March 29, 2024

Signs of support

More than 60 local union members and some spouses met with International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers representatives to discuss an agreement between the union and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Monday at Supertel Inn in Creston.

If passed, it would allow BNSF to reduce the current conductor and engineer two-man crew on trains to a one-man crew on 60 percent of BNSF railways, including Creston.

“The general chairman presented a powerpoint presentation in which he was promoting the agreement that he has laid out,” said Jim Garrett, a BNSF engineer from Creston. “Then they allowed some questions and answers after that.”

Garrett said the nature of the questions were not in favor of making the switch to one-man crews.

Community involvement

Outside the meeting, more than 40 concerned family, friends, union and community members held signs opposing the switch to one-man crews.

“I thought it was a great showing of support,” said Tessa Hull, who has helped organize groups to raise community awareness about the potential switch to one-man crews. “We even had engineers there in support, so not only do the conductors not want to lose their job, but the engineers want them to stay on the train, too.”

Hull said she will continue to help organize awareness for HR3040 on www.petitions.moveon.org.

“Getting it passed on the federal level is in our best interest right now,” Hull said. “We are hoping for a no vote, but you never know.”

Agreement

The agreement between BNSF the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers General Committee 001 known as SMART-TD — formerly the United Transportation Union — is subject to ratification by its members.

Ballots were sent out this month and must be returned by Sept. 8 so they can be counted the morning of Sept. 9.

“We have reached an agreement with SMART-TD dealing comprehensively with the major issues facing rail transportation ground service employees in the 21st century,” BNSF Railway said in a statement sent to the Creston News Advertiser. “The tentative agreement, subject to union membership ratification, will allow for locomotive engineers to operate freight trains with the remote support of a new master conductor, instead of a conventional on-board conductor on BNSF routes where Positive Train Control (PTC) is in use.”

Garrett said a simply majority is required from three different crafts — conductors, trainman (brakeman) and switchman.

“All three of them have to pass it,” Garrett said. “If any one craft doesn’t vote no, it fails for everybody.”

Currently, all trains on BNSF Railway require a conductor and an engineer. The agreement would eliminate the conductor and the engineer would work with assistance from a “master conductor” working from a control center and the PTC safety system on 60 percent of BNSF Railways, including trains that pass through Creston.

PTC is a satellite-guided system of sensors and computers mandated by Congress in 2008. It helps stop, slow and reroute trains.