"We negotiated a contract," said Taylor, "but we realized about a year and a half in that we were getting shafted. The company promised us verbally that we would get a 'me too' deal. When UTU did get more, we asked, where's ours?" "They said," Ferris continued, "that transportation is selling oranges and we're buying oranges. Maintenance of way is selling grapefruit and we're not buying now, maybe later we'll buy grapefruit."

"We want to be treated fairly. Their (FEC management) favorite words are 'things change.' You uphold your end of the bargain but when they don't, they just say 'things change,'" said Taylor. "Those statements and others opened a lot of eyes. It made us aware we really can't do it ourselves, we needed professional help, a national union." Ferris agreed. "We had a contract but we couldn't enforce it. I just saw a need, people in maintenance of way needed people to help," he said.

The company, acknowledged by many to have made improvements in the last three or four years, had added fuel to the fire. Things such as: they offered to hire an adviser to help the employees out in negotiations. When the employees asked if they could pick somebody they were told yes, but it couldn't be anyone from a union. The company doesn't go by seniority; a man with 10 years service is a welder helper to a new hire. Some employees would get preferential treatment. The first supervisor job that opened up was filled by an employee not from maintenance of way.

Left to Right, Jim Knight, BMWE General Chairman, Mark Ferris, Tom Taylor, Paul Swanson, BMWE Organizing Director.

Taylor and Ferris, who met in 1976 and at different times have worked for each other, had experience with union activity and organizing before the recent BMWE organizing campaign (see article on front page). They were both active in the Florida Federation of Railroad Employees (FFRE), a company union that included everybody. They were also involved in two previous unsuccessful organizing campaigns; one by the United Transportation Union (UTU) and one by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Taylor, a native Floridian, says he used to be anti-union, but grew to realize that unions aren't about the few corrupt union leaders he had heard of. "Unions," he said, "are about thinking about others, we're all in the same boat." So despite his discouragement and a "twinge of bitterness" over the previous failed organizing campaigns, he was ready to help when Ferris told him he had contacted BMWE General Chairman Jim Knight about trying another organizing campaign.

"Well, we had a structure already set up and I'm tired of being in the back seat. Maintenance is just as important as anyone else. If track isn't working, not much else is either. I'm a pretty even fella, but I'm elated about the success. It's a great start and it's very satisfying to see guys stepping up to help themselves. All we can do is go forward and progress," Taylor said.

Ferris added, "it just shows what maintenance of way can do when they're working together. We can get things accomplished, whether it's putting in a 200 foot road crossing or voting in a union."

Taylor, age 47, started on the railroad 23 years ago. A welder, he lives in St. Augustine, Florida with his wife Marjorie and daughter Kelly. Ferris, age 42, a track foreman, started on the railroad in 1973. He, his wife Jodi, daughter Alyssa, and son Corbin, also live in St. Augustine.

Mark Ferris on the job with Supervisor.

Jerry Bell is a foreman with 24 years on the railroad. He was active in the organizing campaign because promises were being made on the job that were not being kept. Although "we had good representation (from among the employees), we needed support, we needed a union," he said.

What "made a big difference" in his mind about the BMWE was that the organizers tried to visit each employee individually and answered questions promptly. That demonstrated to him that he and his fellow workers would be represented well. "I feel real good--and relieved--about the BMWE!"

Jerry Bell and his wife Catherine have two children.

Jim Parker has a childhood nickname, "Buzzard," that everyone on the railroad knows him by but his wife detests. He's happy to talk with anyone about the union, but if you call him at home, be sure to ask for Jim and not Buzzard.

"I've always been active and I'll do what it takes to get something done, so when I liked what I heard from the BMWE, it was natural for me to get involved," Parker said. "I've been seeing the handwriting on the wall; the company's broken too many promises. You just can't go it alone against a multi-million dollar company unless you're organized and represented."

Left to Right, Chrissy Parker, Brenda Parker, Jim Parker holding Brianna.

Parker, a welder with 21 years on the railroad in June, explained that he liked the way BMWE came in, "professional but personal; interested in each person. It seemed liked we would be part of a real union family that cared for each individual. I'm proud to be part of the BMWE union and I honestly can't wait to be a dues-paying member."

Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Parker, age 51, has lived in Florida since he was about a year old. He and his wife Brenda have two daughters and a beloved granddaughter, Brianna Nycole, nine months old, who was born prematurely and weighed under three pounds at birth.

Harvey Jones, foreman, fourth from right, with his Titusville section gang.

Godfrey Brown, a foreman on a smoothing gang, is in his 19^th year on the railroad. He and his wife Cathy live in Ft. Pierce, Florida, where he was born and raised.

"I sat in a little with the negotiating committee. Certain things were promised by the company and then those promises weren't kept. I knew the union could bring power and experience dealing with contracts," Godfrey said in explaining why he was active in the organizing campaign. "And I've always been outspoken. If I see something needs to be done, I'll push the issue. You can't just sit back, you have to stand up. Everybody's excited about the BMWE!"

Godfrey Brown.

New BMWE members in FEC Miami Rail Yard. Donald Hill, fourth from left.

Walter Fletcher, foreman, 21 years on the railroad, and George Collie, welder helper, 10 years in August on the railroad, also cited the company's broken promises as among the reasons they became active on the in-house organizing committee.

Collie added that "we feel somewhat neglected here on the south end of the line. We don't have as good equipment and there's better service up north. Yeah, I was active, but it was with the support of the guys. We're close and it wouldn't have worked without the support of the guys."

Right to Left, Walter Fletcher, Nunzio Pagano, Paul Swanson.

George Collie.

Joel Amador, newest man in FEC maintenance of way with three months service.

T. J. Fleming, married to Patrice, will have 23 years with the railroad in December. "There's been a lot of changes during that period of time," he said. "I remember when we put ties in by hand and used picks and shovels. We not new management about three years ago and things are a little better, but they don't keep their word and that's not justice. I know it's going to take time but I also know the union will work to see that we're treated fairly."

George Holman, who once worked with Fleming's father, has the most seniority on the FEC with 42 years later this year. Even though he's thinking about retirement, Holman worked in the organizing campaign (earning the nickname "Organizer") because "we simply have to be in the union. If something's not organized--be it the White House, the court house, the railroad--it's not going to work well. We're really happy we're now in the union!"

Right to Left, George Holman, T. J. Fleming, Paul Swanson.