"SO SHALL YE REAP"

It is written – and most recently by the UTU – that “as ye sow, so shall ye reap.”

Railroad management has been sowing seeds of dishonesty, disinformation and disrespect.

“If the end game of rail management is the destruction of rail labor, then rail management better do some soul searching.”

That was the message of UTU International President Paul Thompson in his state-of-the-union speech June 21 at UTU’s western regional meeting in Reno, Nev.

“Carriers have lied to us during this round of national negotiations. They have attempted to pit one labor union against the other. They say they are in favor of improved safety. But what they do is fail to provide employees with sufficient training and rest. They fail to hire sufficient train crews.

“We exposed their lies about positive train control. We exposed that the technology is experimental. We exposed that the technology doesn’t even work. We exposed that public safety and national security would be jeopardized by one-person crews.

“We won a lawsuit preventing the carriers from demanding we negotiate one-person crews in national negotiations. We forced the carriers back to the bargaining table to discuss training and fatigue mitigation.”

So far, during this current round of national negotiations, Thompson said, railroads “spit in the face of labor and they spit in the face of public safety and national security.

“As a British prime minister once said, ‘There are no permanent friends … only permanent interests.’ Rail labor’s permanent interests are protection of our members’ jobs, safety and working conditions.

“Working families should not, cannot and will not be treated like garbage – to be discarded at the convenience of greedy employers.

“Carriers have forgotten the many times rail labor was there for them when they needed us. For too long, railroads have taken for granted that the UTU and rail labor will be on their side when they seek to raise rates on captive shippers or gain new tax cuts.

“No more. No more. As the railroads favorite commander-in-chief, George Bush, said, ‘Either you are with us or you are against us.’

It is time now for the carriers to plow and plant their fields anew or reap the troubled harvest they previously sowed, Thompson said, previewing a strategy the UTU is embarking on so long as the carriers continue their vicious, unprovoked and unjustified attack on their loyal employees.

“Just last week, the American Chemistry Council, which represents hazmat shippers, told Congress that one-person crews could spell disaster. The testimony came after I met with the leadership of the American Chemistry Council. Those hazmat shippers now understand the importance of improved training and eliminating fatigue among overworked train crews.

“I offer the carriers a means to get back on track,” Thompson said.

“Sit down at the negotiating table to address a reasonable training program whose true objective is improved safety. Once an employee completes their required training, treat them as equals. Stop this two-tier pay system that creates an underclass.

“Share some of your record profits with your employees who make those profits happen.

“Work with labor and the FRA to address the fatigue problem before another horrific accident snuffs out more innocent lives.

“Reach out to labor to develop a quality of life that makes your company world-class in all respects.

“Let us be honest and truthful in our dealings with one another. We may not always agree, but we should deal with one another out of trust.”

Thompson’s message to UTU members was while the UTU has come a long way,“the months ahead will be difficult. Solidarity is the key that unlocks the door to where we need to go.

“Here is where we were two years ago,” Thompson said.

“Our finances were in disarray. We were losing members. Our friends were the carriers. Our enemies were other unions. Throughout the labor movement, UTU was considered a bastard child.

“Two years ago I asked you to join me in rolling up the sleeves, forgetting internal politics and getting on with a rehab effort.

“Together, we turned things around. We are back in the AFL-CIO and we have a seat on the AFL-CIO executive council. Loans have been paid off. Since November, the UTU has taken in more money each month than we spent. We added almost 9,000 new members. Our finances have improved enough that I can announce our 2007 quadrennial convention will be held at the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood, Florida – a union-owned hotel.

“No longer is the UTU seen in bed with the carriers. No longer is the UTU considered the pariah of labor. Today, we are arm-in-arm with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

“We beat back the carriers in their attempt to eliminate the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.

“And there is more good news. The rail carriers no longer see a perfect storm. The carriers had hope that the White House and the conservative-controlled Congress would cram a carrier-friendly agreement down our throats this year. That carrier hope has vanished. No longer do they see a slam-dunk in creating one-person crews.

“But our victories are not yet complete. We must now focus on the November elections. Although we have many friends in the Republican Party, we must end control of Congress by anti-labor conservatives. We can do it because labor has never been more united.

“As we mobilize to focus on the November elections, we must not permit internal politics or other issues to interfere. Job number one is registering to vote and voting on Election Day for labor-friendly candidates.

“Let us continue to practice and preach solidarity. Let us remain united. Let us remain strong. Let us march together, let us vote together, let us fight together.”