New South Local Chairman Dereck Haugen

4 days ago

3 min read

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I hope everyone is doing well. I wanted to let everyone know that due to Travis Bateman's leaving the local chairmans office, I've assended to the local chairman postioni per our by-laws. I look forward to serving the division and want to thank Travis for his dedication to the membership.

First, I want to make everyone aware of the new switch flags that Union Pacific has begun implementing. At this time, Angleton appears to be the only location where they are currently in use, but management has advised that these flags will eventually be placed in non-standard locations throughout the territory.

We have already had two incidents involving these new flags. One member ran over a flag, and another placed their train into emergency after seeing a flag, he ended up fouling the adjacent track. Unfortunately, both incidents resulted in 12(c).

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with these new switch flags and remain alert while on duty. I have been told they can be difficult to see in direct sunlight, which makes it even more important to stay vigilant.

I spoke with Gus and asked why we were moving away from the standard red flags we have always used. He informed me that this is part of a new system standard. I also requested that management issue a bulletin or message to notify all employees of the change, but as of now, that has not happened.

Until management provides better communication, I wanted to make sure our members are aware of this change. Please keep your head on a swivel, watch for these new flags, and look out for one another. Staying informed and alert can help prevent unnecessary incidents and protect our members from discipline.

I also want to address another ongoing issue we are seeing in the South End, especially on trains coming out of Bloomington.

We have received reports of crews being instructed to take a 10,400-foot key train without a proper air test, with no End-of-Train (EOT) reading, and without the EOT being armed. These are serious safety concerns that should not be ignored.

If you are given instructions like this, you have the right to question those instructions. Contact OPCC and ask for clarification on who is directing you to take a train without a proper air test. Make sure the responsibility for those instructions is clearly placed on management.

I am not telling anyone to refuse instructions. However, I am encouraging you to question them and ensure they are properly documented. Protect yourself by asking the appropriate questions and making management accountable for the decisions they are making.

If you encounter one of these situations, please let Kevin or me know as soon as possible. We will need the following information:

Train ID
Date and time
Location
Names of the employees and supervisors involved
A brief description of what occurred

This information is critical so we can document these incidents, identify any patterns, and address these safety concerns on behalf of the membership.

As always, your safety comes first. Stay alert, protect yourself, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need assistance.

We need your help documenting ongoing PTC and EMS issues.

Please download the app and use it to report any PTC or EMS problems you experience while on duty. Every report helps us build the data we need.

BLET is collecting this information to help combat Union Pacific's continued push toward unmanned train operations. The more accurate data we can provide, the stronger our case will be when addressing these safety concerns.

If you experience a PTC or EMS issue, please submit it through the app as soon as possible. Be sure to include as much information as you can, including: