UP to Pay Harvey Claims

Brothers,

I have talked to the carrier today and have received word that all annulled days on assigned jobs due to Hurricane Harvey will be paid. I would like to once again encourage all assigned engineers to submit non-service time slips asking for payment for those days. If we fail to do so we have no record available. All extra board engineers who were available and continued to stay available will see no reduction to extra board engineers. To those who were evacuated from Englewood and Settegast, I have asked we review each time slip and make payment for time actually on duty. We did have a few who were evacuated but were not able to tie up and I will go through those time slips with time keeping to come to some agreement on compensation. I can not accomplish that unless you help me. I need each Local Chairman who had an engineer involved in the evacuation to provide names and employee identification numbers. I can get the time slips with that information. Those who were at away from home terminals and were drawing held away will receive continuous held away payments for all time until they were placed on duty to go home. I am sure we will have a hiccup or two in the process so bear with me. Help me to secure information. I have no crystal ball. My apology for the delay in being able to provide this answer but this has been a battle. As we all have become aware, UP don't like handing out money. Hope this is news well received and helps to relieve some stress as we move forward. The recovery effort on the railroad in in full swing. Many will be asked to work jobs they do not normally work and I have been assured qualification and familiarization is being fully considered.

Some pools will be added to and some may not work for several days as they work to re-open track. Many bridges are damaged and some have still not been inspected due to water levels.

To your pool engineers, if you have a bump available, consider using that to move yourself to a job you may wish to work. If no bump, get standing bids in place. CMS is supposed to be monitoring standing bids throughout the weekend.

Brothers, we are professionals and at times like these we need to display that professionalism. There are locations where lodging is a problem and we are working through that. Many will be deadheaded back home at the end of their trip simply because hotels are full of evacuees. We need to be mindful of that and remember, the person ahead of you in line at the grocery store or hotel front desk may have lost everything. Be courteous and charitable to the best of your ability. My phone is on and will continue to be on throughout the recovery. If you call and I don't answer that is an indication someone has beat you to the punch. Please leave messages and your calls will be returned as soon as possible. Fraternally, Dana Marlow General Chairman BLET UP SR