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

Dear Mr. Siegele:

This is in regard to the above reference, copies are, however, being widely distributed due to the overall impact on employee-management relations. The instant handling coupled with other actions of the Carrier, both Operating and Labor Relations Departments, leaves the distinct impression BNSF Management is severely handicapped in logic or they just really don't care.

The handwriting issue has already generated questions by local employees due to the fact the Carrier pulled select employees out of safety marathon meetings to provide samples. That action justly appeared to make the safety team members a party to such action.

BNSF repeatedly professes their employees are important and in fact are customers with regards to Crew Support and Payroll, while at the same time attempting to treat those valuable employees under the Wal-Mart handbook, in other words with disdain and loathing for having to pay them properly and apply outdated agreements unlike such corporations as Wal-Mart.

I am finding it more impossible each day, to believe BNSF management holds anything more dear than the almighty buck and will stop at nothing, including the safety and well being of their employees and the public, to increase the bottom line.

The handwriting issue arose because BNSF Management failed to deal above the board, failed to follow through with complaints from both sides involved and has failed to have in place an employee relations process that is truly unbiased and one that seeks correction rather than discipline.

As stated to John Fleps, BNSF Management's actions are poisoning the well for any type of working relationship between Management and Labor.


Sincerely,
J.D. Fitzgerald
General Chairman
 

 

cc: P.C. Thompson
R.L. Marceau
C.J. Miller, III
BNSF UTU General Chairmen
GO-386 Local Chairmen