Last spring several hundred BMWE members took the time to write letters about issues which concerned them which they then sent in with their bargaining surveys. Retirement, travel allowances, contracting out and wages were the issues most on the minds of the letter writers. It was difficult to select only a few of the many fine letters to be printed in the limited space available -- we would have liked to print them all.

I am writing to you about our next contract. First of all, I have two young children at home, a boy who is 8 and a girl who is 5. I enjoy being home with my family every night, attending school activities, birthday parties, etc. I do not believe that we should have a 75 mile one-way drive to work. That takes so much time away from the family that there could be stress and my top priority is to keep my family healthy, happy and ultimately all together under one roof.

I am a firm believer in the 55 and 30 year full retirement. I would pay a 10% increase in tier 2 for the opportunity to retire at age 55. I have talked to other brothers and sisters about the matter and they have indicated a willingness to pay the extra 10%. A lot of people would still have kids in school and at home, but it would be nice to have the opportunity to retire early if your health was failing. I would like to see some protection so our brothers and sisters would get their 30 years in and not travel so far away from home. I have at least 10 years to go before I can retire, but I'll have to keep working because my two children will be in high school and then college.

We have a really good prescription drug program. I can't see how it could get any better. I have talked to other brothers and sisters out here on the railroad and they feel as I do that our health insurance is getting worse every day. At one time the insurance would pay for a wife's pap smear and mammograms. Now they say they will not pay for preventative tests such as these. As a member of the BMWE, I think we need to look into a different insurance company to cover us. We are out of their network so therefore can't sign up for managed health care. My wife has gone to the same doctor for nearly 20 years and she feels comfortable with him. I don't think it's fair to not be able to have the doctor of your choice and be covered by insurance. That seems like discrimination to me.

Lastly, I don't want contractors on BNSF property. Contractors seem to cause conflict, take jobs away from brothers and sisters, do not pay in tier 1 and tier 2, and I don't feel it does the railroad any good either. I have had to work on the contractors' job once they moved out to make repairs or redo things that were not done right the first time. I would like for the union to do better on paying time slips and not back down from the railroad by negotiating half the hours. Maybe then they would think twice about contracting these jobs out.

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We need a 25% pay raise. Management wages have almost tripled since 1981. It's about time we the laborers get a good raise. We are the backbone of the rail industry. We are the employees who work at night, day, hot, cold, rain, whenever the phone rings we go. Upper management tells us how important we are, how good of a job we do, how they couldn't get along without us -- until it's time to sign another contract. Then they act as if we don't deserve anything. Once upon a time there was a lot of dedicated employees, now they are few. Some have quit, some have been cut off because of having to work 300 or 400 miles away from home on headquarter gangs with no expense money at all. UP should be made to pay full expenses when an employee has to work over 100 miles from home.

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Keeping a marriage and family together over the years has not been an easy task as anyone on the railroad knows, but an early retirement would go a long way in making it a lot easier. The younger generation who are starting will find all of this true as they will be away a lot more than perhaps I am with the proposals to make territories larger and larger all the time. This may not be a bargaining issue, but it is one that is my top priority. Seeing that it is even being considered has given me some great hope. I know that a lot of others must feel the same way. Anything and everything should be done to see if this can become a reality.

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I have worked for CSX for 25 years on the S&NA North, mostly as a track repairman. I started to work in Lewisburg, Tennessee about 25 miles southwest of my home. There have been over 50 people who had seniority on me who have left the railroad. I now have to work on the section gang at Cullman, Alabama, over 120 miles one way from home. I feel the union has mostly helped SPG gangs with expenses and done very little to help local forces. I feel anyone having to work over 50 miles from home should at least get a motel room and maybe meals and travel expenses. Being on a headquartered gang should not matter. I now have to rent a place to stay. It costs me over $600 monthly just to work, paying for rent and gas. I should not have to do this.

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I'm 51 years old and have been working for Conrail for 23 years. With this NS agreement we have just lost everything we have gained over the past 10 years. I voted yes to accept the agreement but only until the 2000 contract is negotiated. We need work rules similar to what we had on Conrail. A home zone that protects us (seniority & financially) from working a long way from home if we choose not to. We need to get our wage scale up to attract new employees and keep our experienced members on an equal basis with other industries. We need to make a strong commitment on the year 2000 contract even if it involves a long strike!

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For some of us who started working at an early age, working in all types of weather conditions, everything done by hand, when we get to the age of 62 or 65 to retire with full benefits, we have already worked 35 to 40 years in the track department. The life span after retirement is 2 to 5 years. We should fight for retirement after 30 years no matter how old you are. This is what I think is the most important issue.

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This survey hits on contracting out pretty hard but I feel that we (everyone in the union) need to do whatever it takes to stop the company from giving our work away to other people. This past winter 1998-99 I watched the company contract out all the dirt work for a new construction project and all the bridge work as well. I have been told that this started out with our B&B department saying that they didn't want to build large bridges so the company gladly went outside to get the job done. We cannot keep on leaving the barn door open. Here we (B&B) opened the door, who is going to shut it? If we the employees don't want to do the work that the company has for us to do than we do not have any room to complain. I, however, was not in this group which left the barn door open but myself and fellow brothers and sisters are really being affected by this act. What can we do? What can I do? I watch contractors work every day while fellow brothers and sisters are laid off and the company has shut down all dirt gangs.

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The survey is a good idea. The bottom line for me is just being able to take care of my wife and four children. I have only worked for the railway for a year and a half. I want to continue to work for BNSF. We (the union) need to keep contractors from working on the railway. I know everyone has a right to make a living, but let the contractors make it someplace else. I know it's a lot to ask but working year round would really be a good thing. I would travel if I was supplied with a room. I cannot afford to pay for a hotel or motel and keep my family above poverty level living. I'm not asking for the golden ring. I am willing and I expect to work for my money. I just want to work and to have a fairly good retirement.

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I am and have been a rail worker and union member for the past 20 years. I have seen a lot of changes both good and bad in that time. I have given of my body, mind and soul in the prime of my life only to be rewarded with a paycheck that won't even pay the bills. I don't live beyond my means. I work every day to support my family yet I'm falling farther and farther behind regarding my earnings. It's also discouraging to find out that my family is eligible for government assistance (free school lunch, WIC and possibly more) if I so desire to exercise my rights which I don't. I'm not a student of economics but it doesn't take one to figure out that the increases in real wages, cost of living and union dues have not been in sync for some time now. ... In the upcoming contract talks, our union needs to take the lead. We need real wage increases and a realistic retirement age for workers with thirty plus years. ... As organized labor, let's enter the new century lean, strong and ready to fight for what is rightfully ours! A union is only as strong as its members and the members are only as strong as their leaders. As our leadership, stand firm for your members and we will follow your lead.

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If the Union Pacific keeps on contracting out our jobs, we should go on strike. No butts about it!

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... I'm very proud to be a member of BMWE. Let's continue to fight together to improve our contracts and workplace, receive fair wages, continue job assignments based on seniority (not on who you know), employment security (not fear of a boss's bad mood) and a contract that is legally binding (not promises that can be broken).

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No Lump Sum Payment. We lose money every time. Get wage increases! We keep falling behind with the lump sums. Also, we need profit sharing when the company makes big money.

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I would like to see some sick days or be able to carry over one week of vacation each year up to 10 weeks. Then you would have to use your vacation back down to 10 weeks or less in place of sick days and personal days. I also would like someone to come up with a way for those of us who work away from home to be able to support our children in their school activities. And I would like to see those of us who have to work headquartered gangs away from home (75 miles or more) get some kind of compensation such as mileage, meals or lodging or a percentage of meals and lodging.

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We need the railroads to follow the agreement that they agree to and stop playing games with our money. I have been waiting 3 years for travel allowance. Union Pacific owes me. We need a quicker way to resolve issues. It's not fair to hold our benefits that long. This issue and a wage increase are most important to me. At least with wage increases the railroads can't hold out on us. Every benefit like per diem, travel allowance, alternate work weeks, health insurance, contracting out, etc., the railroads have too much control over and therefore they can screw with us.

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I would like to see the accumulation of sick leave days, such as one day a month. The way it is set up now a person has to miss five days in a row before he or she can be compensated for time lost! When most of us get sick, it's for only one or two days. In this instance, we lose one or two days pay. Another change I would like to see is a new agreement book printed after each contract is signed. The agreement book I have now is the one that became effective September 1, 1982. An agreement book that is current with the newest contract is a must. After all this is the information age.

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One issue I feel we need to address is away from home expenses and the travel mileage we get now. I stay in a single on the road. I feel I should not have to stay with anyone. I am a light sleeper and if someone snores, passes gas a lot, stays up late or takes control of the room, I should be paid enough to stay by myself so I can get my rest so I will be alert and able to watch for my safety at work. I am glad we have travel allowance now but it is not up to par. The company says if I would like to work I have to travel. There is not enough to keep an auto in working condition to make it to work plus gas and insurance. ... I work for Union Pacific on the old Missouri Pacific side.

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To The Bargaining Team: While the early retirement issue has some merit, given the political and social climate, the worry over social security and other retirement programs solvency, and the need for the cooperation and sacrifice from other crafts and an Act of Congress to accomplish this goal, I do not see it happening. Therefore, I would caution you against passing up possible gains and benefits seeking to attain the unattainable. Thank you for your efforts on our behalf.

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For the past 20 years I have been working production gangs. Due to the expense in living away from home, including extra food, shelter and auto expenses, I feel we should get more compensation such as more per diem and travel expenses. At this time we do not receive travel expenses if we elect to fly home rather than drive. I feel we should be able to make a choice and be paid travel expenses whether we choose to fly or to drive or perhaps the railroad could pay for flights. Because we are away from home and depending on the distance, it subtracts from what little time we are able to spend with our families if our only choice is to drive hundreds of miles in 2 days. This does not seem to be a concern to the railroad.

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My reason for wanting specific sick days is this: forces are cut so low when you are sick, say up all night with the flu, that you might or might not get the supervisor to mark you down for vacation pay because the time off was not pre-arranged. It's the same for a personal day's pay. Men bring their colds and viruses to work and then everybody gets sick. Who gains from this?

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I know around this area where me and my fellow employees work, staying close to our families is so important. So you guys have to work on keeping us employees close to home. I know that it will be tough but that's why you and me are the union. A few employees around my area threw their surveys away in the trash because they think you guys are bought out by the company and you guys won't help us out. I hope and pray to God that they are wrong, that you guys could HELP US. I think 30 years of service is perfect for retirement. I hope you guys work on that pretty hard. Thank you.

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In regard to health care, myself and several employees I have talked to are having to fight with United HealthCare to insure that they pay their 85% for health care. I am presently trying to get them to pay their share for my wife's pap smear. I feel that if United HealthCare does not want to fulfill their obligations than perhaps the company could allow an employee to buy their own insurance and reimburse the employee what the company would have paid.

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We need to address the issue of making men get commercial licences before they can make a pull on jobs. Most of the older men were hired as laborers and operators not tractor trailer drivers. The foremen and one more man should be the only ones required to get CDLs. The other men should have an option. It is not fair to the older men that want to pull on these jobs. It is not fair to the older men not to be able to work a higher paying job because of the issue. Some older men will not be able to get a Class A CDL because of physical and other reasons. This issue should be addressed.

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The railroad is a multi-billion dollar industry. When I hired on in 1976 we were making good pay but we kind of stagnated for a few years so now we are behind what we should be making. And as far as retirement - people in government and factory jobs retire after 30 years with full pension. Why can't we? The union and the railroad preach safety but how safe is it for someone 55 to 62 years old to be out there walking on that big ballast or for that matter crawling all over the bridges? At the rate the railroad is going they're going to have full gangs where the members are in their 50s and 60s and when they retire who's going to teach the new guys how to do it? Wouldn't it be better to retire semi healthy rather than going out with a bad order? Because after spending 20 years out there putting in ties, unloading ballast, working in rain, snow, sub-zero weather - no one can say they don't have some aches and pains. Our jobs are very physically and mentally demanding. So number 1, 30 years, full pension and insurance, and number 2, substantial raise. Surely we are worth that and deserve it!

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I have heard a lot about the combination of age and years of service for retirement. I am 44 years of age with 25 years of service. I don't know if my body will make it until I am 62 years old. I am willing to pay more railroad retirement tax or get less in wage increases if I could retire a lot earlier. A lot (98%) of my co-workers in the Fargo, North Dakota area agree. See what you can do. Thank you.

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I'm for early retirement, 30 years at 55. This job is very stressful and strenuous. But we pay so much into retirement now, I don't see why we should have to pay any more. But I would pay more to retire early as a last resort. I know guys who work a long way from their homes and they don't get anything for travel, hotel rooms, meals, wear and tear on their vehicles or anything. The only way they can work is to stay on that gang. Everybody needs to be compensated for their travels, use of the cars, meals and rooms. I don't know of any other job that makes you work all over the place but won't pay you for it. Sick days are very important also. Clerks and other employees get them and they don't even work outside. We work in all kinds of weather but don't get them. I think we should get 5 per year. Leave per diem as it is, no increase. It needs to be given to all online and system gangs.

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Contracting out our work reduces the amount of railroad jobs and the amount of money paid into railroad retirement. In turn, the current and future railroaders will have to work longer and pay higher taxes to earn full retirement through no fault of ours. I feel that anytime a contractor either does railroad work or works on railroad property, that contractor should have to pay railroad retirement taxes. Consider a railroad worker who is laid off for three or four months. If he works for any job not related to railroading he has social security taxes withheld from his check. This then should apply to contractors who are doing railroad work.

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I would like to see the union secure for us a better wage increase than previous years. The 3.5% annual increase barely keeps up with the cost of living. Also, the lump sum payments are not to our benefit. If you are off on medical leave in a qualifying year then that decreases the amount you receive. It also decreases future wage increases because your base rate does not increase. I feel it is unfair for medical coverage payments to be deducted from our lump sum payments.

As far as retirement goes, we need early retirement with medical benefits. Other industries offer this such as Caterpillar and Case Corporation. They pay comparable hourly wages and benefits. I don't think we should have to pay any more into our railroad retirement to qualify for this because of the excessive amounts we have paid through the previous years.

We need more paid time off. I think it was in 1973 or 1974 since our vacations have increased. My suggestion is that instead of increasing vacations a week at a time, employees who have worked 26 years would receive 26 days, 27 years, 27 days, etc.

We need sick days. Our supplementary sickness benefits are for the long term. Even that has its drawbacks. They take forever to get. They are always late on their payments. And these benefits are taxed. We work outside in all kinds of weather. The employees come to work sick because they cannot afford to be off, which is not good for us, the co-workers, or of any benefit to the company.

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I feel early retirement is good. To pay higher railroad retirement taxes may be a good idea. I feel the per diem should be for everyone, especially headquarter gangs and welders. Whether they be trackmen, machine operators, welders or B&B department, all work away from home. Us Navajos live on the Navajo reservation and travel 100 to 300 miles to towns where we're sent like Kingman, Belen, Yucca, Grants, Gallup, Winslow. Workers on sections today sleep in their vehicles. ...

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I was under the impression that the longer I worked for the railroad, the better my seniority would become. Well, imagine my surprise when on the new rosters I went from approximately 800 to 2600 to over 4000 on the system labor side. I don't consider this job security. All the new construction going on in Nebraska is beyond my bidding power because of this new roster. Most of these gangs are made up of CNW people who seem to have taken over. I live in Nebraska (southeast) and I am forced to work in Colorado because I can't come close to getting a bid around home. Thus, more time away from home and family. Something needs to be done! Before this new roster was put into effect I worked year round. The winter of 98-99 I was laid off. I worked more when I was first hired, now I'm worrying about more layoffs this winter. I have house-car-insurance payments, not to mention child support. I'm staying in a motel in the very western part of Kansas right now that costs $49 a night. It is the only place to stay without driving 50 miles each way every day. So it's pretty hard to save any money for the upcoming winter layoffs. Thank you for letting me air my concerns.

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It is time you stopped the carrier from making us share rooms. Everyone deserves privacy. It is bad enough that we have to live on the road to make a living. But we deserve to have our privacy at night. We pay our dues so you can have your privacy when you are away from home and you should consider our rights also. We are adults and deserve nothing less.

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We need more men working. We are short most of the time. We need at least lodging expense when working headquartered jobs. It should be given to you anytime you live over 60 miles from the job. 100 miles one way is too far to drive before you can get lodging expense. You end up driving over 3 hours a day. It is very, very unsafe at work and on the road when you are falling asleep. We need to have sleeping rooms of our own. The company says they want to treat us with respect and dignity. Living with a roommate does not treat me with respect and dignity. We get just as tired and fatigued as train service employees. Are we a lower form of life then they are? Truck wages should be higher. You are driving a 50,000 pound vehicle with a boom on, you have your DOT BS to do and you are on and off the track. You have a lot of responsibility and when the rest of the crew is riding and relaxing you are still working because you're driving.

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... It's important to get the co-pay amounts reduced but it is more important to get an insurance company for the BMWE that will pay the amount that the insurance company pays. For example, I called the patient advocate of Metra Health and told them I had a frozen shoulder. I told them where, who and how the doctor said this should be taken care of. The patient advocate said go ahead and do it. When the bills started coming, Metra Health said we are only going to pay this amount, the rest is on you as we have taken a national average and your bill is too high. Patient advocate is supposed to call the doctor and hospital before they give you the OK to be operated on. That's why it takes 3 to 4 days for approval. But as usual the patient ends up biting the bullet. ... I have been in outfit cars, headquartered, on actual expenses and on-line per diem. For sure on-line per diem is far superior to the other three. With per diem you get it every pay check. With actual expenses you may be waiting three or four months, it all depends on how much the company wants to play with you before they send you the check or money.

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I would like to see the BMWE help the railroads (Amtrak) move in a positive direction with the retirement age being 55 years old and 30 years of service. Here are some of the reasons I believe this would be positive for the railroads (Amtrak): The work which I do can be very hard for a younger man let alone for the employees who are performing these jobs now and the danger that exists with trains going to travel a speed of 150 miles an hour. The work could be done with new employees working with the senior employees. The younger employees would help to pay our railroad benefits and also provide the company with a cycle of new and old. It would also mean jobs for the next generations. The injury rate for older employees working and needing to use the medical coverage. I do hope that we can come up with a plan that is BMWE friendly as well as Amtrak in order to move ahead.

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Three members who work for CSX wrote letters listing the three concerns that they felt "must be bargained for above all other issues." 1. Revamping of our retirement system to allow us some options for early retirement. 2. Changes in the work rules that would mandate that all BMWE members that are required to work away from their homes (i.e. all traveling teams and jobs with floating headquarters) be allowed to work four ten hour days under ALL circumstances, regardless of any objections that the carriers may have. 3. Mandate that all employees that are housed in motels be allowed to have their own rooms.