In the past, BNSF has supported cooperative local safety initiatives only as long as those efforts fit within whatever policy the Carrier had in place at the time. When budgets were cut or priorities changed, then support for these local safety committees dwindled. Additionally, in some locations the Carrier paid lost earnings only if the UTU member of the safety committee was acceptable to the local carrier officer. These inconsistencies and abuses ruined some local safety initiatives, while others produced positive results. Since UTU's withdrawal from those policy-based programs last year, we have said that any future cooperative safety efforts must be based on a collective bargaining agreement, and that any such agreement must contain 1) a provision for payment of lost earnings, 2) selection of UTU participants solely by UTU, and 3) participation by local option. We recently finalized negotiations on an optional local agreement containing those necessary elements. A copy of the entire Agreement is available for viewing here.** This is obviously not a viable option for every location, but where cooperative local safety committees are possible, this agreement can serve as a basis for such initiatives.

** This agreement has since been superceded. Click here for the lastest agreement.