As of November 1, 2004, both UTU and BNSF were free to serve Notice under Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act to request changes in wages and working conditions, beginning what is shaping up to be a very contentious and challenging round of bargaining. All UTU General Committees on BNSF have elected to join “national” handling for this round of negotiations, and we have served Section 6 Notices identical to all other General Committees in national handling. BNSF has also opted for national handling, and has designated the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) as their representative in those negotiations. On November 1, NCCC Chairman Bob Allen attempted to serve UTU International President Paul Thompson with a Section 6 Notice on behalf of BNSF, and was advised that such Notice must be served on the involved individual General Committees. BNSF has now forwarded Mr. Allen’s Notice to those respective General Chairmen.

Here are the NCCC Notice and UTU Notice. It comes as no surprise that the NCCC Notice includes, among other things, the Carriers’ request for elimination of traditional operating crafts, unilateral control of crew size on all trains, and a request for a joint legislative effort to eliminate the Federal Employers’ Liability Act as we know it. The Carriers are dead serious about these requests, and given the outcome of the November 2 elections they believe that the political stage is set for such an effort. UTU’s Notice includes requests for reasonable wage increases and improvements in benefits and working conditions, based on input from UTU members throughout the country.

In addition to the national negotiations pursuant to these Notices, UTU and BNSF are also involved in separate but concurrent “local” negotiations on a variety of topics of mutual concern. Those “on property” negotiations are currently being conducted jointly with representatives of the BLE.

We will keep you informed as to any progress or status changes in either these national or on-property negotiations.