QUESTIONS and ANSWERS:
Missed Assignment (Applicable to AGS only)
Q. I protect an assigned schedule (7:30 am) out of Birmingham. I got in late on
my previous trip and I was not rested until 9:00 am, causing me to miss a train
called for 7:30am, on duty time. What does our agreement provide in this
situation?
A. Article 25 - A - 4 (Blue Book) applies to the AGS only. It states:
"In case engineers on assigned freight runs for any reason do not get out on their
runs and an engineer in irregular service is used on their run, the assigned
engineer will be run out in irregular service in place of the engineer which was
used on the assigned run, on the first train out in the same direction, after
available for service."
Q. What would be an example of this situation on the AGS?
A. The following schedules exist: SC02-7:30am, SC03-11:31am and SC05-1:30pm.
The 7:30am engineer was not rested until 9:00am and missed Train #1 called for
7:30am. A pool or extra engineer was used in his place. The pool or extra engineer
should be shown in the computer as being on SC02. CMC is failing to do this.
Train #2 was called for 11:45 am. The 11:31am (SC03) scheduled engineer would
be called. Train #2 was called within SC03's calling time and would not be
considered irregular service. Train #3 was called for 1:45pm. The 1:30pm (SC05)
scheduled engineer would be called. Train #3 was called within SC05's calling time
and once again, it would not be considered a train in irregular service because an
assigned schedule was open. Train #4 was called for 2:00pm. No assigned
schedules are open. Train #4 would be called in irregular service and filled by calling
SC02's engineer. In the computer, Train #4 with SC02's engineer should be shown
as a pool turn. CMC cannot seem to understand this. They are continually failing to
call a rested and available South Carded engineer for a train on his schedule because
his conductor was not rested. SC engineers bid in an assigned schedule, not a
conductor.
Q. With the same circumstances above, is SC02's engineer required to take a call
once he is rested even though he missed his job which was called for 9:00am?
A. Yes, it is not a choice. It is a contractual provision.
Q. With the same circumstances above, how long must SC02's engineer protect the
telephone for a call?
A. He will protect calls until his schedule expires. In this case, he must be available
for up to a 7:30pm call.
Q. Should a pool or an extra engineer be called in place of SC02's engineer in the
above examples?
A. The agreement does not specify pool or extra. It only refers to irregular, which
could be either. With the current situations on the AGS, it is most practicable to
use an extra engineer on SC02.
Q. Why an extra instead of a pool engineer?
A. No. 1 - Our pool turn crews are "married", so to speak.
No. 2 - The replacement engineer on SC02 will be representing that assignment in
the computer. If SC02's regular conductor was rested for the 7:30am call,
an extra engineer is the only logical choice, as we do not want to bust up
our pool turns, except in the case of an emergency.
No. 3 - The conductors do not have this missed assignment provision in their
agreement. Their present Local Chairman states that an extra conductor
will be used to fill a vacancy due to the regular conductor not being rested.
No. 4 - Unless it is decided to "unmarry" our pool turns, an extra engineer should
be used to fill the vacancy of an unrested regular engineer. In the event that
our pool turns become "unmarried", it would then be up to the BLE Local
Chairman (preferably after balloting the BLE members) as to which type
of engineer to call in place of an unrested engineer.
Q. I have been getting advice, opinions and interpretations from several people
regarding this contract provision. Who am I supposed to listen to?
A. The engineers agreement is interpreted by the BLE and NS. No other parties,
specifically, the UTU, have any relevance in interpreting our agreement. The
interpretation of this provision has been mutually agreed to by the BLE and NS
Labor Relations. Correct interpretations will be up to the BLE Local Chairman,
not the UTU Local Chairmen or the Crew Management Center.
Temporary Vacancies
Q. Can an advertised job be claimed as a temporary vacancy?
A. No, but, at our June Division meeting it was proposed that our members be polled
regarding a local agreement that would allow advertised jobs to be claimed as a
temporary vacancy by AGS District engineers. Updates will be posted.
Q. Can a vacancy created by an engineer taking personal leave days be claimed?
A. Not until the 6th day of the vacancy.
Q. An engineer takes 2 PL days prior to his vacation. Can the vacancy be claimed on
the first day that the engineer is on personal leave and continue through the vacation
period?
A. No, the 2 PL days cannot be claimed. An engineer cannot be placed on the
assignment until the vacation period begins.
Q. When can an engineer claim a vacation vacancy?
A. The senior engineer requesting the vacancy before midnight of the start date will
be assigned to it. This is a known vacancy. If an engineer is out of the terminal,
it is up to him to get his request in before midnight. If no claim is made before
midnight of the start date of the vacancy, it remains open and remains claimable
until it is filled. If an engineer is on the off board when a temporary vacancy is
filled, at the time of his markup he may displace to that vacancy, seniority
permitting.
Q. What is the 6 day rule we use regarding temporary vacancies?
A. After a temporary vacancy is open 6 days, an engineer holding same may be
displaced by any senior engineer desiring that vacancy.
Vacancy
|
Claim on 1st Day
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If Unclaimed On
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May Displace To
|
|
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1st Day,
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After 6 Days
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|
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Still Claimable
|
|
|
|
|
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Permanent
|
NO
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N/A
|
**SEE NOTE
|
Work Train
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
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Vacation
|
YES
|
YES
|
YES
|
Personal Leave
|
NO
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N/A
|
YES
|
Sickness/Injury
|
NO
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N/A
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YES
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Discipline
|
*SEE NOTE
|
N/A
|
YES
|
All Others
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NO
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N/A
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YES
|
* discipline vacancy, if it is for more than 6 days, can be claimed as soon as call office is
notified by NS of same; may displace to after the vacancy is open 6 days - whether it
is already filled or not.
**A permanent vacancy (advertised assignment) may be claimed as a temporary
vacancy if it remains open after 6 days. i.e. The successful bidder to the job is
holding a temporary vacancy on another assignment and elects to remain on the
temporary vacancy, which would allow an engineer to claim that regular assignment
as a temporary vacancy, after it has been open for 6 days.
Ditch Lights
Q. When does an engine have to be equipped with auxiliary lights?
A. Each lead locomotive that operates over a public grade crossing at a speed greater
than 20 mph, shall be equipped with operative auxiliary lights on the forward end of
the locomotive as it approaches a public grade crossing.
Q. Besides NS ditch lights, what other lights satisfy the auxiliary light law?
A. Oscillating lights on pre-1996 engines and strobe lights. A lead engine with strobe
lights is restricted to 40 mph.
Q. Do auxiliary lights have to work when a calendar day inspection is performed?
A. Yes. They are treated the same as headlights.
Q. Do the lights have to flash?
A. The lights may flash or burn steady.
Q. Can a train be dispatched from initial terminal without auxiliary lights on the lead
engine?
A. If the lead locomotive is not equipped with auxiliary lights, it may be dispatched, but it
is restricted to 20 mph over street crossings.
If the lead locomotive is equipped with auxiliary lights, all must be functioning on the
lead end of the forward locomotive.
Q. Can a train leave the initial terminal with one light defective on the lead end of the
forward locomotive?
A. No.
Q. What about enroute failures?
A. If one light fails, there are no restrictions, but, repairs must be made no later than the
next calendar day.
If two lights fail, may proceed to the next location where repairs can be made, but,
speed is restricted to 20 mph over road crossings.
RLINK
Q. I installed RLINK and it won't connect. What can I do?
A. By default, RLink uses com port 2. Start RLink, at the top left of the screen click
"Setup", then "Comm Port". If you know what comm port your modem is set on ,
select that number. If you're not sure, try comm port 3. Move to the right, under
"Baud". Click the arrow and select the fastest speed of your modem. Uncheck the
box next to "Locked". Click "Okay" and try connecting again.
Q. How do I customize the "Tool Box" so that I don't have to type rlink4, crewcall, etc.?
(the tool box is the horizontal row of icons at the top of the RLink window)
A. Click "Setup", then "Tool Box". Click "New", then "Text". Click in the white box next
to "Text String". Type "rlink4" and click "Add". Click in the white box again and type
"crewcall". Click "Add". Click in the white box and type your user i.d. (ex.tjs65) and
click "Add". Click the white box and type in your password. Click "Add". Click
"rlink4" click "Okay". Click "New", "Text", "crewcall", "Okay". Click "New",
"Text", "your user i.d.", "Okay". Click "New", "Text", "your password", "Okay".
There will be 4 new icons on the right side of the "Tool Box" (green computer
screens). After connecting just click the appropriate icon instead of typing. Icons
for "Enter" and "Tab" keys can be inserted between the "Text" incons, but, hey,
that's another story for page 2.
page 2
Q. Same as question above except that "enter" and "tab" functions are placed in
between rlink4,
crewcall, etc.
A. Click "Setup", then "Tool Box". Click "New", then "Text". Click in the white box next
to "Text String". Type "rlink4" and click "Add". Click in the white box again and type
"crewcall". Click "Add". Click in the white box and type your user i.d. (ex.tjs65) and
click "Add". Click the white box and type in your password. Click "Add". Click
"rlink4" click
"Okay". Click "New", "LU", "LU::Enter", "Okay". Click "New", "Text", "crewcall",
"Okay". Click "New", "LU", "LU::Enter", "Okay". Click "New", "Text", "your user
i.d.", "Okay". Click "New", "LU", scroll down and click "LU::Tab/Field Advance",
"Okay". Click "New", "Text", "your password", "Okay". Click "New", "LU",
"LU::Enter", "Okay". There will be 8 new icons on the right side of the "Tool Box"
(green computer screens). After connecting just click the appropriate icons instead
of using your keyboard.
Q. What's going on? Sometimes when I hit an F key ( i.e. F8) my screen freezes and
there's a message at the bottom that says "Not Here"?
A. You probably hit the key too soon. At work when you do that, you have to hit the
reset key to continue. The same applies at home, but you have to make one of the
icons in the tool box at the top of the screen act as your reset key.
Click "Setup", "Tool Box", "MENU::Help:Help", "Alter Action", "LU", scroll down,
click "LU::Reset", "Okay", "Okay". Now the tool box icon to the right of the red
phone will reset.
Q. What is "jump screen"?
A. "Jump screen" allows you to be logged onto 2 different sessions at the same time
and you can go back and forth between the 2 sessions without hanging up. You can
log onto crewcall with Host A and then jump screen and log onto memo with Host B.
You can switch back and forth between crewcall and memo by clicking an icon.
Click "Setup", "Tool Box", "MENU::Help:Keyboard", "Alter Action", scroll down to
and click "MENU::Window:Jump Screen", "Okay", "Okay". Now the icon two places
to the right of the red telephone will allow you to jump screens between crewcall and
memo, real time, etc.
Q. What do I do to keep Rlink from hanging up when I am typing in memo or remarks on
a timeslip?
A. When typing, Rlink doesn't recognize that there is activity and automatically
disconnects after a few minutes. While typing hit the Enter key every minute or so.
Hours of Service
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
FRA Engineer Certification
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Q. What are the "cardinal rules" that can lead to decertification?
A. Excessive speed (10 mph over the maximum)
Improper brake test (initial terminal and intermediate)
Failure to stop at a fixed signal requiring a complete stop
Occupying the main track without proper authority
Tampering with safety devices
Rule G violations
Sadie Hawkins Day Agreement
Q. What is the Sadie Hawkins Day Agreement?
A. It is a local agreement that allows an engineer to roll any junior engineer for a
permanent displacement, simply by making a request for such a move.
Q. How often can an engineer use this displacement?
A. No more than once every 6 months.
Q. How does it work?
A. An engineer must make a written request to the BLE Local Chairman and Crew
Management asking for his assignment to be advertised and make known to which
job he will roll. The Local Chairman tells Crew Management to advertise the job. The
engineer making the request will work his job during the bulletin period. When the
bulletin is up, he will then be put on the assignment that he requested. The
displaced engineer must make a seniority move just as in the past.
Q. Why does the request have to go to the BLE Local Chairman?
A. It is stipulated in the agreement. The BLE Local Chairman will be responsible for
keeping up with those requests and ensuring that the 6 month rule is complied with.
Q. How is the 6 month period determined?
A. A 6 month period will begin on the bid closing date of the engineer's assignment that
is advertised under this agreement. If you make a request for a seniority move under
this agreement and your job's advertisement closes on March 6, another such
request cannot be made until September 6.
Q. Can a pool turn engineer displace a junior pool turn engineer under this agreement?
A. Yes, but, only using the provisions of this agreement. Any other seniority
displacements require that the youngest pool engineer be rolled.
Guaranteed Extra Board
Q. How much is the guarantee?
A. Currently, it is $155.89 per day or $2182.46 per 14-day pay period. Effective January
1, 2003 it will be $170.89 per day or $2392.46 per 14 day pay period.
Q. Following a mark off, where is an extra engineer to be placed on the extra board upon
marking up for service?
A. If that extra engineer's slot moved from 6th out to 2nd out while he was off, the
engineer would be placed in his slot (2nd out) upon marking up for service. If that
engineer's slot was called while he was marked off, he would be placed at the bottom
of the board, upon marking up for service.
Job Insurance
Q. Must a new member include a payment for 3 months premiums when making
application to join the BLE and take out BRCF job insurance?
A. No. It will not be necessary. Our Division will handle your insurance for that period,
which will be on payroll deduction, along with your regular BLE dues. The fourth
payment will be on payroll deduction directly to the insurance provider. There is no
upfront cost to you.
Switching Claim - 61G
Q. What constitutes a claim for 4 hours switching when putting rock train away in Meridian?
A. You are entitled to a 4 hour switching claim if you make more than 3 moves in addition to
yarding your train. i.e. Yard train in track 3, make a cut, spot 30 cars in APAC in 2 tracks
( move 1). Take 4 cars to the interchange - (move 2). Return to track 3, get 16 cars
and spot 4 of them in the Cobb track (move 3). Return to track 3 with the 12 remaining
cars. Run around track 3 and shove to spots in 2 tracks at 49th (move 4).
