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STATE LEGISLATIVE BOARD B.L.E.T. IBT RAIL CONFERENCE

Learn about the State Legislative Board's role in promoting and protecting the health, safety, legislative interests, and political education of BLET members. Find out how to handle issues, involve committees, and communicate with the board.

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STATE LEGISLATIVE BOARD B.L.E.T. IBT RAIL CONFERENCE

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  1. STATE LEGISLATIVE BOARDB.L.E.T.IBT RAIL CONFERENCE DIVISION LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVE TRAINING

  2. INTRODUCTION: • Many BLET members have asked why their State Legislative Board exists? To promote and protect the membership’s: * Health * Safety * Legislative Interests * Political Education

  3. Health and Safety: • It is the State Legislative Board’s constitutional responsibility to protect the membership’s health and safety through involvement with: * Federal Railroad Administration * Public Utilities Commission * Federal and State OSHA * The Railroads * State Legislature * City and County Government

  4. How? • The BLET member writes a complaint and submits it to the Division Legislative Representative, our first line of defense. • The Division Legislative Representative will handle minor safety and health issues through involvement with: • Local Management • Safety Committees • The Division L/R should work closely with the State Legislative Board and the Division Officers.

  5. What If The Division L/R Is Not Able to Resolve The Issue? • Based on the BLET constitution, the Division L/R should submit the complaint to the State Legislative Board for handling. • This complaint and the existing sequence of events including all details should be submitted to the State Legislative Board in writing as soon as possible. • The original complainant should be advised in writing, of the status of the complaint.

  6. What If The State Legislative Board Cannot Resolve The Issue? • The State Legislative Board may thereafter submit the complaint to the National Legislative Board. • Included in this written complaint will be a copy of the file showing the sequence of events and all details. • Notification should go to the Division L/R that the complaint has been forwarded to the National Legislative Board. • Then, L/R should advise member of complaint status.

  7. Major Issues: • The following are examples of issues which need to go directly, in writing, to the State Legislative Board for handling: * Hours of Service Violations and Abuse * Accidents and Accident related Injuries * Harassment and Intimidation * Rules Issues, Signal and Equipment failure * Remote Control Accidents and Issues * Technology Issues * Training/Safety Issues

  8. Committee Involvement-SACP/Safety • The Legislative Representative is the Division Safety Officer. • The Legislative Representative should advise the State Legislative Board of all committee involvement, activities and progress. • Whenever a safety issue conflicts with contractual concerns, the L/R should work closely with the Division Officers.

  9. Legislative Representative Expertise: • L/Rs are encouraged to pick one or two railroad safety subjects and develop a level of expertise on the subjects through documents, books, and seminars. • The State Legislative Board will assist in providing this information and guidance. • This resource will be utilized by the Division, the State Board and the National.

  10. What Does the Division L/R Need to Know About the Politicians In Their District? • L/Rs need to know who the politicians are within their divisions’ territory. * US Representatives * US Senators * State Senators * State Assembly members The phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, street addresses should be readily available for members use.

  11. PAC-Political Action Committee Funds • It is important for the Division Legislative Representative to continually distribute PAC fund flyers and to express the need for each of our members to consider contributing voluntarily to our PAC fund. • The PAC fund is used to create influence within the state legislature and congress. It is how the business of politics is done, like it or not.

  12. Division Communications: • The Division Legislative Representative should communicate with their members immediately when issues arise and time permits. • They communicate via telephone, division meetings, in person discussions, email, letters, newsletters and postings at the workplace.

  13. Legislative Interests of the BLET: Division Phone Tree • The Division Legislative Representative should insure that the division phone tree is ready and updated whenever changes occur. • When the State Legislative Board Chairman needs the membership to act, information will be sent to the division L/R covering the issue. • The phone tree will be used for this and other purposes.

  14. Postings: • Postings at the workplace should take place as soon as possible. • The State Legislative Board will provide postings and advise when a posting is necessary. • L/R should use discretion when posting items other than what is advised by State Legislative Board.

  15. Posting Types: • Legislative News-Bills of Interest • Political Information-State and US • Safety Alerts • General Safety Information • Advisories From BLET National • Advisories From Teamsters International

  16. Communication With State Legislative Board: • The Legislative Representative should carbon copy the State Legislative Board on all issues including letters to: * Local Management * Local Politicians * Regulatory Inspectors * Union Officials

  17. State Legislative Board Newsletter • The State Board’s Newsletter, if applicable, is a periodical published and maintained by members of the State Legislative Board. • L/Rs are encouraged to submit articles of interest to the Editor-in-Chief to be included in an edition of the newsletter. • All articles must be approved by the State Chairman and the Editor.

  18. State Legislative Board Website: • The L/R should submit in a timely fashion all personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses, and street addresses for use by membership. • All L/Rs may use the website for current information on a variety of subjects. • Articles may be submitted to the webmaster for inclusion on the website.

  19. News and Television Media: • All newspaper journalists must be directed to State Chairman under all circumstances. • All television and radio media must be directed to State Chairman under all circumstances. • State Chairman may elect to have an L/R speak or represent the State Board. • The purpose for this is so that we send the same message to the media and the public, regarding the issue at hand.

  20. Testifying: • Occasionally, cities, counties and states require testimony be given in order to assess whether issues could be adopted or rejected by them. • State Chairman must be advised and will usually handle testimony unless an L/R is assigned. • This also is to ensure we send the correct message to the government and the public on any given subject.

  21. Assignment by BLET National • If called by BLET National or Teamsters International to provide assistance in any way, State Legislative Board should be advised. • If called by any other entity, such as regulatory agencies, approval should be received from State Legislative Board prior to the engagement.

  22. State Legislative Board Committees: • Executive Committee - Assists the Chairman of the State Legislative Board in major decisions, at the discretion of the Chairman. • Rules Committee - Meets at quadrennial convention to recommend and establish new rules for State Legislative Board. • Audit Committee - Meets at quadrennial convention to audit the State Legislative Board’s books under direction of Secretary/Treasurer.

  23. Attendance: • The Legislative Representative should attend the State Legislative Board’s quadrennial convention. • The L/R should also attend annual meetings and other functions when called by State Chairman. • Attendance at Regional conventions are encouraged, in order to represent the interests of the division.

  24. Costs: • Some costs for establishing the L/Rs office may be borne by State Legislative Board based on discretion of State Chairman and/or Executive Committee. • If applicable, when working for State Legislative Board, a daily rate will be paid-plus expenses. • If applicable, while attending State Board’s quadrennial convention, a daily rate and expenses will also be paid.

  25. Conclusion: • The state legislative board will also compile information on accidents, hours of service violations/abuse, and any other statistics which may help our cause. • The idea behind the creation of this program is to establish a free flow of information to and from the division level to the state legislative board. • The L/R is a very important officer in today’s railroad world. The idea of communication to and from the membership cannot be stressed enough. • Communication and Education are the keys to our success!

  26. THE END • Brought to you by: California State Legislative Board • Author: CSLB Chairman Tim Smith • Date: April 13, 2005 • For a copy of this presentation, contact the California State Legislative Board/BLET/IBT

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