AUGUST 16, 2004 - FIRST TRIP RATES COME TO BLET SOUTHERN REGION

Effective August 16, 2004 the following trip rates will go into effect on the BLET UP Southern Region GCA. These trip rates will be applicable to all engineers (both post and pre 85) and will be paid each trip.

RUNS/POOLS	ENGINEER TRIP RATE	ENGINEER FLIP RATE	Overtime Offset on Arbitraries
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Hearne, TX (RE02)	$280.14	$552.73	$4.81 / 9 min
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Ft. Worth, TX (RE12)	$248.21	$484.98	$6.76 / 12 min
Shreveport, LA – Longview, TX (RE83)	$214.25	$214.25	$22.26 / 40 min
Shreveport, LA – Livonia, LA (RE85)	$285.11	$587.03	$7.19 / 13 min
Ft. Worth, TX – McAlester, TX (RE45)	$273.54	$566.54	$4.99 / 9 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Chickasha, TX (RE46)	$252.90	$526.65	$4.17 / 7 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Childress, TX (RE47)	$275.34	$638.48	$4.68 / 8 min
Ft. Worth, TX – Sweetwater, TX (RE55)	$274.35	$568.48	$4.82 / 9 min
Dallas, TX – Hearne/Taylor/Tyler, TX (RE )	$193.20	$440.39	$2.58 / 5 min
Oklahoma City, OK – Witchita, KS (RE )	$263.60	$541.75	$1.51 / 3 min

The pools identified in red if used at the away from home terminal for HOS relief and subsequently deadhead to their home terminal upon completion of that service will be allowed two trip rates. 1 for the HOS relief and 1 for the deadhead portion of the trip. The pools identified in black are in dispute regarding how trips of that nature will be handled. The Carrier’s position is that they will be allowed one trip rate for that service due to past practice in the pool of combining deadheads in that type of service. We disagree and urge anyone in those pools used in that manner to claim two trip rates for the service. 1 on your working timeslip and the other via the =PE process for the deadhead portion of the trip. The second trip will have to be appealed and processed through the claims system until the issue is settled. The Flip Rate identified above would apply when you were deadheaded out of the home terminal to the away from home terminal working back to the home terminal. The above trip rates incorporated the following pay elements:

1. Initial Terminal Delay

2. Final Terminal Delay

3. Meals in Route

4. Runarounds within the terminal

5. Initial Terminal Switching

6. Final Terminal Switching

They do not include board runarounds due to improper placement or make whole pay for working off assignment.

Since the above pay elements are incorporated into the trip rates they are automatically paid on a per trip basis and are no longer applicable or subject to appeal under the claims process. All other rates of pay not identified above are still in full force and effect.

FW: [Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen UPSR News] AUGUST 16, 2004 - FIRST TRIP RATES COME TO BLET SOUTHERN REGION

Effective August 16, 2004 the following trip rates will go into effect on the BLET UP Southern Region GCA.  These trip rates will be applicable to all engineers (both post and pre 85) and will be paid each trip.

 

RUNS/POOLS	ENGINEER TRIP RATE	ENGINEER FLIP RATE
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Hearne, TX (RE02)	$280.14	552.73
Longview, TX - Big Sandy, TX – Ft. Worth, TX (RE12)	$248.21	484.98
Shreveport, LA – Longview, TX (RE83)	$214.25	214.25
Shreveport, LA – Livonia, LA (RE85)	$285.11	587.03
Ft. Worth, TX – McAlester, TX (RE45)	$273.54	566.54
Ft. Worth, TX – Chickasha, TX (RE46)	$252.90	526.65
Ft. Worth, TX – Childress, TX (RE47)	$275.34	638.48
Ft. Worth, TX – Sweetwater, TX (RE55)	$274.35	568.48
Dallas, TX – Hearne/Taylor/Tyler, TX (RE  )	$193.20	440.39
Oklahoma City, OK – Witchita, KS (RE  )	$263.60	541.75

 

The pools identified in red if used at the away from home terminal for HOS relief and subsequently deadhead to their home terminal upon completion of that service will be allowed two trip rates.  1 for the HOS relief and 1 for the deadhead portion of the trip.  The pools identified in black are in dispute regarding how trips of that nature will be handled.  The Carrier’s position is that they will be allowed one trip rate for that service due to past practice in the pool of combining deadheads in that type of service.  We disagree and urge anyone in those pools used in that manner to claim two trip rates for the service.  1 on your working timeslip and the other via the =PE process for the deadhead portion of the trip.  The second trip will have to be appealed and processed through the claims system until the issue is settled.  The Flip Rate identified above would apply when you were deadheaded out of the home terminal to the away from home terminal working back to the home terminal.  The above trip rates incorporated the following pay elements:

 

1.                Initial Terminal Delay

2.                Final Terminal Delay

3.                Meals in Route

4.                Runarounds within the terminal

5.                Initial Terminal Switching

6.                Final Terminal Switching

 

They do not include board runarounds due to improper placement or make whole pay for working off assignment. 

Since the above pay elements are incorporated into the trip rates they are automatically paid on a per trip basis and are no longer applicable or subject to appeal under the claims process.

COMPUTER SNAFU CAUSES IMPROPER ENGINE RATES TO BE PAID ON UNION PACIFIC SOUTHERN REGION

Mr. Gore,
Thank you for addressing your concerns with timekeeping. It was recently discovered that there was an issue with some of the rate scheduleds paying incorrectly. We found that several of the new RJ/M templates had the wrong rate schedule hard coded into them. We have been working closely with our system support group to correct this problem and are using the phone shortage calls to help us locate where the errors may be.

Please ask your members to continue using the phone shortage process if they find an error in their pay. We would like to appoligize for any inconvience this may cause your members. We would also like to thank them for their patiance as we continue to work through this; correcting each employees pay while we review and correct the rate schedules.

Thank you,
Debie Casteel
Quality Coordinator
OPS Timekeeping

Please research and advise.

Thanks
----- Forwarded by Patrick G. Kenny on 07/09/04 10:54 AM -----
Subject: FW: Weight On Drivers Pay Rates
07/08/04 01:59 PM
Pat,

I received the following complaint from Local Chairman Kalek in the Baytown Strang area. I have not reviewed his work history as yet, but I have attached a work history and rate sheet relating to Engineer DM Savoy's TSE trip on 06-26-04 which has been closed out by timekeeping. I find a discrepancy in his basic daily rate and the weight on drivers that he claimed on his slip. They paid him a basic rate of $180.11 which would be a less than 500,000 lb rate. According to the five unit 1,300,000 lb rate entered into the computer, he should have been paid a basic rate of $183.17 which would then increase his overtime rate and short crew allowance accordingly.

I am concerned about the comments below indicating the timekeepers are telling engineers that they are going to pay the rate for 2 engines...period. If this is in fact true, we need to get that corrected immediately.
I have copied Robert Eddings with this message for his information.
As always, your help is greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Gil Gore

Subject: Weight On Drivers Pay Rates

Bro. Gil,

I've been receiving numerous complaints from the members in Div. 711 about incorrect rates of pay for the engines in their consists. It appears that no matter how many engines are in your consist, timekeeping only pays the engine rate for two engines. Several members have called timekeeping on this matter, and have been told that this is what they have been told to pay. No one in timekeeping will say who it is that is telling them to pay this way.
I'm not sure, but I suspect that this is happening all across the system, it happened to me today on a consist of 6 locomotives, I was only paid the two engine rate.
I intend to call timekeeping on Tuesday myself, and go all the way to Mr. Sam Greer if need be. We just got a 2 and one half percent raise on July 1st, and now we're having it taken back by timekeeping.
As you know Bro. Gil, engine rates are our bread and butter, and they need to be accurate, and by the agreement. Any assistance that you can provide in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Local Chairman
BLET-Division 711
Larry M. Kaleck

Timekeeping Memo

Brothers and Sisters,

 

There has been a small change in policy between Timekeeping and CMS with regard to retrieving trains in the 25-Mile Zone. Timekeeping has informed CMS that they want them to immediately cease entering messages from the dispatcher into our work histories. Previously when the dispatcher sent you into the 25-Mile Zone to get a train they sent what is called an =CO message to the CMS crew dispatcher who made the entry under the crew's individual names in their work histories. Timekeeping claims that they do not need these messages in order to pay the arbitrary correctly and do not want them entered.

 

Please note the following when performing this service in order to get paid properly (or at least document your service in case you are declined):

 

1) When you tie up you MUST include the following information in the "Remarks" section when claiming the 25-Mile Zone payment:

 

• Time you went on duty
• Time you left the depot
• Time you arrived at the train
• Time you departed on the train
• Time you arrived back at the initial point (on-duty point)

2) Properly enter your times and Circ7's in the FRA reporting screen when you tie-up as follows:

• On Line E show your deadhead times from the on-duty point Circ7 to the Circ7 (or milepost) where the train is located
• On Line A start at the Circ7 (or milepost) where you board the train and show the time when you arrive, then continue across that line to when and where you were relieved disregarding any mention of the on-duty point where you started
• If you tie up on the HOS then show your tow-in on Line F

IF YOUR CLAIM DOES NOT MATCH YOUR ENTRIES IN THE FRA REPORTING SCREEN THE YOU MAY NOT GET PAID PROPERLY FOR THE SERVICE!

 

3)  We STRONGLY recommend that you retain a train list or BU report of the train along with any other documentation you might have that would support the claim. I like to enter into the Remarks the dispatcher's name and time he instructed us to go when I make the claim. ANYTHING that you can provide in the event you are declined can be valuable when appealing your decline. This applies to any claim of any kind.

 

4) Please note that you are entitled to the time spent in the 25-Mile Zone, with a minimum of four (4) hours, at the rate of the service performed.  However, it is important to understand that the time spent in the Zone cannot be used toward the calculation of overtime for the service trip. For example, if you are on duty for a total of 10 hours 25 minutes, and spent 1 hour 25 minutes in the 25-Mile Zone, then you would calculate overtime, if any, based upon 9 hours 25 minutes on duty. In other words the time spent in the 25-Mile Zone extends the period after which you would normally go on overtime on that trip by the amount of actual time in the Zone. If you spent 4 hours or more in the 25-mile Zone you might well have to calculate the straight time spent in the 25-Mile Zone OR the overtime earned and claim the greater, BUT NOT BOTH. Under not circumstances are you entitled to claim the time spent in the 25-Mile Zone as both a straight-time arbitrary AND toward eventual earned overtime.

 

Fraternally,

Bill Slone

Division 187 S/T