Legislative Alert - September 28, 2007 - Rail Safety Bill - Camp Cars

 

Dear All:

 

Sereena Hogan is currently on assignment for the Auxiliary and asked me to forward this information to you.

 

We have been asked to help our Brothers and Sisters in the Rail Conference Maintenance of Way Division to speak out against the Norfolk Southern and the third world housing conditions still maintained on their railroad.  There is no reason for these types of conditions to continue to exist in the 21st century. 

 

Please help out by contacting your Congressional Representative and asking that they ignore the Norfolk Southern's request to remove the anti-camp car language from the Rail Safety Bill, H.R. 2095.

 

Thanks for your continued help on issues important to railroaders.

 

Becky

 

Becky Schneider, National President

BLET Auxiliary

515 W. Redd Road

El Paso, TX 79932

(915) 581-1373

(915) 587-6897 - fax

(915) 539-1072 - Cell

beckygia1@earthlink.net

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Cameron David

To:

Sent: 9/24/2007 11:53:59 AM

Subject: TELL NORFOLK SOUTHERN - TEAR DOWN THOSE CAMP CARS

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

TELL NORFOLK SOUTHERN - TEAR DOWN THOSE CAMP CARS

 

Our brothers and sisters at the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED) of the Teamsters Rail Conference, who build and maintain railroad tracks and bridges, are forced to endure inhumane living conditions if they work at Norfolk Southern railroad.  Norfolk Southern is the only railroad corporation in the United States that still houses maintenance of way workers in camp cars.  Yet, Norfolk Southern Supervisors of maintenance crews are given individual rooms in nearby motels. 

 

Every other Class I rail road maintenance crews are also housed in nearby motels.  ONLY NORFOLK SOUTHERN CONTINUES THE INHUMANE PRACTICE OF HOUSING WORKERS IN CRAMPED, FILTHY CAMP CARS, WITH NO INDOOR TOILETS.

 

View this video to see for yourself the disgusting conditions these proud workers have to live :

 

http://www.teamsterstakeaction.org/campaign/norfolk_southern_disgusting_cars

 

The camp cars of Norfolk Southern house up to eight men per car, giving each worker approximately 50 square feet of space, per person, less than a cell at a Supermax prison, which has 84 square feet per person. Plus, the jail cell comes with an indoor toilet.

Now, the lobbyists of Norfolk Southern are pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill, trying to convince lawmakers to strip out language in House Bill 2095, the 2007 Rail Security Bill. The bill currently contains language that eliminates camp cars.

Let's fight to keep the elimination of camp cars in the House bill. Send a letter, asking your representative to help get rid of those disgusting and degrading Northern Southern camp cars now!

You can take action on this alert via the web at:


http://www.teamsterstakeaction.org/campaign/norfolk_southern_disgusting_cars

 

If you haven't yet, please sign up for Teamster Alerts at http://www.teamster.org/     Look for the sign-up box at TEAMSTERS TAKE ACTION form on the top, right side of the home page.

 

We encourage you to take action by October 31, 2007. 

 

TELL NORFOLK SOUTHERN - TEAR DOWN THOSE CAMP CARS

 

In Solidarity,

 

David Cameron

National Campaign Coordinator

IBT