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| Attending BNSF CDL Classes |
Last fall, the Carrier cancelled our voluntary CDL agreement which afforded it some relief from existing work rules when sending employees to JCCC for CDL training. Since those provisions are no longer in effect, it is critical all who are sent to JCCC for such training be aware that all existing agreement rules apply while in CDL training.
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| BNSF- Actual and Necessary Expenses |
If you are entitled to expenses, the BRS BNSF Agreement allows reimbursement for expenses that are considered "necessary and actual". This would include any reasonable and true expense that was incurred under various applicable Agreement rules. Some rules to reference on topic are rules 13, 46 and 47 for hourly crew employees and rule 14 for monthly rated employees.
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| BNSF- Maintainer Weekend Exchange (Rule 45I) |
On BNSF, it has become commonplace for monthly rated maintainers to exchange weekend protection. When doing so, one maintainer (referred to in Rule 45I as “District A”) covers the protect day of his protect partner (“District B”) as well as his own protect day, for a given weekend.
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| BNSF Markoff Rights Under 12D |
One topic that has been the source of constant disagreements with the Carrier over the last few years is Rule 12D. More specifically, your right to sign off outside of hours on a workday. Make no mistake, the Carrier would love to “own” you 24/7, but that is NOT what the agreement provides.
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| CPKC- Union Coalition Invokes Mediation |
The negotiation meeting with CPKC in December ended with management stubbornly refusing to bargain over issues of importance to the union coalition. The Carrier did not respond to the coalition’s counter proposals on paid sick leave. They did not counter BRS’s October 21 proposal for work rule changes on KCS, MidSouth, TexMex and GWWR.
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| CPKC- Increase in Claims |
We have seen a very profound trend in the claims filed on the CPKC in the last few years and the first quarter of 2026 emphasizes that trend. On average, 10.8 claims per year were filed regarding agreements under the former KCS properties during the 10-year period from 2014-2023. We saw that number double to 20 claims filed in 2024, followed by another doubling to 42 claims in 2025.
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| MRL Retiree Healthcare Improvements |
In 2022, GC Huckabee was selected as a Plan Administrator for the MRL Retiree Healthcare Trust. In the ensuing year or two, the Trustees and Administrator noticed that the Plan was in a dramatic overfunded status.
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| Dispute Regarding DTO Dispatchers-RRB |
As most dispatchers on the DTO are aware, the Railroad Retirement Board long ago ruled that the DTO is an employer under the Act with respect to its dispatching functions. However, the DTO has spent the last several years exhausting all legal appeals of that decision. In its recent appeal to the D.C.
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| 2026 BRS Convention |
The BRS Quadrennial Convention dates and agenda have been announced. The convention this year will be held at the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Resort near Disney Springs. Delegate registration will begin on Saturday evening, July 18, 2026, and will continue on Sunday the 19th. Convention will be in session each day from Monday, July 20th through Friday, July 24th.
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| Off Track Vehicle Accident Benefits |
Most BRS represented employees working under national agreements have access to a valuable benefit, the existence of which many are unaware of. The Off-Track Vehicle (OTV) accident benefit can be extremely beneficial for members who have been involved in an accident in a company vehicle operating off-track.
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| Drug or Alcohol Treatment and Sickness Benefits |
Members who are going to miss work while participating in an EAP program, such as drug or alcohol treatment, in most cases will be eligible for supplemental sickness benefits from the RRB and The Hartford. Contact the RRB office (877-772-5772) to determine if you qualify based on your treatment requirements.
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| Did You Know |
In 1905, GRS offered the first powered crossing gate operated by a semaphore signal motor. Prior to this, a “gatekeeper” tended the crossing and raised or lowered the gate by means of a hand crank and by adding or removing counter balance weights as needed.
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BRS Efforts to Obtain Emergency Sick LeaveDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the lack of sick leave afforded our members, the Organization attempted to get out in front of the impending certainty coming our way – infections and/or exposure quarantines of our members.
GCA Letter to Carl Ice Re COVID-19 (3-16-2020) (1).pdf
