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Monday, April 27, 2009
Hilda Solis Confirmed as Secretary of Labor. This isn't really news. Solis was confirmed some time ago. How this will affect rail operations at UTA
is not yet known, however, the indications are that the Fedral Railroad Administration is now able to enforce regs which
they had apparently been prevented from enforcing under the previous Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao. This
is good news for the public.
There is still no effort by UTA's puppet union, ATU Local 382 to protect
the rail employees or demand that UTA train and pay them in accordance with accepted railroad standards. Frontrunner engineers
are still the lowest paid in the nation and in our view, their training is inadequate. But this has always been UTA's
plan. Assisted by their BFF, the ATU Local 382, UTA knew that they would not lose engineers to other railroads if the training
was substandard. UTA views Frontrunner engineers (which they call "operators") as well as TRAX operators, as nothing
more than bus drivers in trains. We all have the same classification and pay. There is no recognition from UTA for the additional
railroad skills (marginal as they might be) that their rail employees posess. And ATU Local 382 has not only allowed this
dangerous practice but facilitated it. Some union! Is there any wonder that unions are on the decline?
There
is a potential for swine flu pandemic. Why would I bring this up? Because as I addressed in an earlier post, UTA does not
provide indoor plumbing or running water for its rail employees at the Salt Lake Central Hub, the main terminal for trains
and buses. The lack of sanitary facilities is beyond disgusting. They saved money when they built the Hub by not building
any type of rest area for rail employees. We were expected to walk over a block to find shelter and plumbing in the bus
drivers lounge. After we howled in protest they hauled in a moldy Tuff Shed and a gross Porta-Potty for the TRAX employees.
There are about 55 TRAX operators, about 20 TRAX supervisors and an unknown number of Maintenance of Way and Vehicle
Maintenance empoyees who are expected to use this crude and repulsive setup. It is hidden behind the Amtrak building if anyone
cares to gaze upon it. There is reportedly some type of hand sanitizer in the Porta-Potty but since I
have never actually gone into it I am not sure. TRAX employees are expected to use this Tuff Shed as a break room
and handle their food with no sanitation. Now, of course, the world fears an outbreak of flu that could be deadly and
sanitation is extremely important. But UTA's rail employees have accomodations that are every bit as luxurious as
those found in third world countries. Could UTA be any more contemptuous of its employees? ATU Local 382 won't even stand
up to UTA and demand that they provide the most basic necessities to the employees, but then, this so-called union
is just an extension of UTA. On the bright side, I have been told by numerous employees that UTA provides four flat screen
TV's in the workout room for its executives in the building adjacent to the Hub.
9:55 am mdt
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