The previous post demonstrates quite graphically that what passes for a union at UTA is nothing more than a bloated beauracracy that is only interested in collecting union dues. They won't even demand that UTA provide the most basic necessities for its employees.

Commuter rail has opened and it pays the engineers, whose training is inadequate in our view, but who do meet Federal Railroad Administration standards, the lowest wages in the nation. Care to challenge this, ATU? We invite ATU Local 382 to explain why they do not demand that UTA pay prevailing wages. The problem is that, as these engineers are coming to find out, they will answer to the FRA if they make a mistake. This has already happened. Since ATU 382 allowed UTA to eliminate Conductors on its new railroad the entire responsibility now rests on the engineer and it is easy to make a mistake. Conductors are not window dressing on railroads. They have major responsibilities related to the safe operation of the train. But not at UTA.