UTU Local 426 Archived News.
8/26/05
Members Local 426
Last month as most of us know there was a locker issue at Pasco. The
lockers are at the away from home lodging facility at the Red Lion
site.
The carrier put out a notice that if by a certain date if the locker
was not claimed with the terminal clerk, then the lock would be cut
off and the contents removed.
In a few lockers there was found some substance that if on the
property would have been rule G substance. Investigation notices
were sent to the individuals for possession.
The effected parties Local Chairman got the situation handled.
What was found, most of us would not think of twice, having off the
carrier property. However the carrier claimed as they rented the
room in which the lockers were in, the property was under the
carriers rules.
There were no signs posted or nothing in the General Notices or rule
book stating anything at the hotel, in that room, in the locker,
would have be construed as the same as being on company property, as
that was your locker for your belongings.
To cut through the chase do not put anything in your locker at the
away from home lodging that you would not put in your locker on
site. The issue is serious, we do not want to have to represent
someone in an investigation, most likely a arbitrator would have
ruled in our favor, but most likely no back pay, and that could take
years.
Attendance issues are up now. Keep a real good log of what movements
and times on your lay off, personal leave days. Your calls by time
are recorded and the local chairmen can retrieve these records if
you have dates and times. It may mean the difference in a invite or
a correction on your personal file. As we know Doug Kayser was moved
to another location, his territory between Boyer and Whitefish East,
Maxine Timberman Kazen or Jeff Whitachre are the people to contact
if you have extenuating circumstances for being off, call as soon as
possible and leave a voice mail at the very least.
Jim Larkin L/C