On December 8, 1998, ten BMWE general chairman wrote all BMWE members employed on the Union Pacific Railroad. They wrote the members to tell them about a meeting they had with UP Vice President of Engineering Bill Wimmer at Omaha, Nebraska on November 18.* This meeting was demanded to protest the outrageous mass abolishment of about 40 percent of BMWE members' jobs by UP. A portion of the letter follows:

"We firmly criticized management about the continued use of contractors to perform construction and maintenance work while thousands of our members' positions have been abolished. Although we do not have an accurate count of the contractors' workers on the property, our belief is one is too many! We know that a great deal of new work is being contracted, including material picked up or unloaded, grade being built, derailments cleaned up and much more. In addition to the contracting already in place, we have been notified (as required by the contract) of dozens more projects being planned to be contracted out. We urgently need more details so that we can file appropriate and accurate claims for lost work under the contract and to prepare for other actions if necessary. If you know of any contractors, please notify your local chairman or system officer immediately. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible including locations, numbers of contractor employees and dates worked, etc.

"Mr. Wimmer's excuse for the proposed contracting was that most of the work being contracted out was work we have not been doing. Our counter to that is crystal clear--with so many laid-off we should be doing it! As for the additional projects in their notices to us, he said many of the notices were "just in case" types. That is, the carrier has notified us to protect themselves under the notification rules "just in case" the contractors were needed in emergencies such as snow removal. We informed him that the carrier had plenty of available laid-off workers to draw from and did not need to use contractors.

"Mr. Wimmer also said that we could look forward to seeing many of the members being called back in January, mostly in the southern territories. Most should be called back by April. These promises are small consolation to our laid-off brothers and sisters, especially with the holidays coming up.

"To sum up the meeting, we can only say that the UP has been put on notice that you, the membership (their employees), are frustrated and are demanding action. It is hoped that management heeds this warning. If not, we will have to send a stronger, more clear message.

"In the meantime, we have to act as one to insure that the UP remains safe. Safe, in spite of management's decision to abolish approximately 40 percent of the work force that maintains the tracks and bridges. We must be vigilant to insure that track speeds are adjusted to meet the conditions that may arise because forces are not adequate. We should also refuse to take any shortcuts to maintain production.

"We can't expect the remaining 60 percent to accomplish the work that was performed prior to the 40 percent reduction. We must remain steadfast with our fellow brothers and sisters. We must fully comply with the Jerry Davis Empowerment letter. When the 60 percent, which are left on the property, become hungry, cold and exhausted, we must insure the safety of ourselves, our sisters and our brothers.

"We also should be vigilant in our obligation to comply with Rule 6.29.1, Inspecting Passing Trains. Our members may have been hit first and hardest in UP's attempt to satisfy the shareholders, but the mechanical crafts could be next. More importantly, we do not want our brothers and sisters in the operating crafts to be put at any risk.

"Rest assured we will continue to monitor this situation. If the contractors continue to work while we are furloughed, we will step up our pressure. Much of what we do however, will be up to you. We will be asking you what you are willing to do. Be ready to inform us of your choice of action and be ready to carry that choice out."

*(Attending the November 18, 1999 meeting were BMWE President Mac A. Fleming, Vice Presidents Larry Borden and Rick Wehrli, Director of Organizing Paul Swanson and General Chairmen Ray Ash, Leon Fenhaus, Hayward Granier, Bruce Glover, Bill Gulliford, Bill Palmer, Lloyd Riley, Roger Sanchez,, David Tanner and Joe Ybarra.)

On December 13, member Robert J. Loftus of Hastings, Nebraska responded as follows:

"I'm responding to your letter dated December 8, 1998. I completely understand you are trying your best. You are asking us to be willing to do what needs to be done. The gang 9031, which I work on is willing to do whatever it takes.

"We are fed up; scared every morning looking around for the new faces that have arrived to bump us from our jobs. How much can a man take, seeing trained men going home who have worked for five years without a layoff.

"I am sending a letter that my son had to write for a school assignment, 'All I Want For Christmas.' This was published in our local newspaper. Please read it. I didn't realize how much he understood of what was happening with my job. He made me proud. He has always talked of wanting to work hard on the railroad like his father of 15 years, seven years chasing BN, eight years now chasing UP. His grandfather of 44 years on BN, great grandfathers both retired from BN and UP, two uncles also retired. But I will do everything I can to see he doesn't choose to have to chase the railroad.

"As far as rule 6.29.1, we all are aware of the work schedule of the trainmen. It is almost automatic that one or two men cross to the opposite side of the tracks to inspect trains.

"If there was ever a time for more than just words, the time is now!"

Reprinted from The Hastings Tribune, December 11, 1998:

"All I want for Christmas is for my dad to be home. I want my mom to make it through nursing school. I also would like for my dad not to get laid off from his job as a railroader. Money is tight for us right now, so I hope we get some. I want my Great Grandma Stubs and Aunt Rhonda to make it to town so they can enjoy Christmas with the rest of my family. And most of all I want a joyful Christmas with my family!

Derek Loftus
Grade 6
Lincoln Elementary

The following letter was written to President Fleming on January 8, 1999 by Philip A. Pagano, Executive Director of Metra in Chicago, Illinois:

"Attached for your information and review is a copy of a letter I issued to all Metra employees following the massive snow storm which hit the Chicago area on January 2, 1999. A similar letter was also sent to the Presidents of each of the Metra contract carriers conveying a comparable message of appreciation to their employees involved in the effort to restore full commuter operations.

"Emergency situations such as this demonstrate quite clearly that the success of any organization is built in large part on the individual efforts of its employees. Certainly, each and every Metra employee played their part in keeping the system up and running and in ensuring that the needs of the commuting public were fully met. They are all to be commended for their dedication and hard work, especially those involved in clearing snow from our stations and platforms and in keeping the right of way open for service."

To All Metra Employees:

"At this time of year, we all normally enjoy warm fires, gentle snow falls, and the pleasant company of our family and friends. Unfortunately, this year, the peaceful happiness of the holiday season was harshly interrupted by one of the worst winter storms ever recorded.

"Even by Chicago area standards, snow totals in excess of 21 inches, gale force winds, and temperatures and wind chill readings of well below zero were each enough to test the mettle of the most winter-hardened railroad veteran. But once again, Metra and its family of dedicated employees rose up and met the challenge.

"To all of the Metra employees who battle the cold and snow to report for their regular assignments and to the many, many other employees who put in long hours of extra emergency work, thank you for a job well done and for once again performing service on behalf of the commuting public above and beyond the call of duty.

"Despite tremendously adverse conditions, the tracks and stations were cleared of snow, trains ran, and people got to where they needed to go. Each and every employee, in their role, contributed to our ability to keep the system fully operational, whether they worked directly out on the line or in one of our yards, shops, or general offices. Due to your dedication, perseverance, and remarkable hard-work, Metra was able to weather the storm!

"Thank you, one and all."

(NOTE: WITH PHOTO TO COME)

BMWE member Curt N. Nystrom, age 42, from Boone, Iowa, was the recipient of Union Pacific's J.C. Kenefick Safety Award for 1998. He was honored at an award presentation that opened UP's Annual Safety Leadership Conference in Dallas beginning on January 18.

UP Update noted that "Nystrom, a crane operator and safety captain, was instrumental in preparing an Emergency Response Book for his territory that details routes to hospitals, identifies bridges and lists emergency phone numbers. The project has the potential of being adopted system wide to aid in emergency response procedures.

"Nystrom also authorized 33 near-miss/unsafe work conditions and safety improvement projects as part of a program that's considered one of the driving factors to his department's safety success."

Also an Operation Lifesaver volunteer, Nystrom has spoken to various student groups about the critical importance of railroad safety. "If I save one life because of what I said, this discussion has been worth it," Nystrom told a reporter for the Boone News Republican after speaking to a group of sixth-grade students last September.

Nystrom joined the BMWE in February 1997 and is a member of Subordinate Lodge 436, Chicago & North Western System Federation. He and his wife _____ are the parents of _______.

Please contact the Grand Lodge Communications Department if you can answer the following question sent to the BMWE Journal from Rhoda Schmidt of Burnet, Texas:

"I really enjoyed the trivia article about the rail gauge dimensions. I would like to read an article on 'date nails.' I've seen some with letters on them and no one can tell me what the different letters stand for. Most people know about the date on the nail being the year it was used. A lot of nails have different size heads on them. Is that to identify the different railroad lines using them?

"Please, if you would, print a 'Railroad Trivia' on date nails for those of us who would like to know."