring all safe measures were taken with regard to train movement.
In the last round of collective bargaining, the BNSF sought changes to the Agreement pertaining to the granting of paid leave, specifically comp time. Those changes were rejected by the ATDA and were not contained in the subsequently reached Agreement. However, on January 1, 2005, the BNSF made a decision to unilaterally implement those changes without obtaining the Union’s consent.
ATDA representatives held numerous discussions with BNSF in which they advised the company representatives that BNSF’s actions violated the company’s obligations under the Railway Labor Act. “Although the BNSF was given ample opportunity to correct its illegal actions, the Railroad refused to do so,” said ATDA President McCann.
The train dispatchers returned to work at approximately 6:00 P.M. last night when BNSF agreed to revert back to the status quo that was in effect prior to January 1, 2005, while a federal court determines how the dispute between the parties should be resolved.
Also, for those that would like to learn more about this AFL-CIO affiliated union, here is a link to their “about us” web page:
http://atdd.homestead.com/atddpg1.html#anchor_12920
Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236
[bow] Edbenton, all I can say for those of you who used your vote effectively to change things is…GOOD FOR YOU, WAY TO GO![:)]
Remarkable attitude you’ve got there. It’s a good job everyone doesn’t think like you.
Maybe you could suggest some other actions the dispatchers could have taken? Actions that bring their plight to the fore?
First off Deaks, welcome to the forums, glad to have you with us as another contributor to our sprited discussions. When I read in the newspapers, in books or see on TV about the many, many millions of people around the world who are litterally starving to death and don’t have two nickels to rub together or the ability to put ANY food on the family table, I simply can not feel sorry for an employee who has such a BIG PROBLEM as the BNSF dispatchers in this case. Folks, we all need to take a step back and put all things into proper perspective. If you have a job paying what these dispatchers make and have little chance of being fired (thanks to the union representing them if not their own talents and work ethic) then you should be very thankful you are not one of the tens of millions in the world who would thank their maker for ANY job, let alone one that pays that much. We should all thank our lucky stars that we have the jobs we do, as there are so very many who have NOTHING, NOTHING AT ALL.
And this has what to do with the issue that caused the walkout at BNSF by ATDA union members?
Jim - Lawton, NV MP236
It appears from your post you still have not followed and read any of the good links to additional information about the issue that caused the walkout. Here is one more link to a thread on TrainOrders.com that should provide more information on the issue between the ATDA and BNSF.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,881115
Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236
A few points. train dispatchers, like any other operating rr employee can be removed from service for cause. They get a good salary account they do a particularly stressfull job that soaks the life out of you.
All things etc, at what point, given the state f the world in its entirety, does one have the right to fight an injustice? Or should they just lie back and take it for fear of being referred to as a “whiner.”
I’m for the side that makes sense, and against the side that won’t lsten. Be that either side is labor or management. If this were a case of the dispatchers walking out because they want 3 days off per week, a thicker cushion on their chair, a clerk to sharpen their pencils, and a 2 hour lunch break, I would agree that they’re whining. But after reading some of the links I don’t think this is the case. The carrier wants to abrigate the contract sans negotiation. That isn’t what the dispatchers had when they hired out. Nor is it something they should have run down their throats. There’s an agreement in place and the carrier should have the guts to live with it until the next round of proper negotiations.
I don’t think someone should acuse another of “whining” about a situation until all facts are known. I wonder whose the real “whiner.”
Mitch
I deal with these DS’s everyday on my work and I will say that most of them are fairly good at what they do considering the enviorment present. Dispatchers are op tested more than train crews, work under more strict rules than train crews and many times are multi tasking. I have spent an entire shift watching the dispatchers at the Kansas City office with the thought of once doing a craft transfer and becoming a DS. After seeing what they have to go through behind the scenes and the stress created by the job, no way. It isn’t for me.
Having to deal with these DS also I have to agree with you 100%. They have big brother watching over their shoulder 24/7. No thanks.
Shrek
It seems your compatriot JOdom has the very philosophy “ME, ME”, et cetera. So he was delayed, big deal–happens every day on freeways in this nation. Anyone complaining about a construction zone which is up too long?
Later in this thread you talk about those in less fortunate countries. Does this mean American citizens cannot try to better our lot in life because someone i
“Working a Strike” is one of the most memorable things I have done in my life.
Back in the 70’s a union, I think it was BRAC, went on strike against the N&W. It went on for 77 days. We were part of a “mutual aid” pact with the N&W and helped them. The N&W continued operations using management personel to fill in.
The unions had a similar deal in that they helped the striking N&W guys. After 77 days the unions had had enough and called a strike against all members of the mutual aid pact, including the ICG. And that included me.
So I get to work in downtown Chicago in the morning and there are pickets outside the office building. I walked right by them. Got inside and found this young, absolutely beautiful, African-American lady working her clerk job. I walked over to her and said: “You can’t do this, you have to leave.”
She just smiled and kept working the stack of papers in front of her. She didn’t want to be on strike, she wanted her paycheck. I persisted, and so did she. She just kept smiling and working. I told her she was going to get in a lot of trouble if she kept working and she finally walked away. I do not know if she left the building or just waited me out and returned after I had gone on to other things.
After a while we were sent to our “Strike Assignments”. I drew the intermodal ramp on Ashland Avenue filling in for one or more of the striking clerks. After a huddle the Director of Intermodal Operations had an assignment for me. He had decided we were going to be there a while and he sent me out for some food. After taking everybody’s order, I left for McDonalds.
On the way back, with some large bags of McStuf, I realized that I was going to have to drive through a stike line in Chicago. I expected trouble and imagined a brick comming though my windshield. When I got near the gate I was stopped by two semis in front of me. The drivers were excitedly talking to each other. Then the inbound truck went
Eolafan:
One of the reason there are good job in this country is account labor organized and was able to negotiate safer working conditions and liveable wages where possible and lobby for stronger labor laws when necessary. One of the reasons workers have such horrid conditions in other parts of the world is that unions are restricted or banned or serve the company. Hundreds died in this country in order to gain the right to organize and negotiate for better conditions. The struggle is far from over and the climate for the unions is not good. You just have to look at the tactics employed by Wal-Mart and the rail carriers to see how far we have yet to go in this country. I would bet a fair amount your wages would be lower in your current job if there were not unions lifting your boat.
Alan
And again, just what does this have to do with the issue that caused the walkout of ATDA members at BNSF’s FTW center?
Many of us can cite real-world experiences that color our perceptions of what we consider as right or wrong. But, this is not a thread about that, it is a thread about the walk out of ATDA members from the BNSF’s FTW center.
Your posting adds no facts to the discussion.
Jim - Lawton, NV MP 236
Oh, did my post offend you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. It was totally unforgiveable on my part. I don’t know what I was thinking. I feel so ashamed. Please forgive me.
I didn’t know the topic was so narrow - that it could only touch on “the walk out of ATDA members from the BNSF’s FTW center”. I saw mentions of things like Wal-Mart, “this economy”, etc. and I JUST ASSUMED (very wrong of me indeed) that the topic had widened a tad.
Since I’d actually been through a railroad strike, I thought relating some of my experiences might possibly have been of some minor interest to a small few people. And my conclusion, after working through a strike, that they are a really dumb way to settle things was, I thought, right on point.
But hey, I’ve been wrong before. Have you?
Well folks, it is a wonderfully sunny 55F day here in Chicago (warmer than normal for a March 6 day) and I am feeling particularyly mellow today, and since it seems we have a classic case of “THE IRRESISTABLE FORCE (unions) AGAINST THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT(BNSF)” let’s see if we can agree to call this arguement a draw and move on to other more pleasant things, shall we? We could argue this one until we are all dead and in our graves with no consensus, so let’s just drop the entire thing. I AM SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THIS ONE…RAILFANNING IS LIKELY THE ONE THING WE WILL ALL AGREE IS COMMON AMONGST US…SO LET’S ENJOY AND STOP THIS ARGUEMENT (yes, I know I started it, so I am taking the liberty of trying to stop it as well). HOPE WE ALL AGREE!
Have a nice day!