September 30, 1999

Mr. John J. Fleps
Vice President-Labor Relations
Burlington Northern arid Santa Fe Railway Company
2600 Lou Menk Drive
Ft. Worth, TX 76131
FAX (817) 352-7319

Dear Mr. Fleps:

The United Transportation Union ("UTU") General Chairpersons of the UTU General Committees of Adjustment with jurisdiction over all of the agreements UTU has with the carrier have asked me to inform you that effective immediately UTU is withdrawing from every company-sponsored program on the property. Those programs which have been collectively bargained, such as the March 18, 1999 Work/Rest Guidelines/Principles are not included in this withdrawal. The carrier’s arrogant adherence to its unilaterally promulgated "Availability Policy," which is plainly at odds with the Work/Rest Guidelines/Principles is the occasion of this withdrawal, but the cause may be deeper than that. It appears the carrier is unwilling to live up to the simplest of commitments and understandings achieved in the background of the National Wage and Rules Panel.

Sincerely,
Charles L. Little
International President

cc: R D. Krebs, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-BNSF (FAX)
K F. Allen, Chairman-NRLC (FAX)
Magdalena Jacobsen, Chairwoman-NMB (FAX)
B. A. Boyd, Jr., Assistant President
All International Officers
D R. Carver, Assistant to the President-Yardmasters
All BNSF General Chairpersons (FAX)
All State Legislative Directors (FAX)

united transportation union
GENERAL COMMITTEE of ADJUSTMENT GO-386
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Montana Western Railroad

Dear Sirs:

The following is in regards to the above reference and sets forth the policy of this Committee on the referenced topics.

The undersigned and all members of this General Committee have an invested concern for safety in the operations involving members of this Committee as well as all fellow workers. We also have an intimate concern for quality of life issues, including work, rest and fatigue and the ability to enjoy quality time with our families.

It has become abundantly clear to the undersigned and the members of this Committee that those concerns are not primary to the management of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF). Further, it has become clear that BNSF’s dedication to safety, quality of life and work/rest issues have a definite price tag, one that does not bode well for the future of this company and one that is sacrificial to all that my membership holds dear.

Thus, based on the evident lack of dedication by BNSF to the principles of fair and humane treatment of their employees, the policy as presented below, will apply until such time as it is rescinded or amended.

This Committee and the locals under this jurisdiction will no longer participate or be party to:
1) System SACP.
2) Divisional SACP.
3) Division Safety Committees.
4) Any other entity, committee, task force or group not required under contract or servicing the contract, with BNSF. Further, any United Transportation Union (UTU) member of this committee participating in any of the above will be doing so on an individual basis and their actions, comments, commitments or agreement will not be considered as an official action, comment, commitment or agreement of the undersigned or any local, or member represented thereby.

It is further the policy of this Committee and the undersigned that any employee called or used in any service other than train or yard operation will be so utilized outside of the contracts between the BNSF and UTU that are represented by the undersigned. Such usage will be considered direct dealing and/or "Yellow Dog Contracts" and subject to the appropriate response.

All safety issues, including unsafe conditions, will be handled via the Local UTU Legislative Representative and/or the State Legislative Director, Local Chairman or the undersigned.

Should there be any doubt or confusion on the above policy statement, please direct correspondence to the undersigned. Verbal inquiries will not be answered.

Sincerely,
J.D.Fitzgerald

cc:All BNSF General Chairmen
All GO-386 Local Chairmen
M.D. Dealy
R.R. Fay
R.D. Stender
J. Dressler
J. Thompson
S.C. Sexhus
K. Duryea

JDF/aas