BLET171

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Division 171, Hoboken, New Jersey

We represent the Locomotive Engineers working for New Jersey Transit.

Division 171 meetings are held the second Friday of the month at 11:00am at Shannon's Lounge, First St., Hoboken, New Jersey. All BLET members are welcome to attend. Newly promoted engineer's are encouraged to join.

J. Picca is our Safety Officer. ANY safety issues you see, please let him know. If your cell phone has a camera feature, e-mail equipment defects or safety problems to: safety@blet171.org . These photos will be posted on this web-site. I have posted articles on rail safety from our General Chairman and an email from our brother engineer.

We have set up an account with WearGuard (Aramark). You can check out their products at www.aramark-uniform.com. Members can see the "logo wear", either the double horse heads or the old style E.

New paid family leave law starts January 2009. For more information: http://lwd.state.nj.us/labor/fli/content/fli_fact_sheet.html

Supplemental Sickness Benefit Plan is now Broadspire Services. You can contact them at 1-800-205-7651 or on the web: www.wkabsystem.com. Service Plan (VSP) administers our vision care program. Visit their website: www.vsp.com

Senate Bill 1878 requiring all New Jersey State workers to live in New Jersey.

Interesting, since we are not state employees, we do not have state benefits and nothing we have (i.e. I.D.'s) that indicate we are state employees. We are unable to belong to the State Credit Union, why, because we are not state employees.

If you want to vote in the up coming elections make sure Cleveland has your correct address. You can change your address by going online to the BLET website and logging into the "members area".

2009 is the triennial election for the locals. In order to be an eligible for office, the member shall be in "good standing for 24 months with your local union". Which means you have to be up-to-date the entire 24 months with your union dues. No exceptions.

Here's an example: If you are out of service, and dues are not deducted, then you will be considered "not in good standing".

The individual member is responsible for his or hers dues being deducted. If payroll doesn't make the dues deduction, then you better talk to your local Sect/Treas. The BLET in Cleveland has an Officer Eligibility Report that shows who can run for office.

If you are looking for this information it is in the IBT Constitution Article II, Sec.4(a) and Article X, Sec.5(c).

During the upcoming Triennial Elections we have our opportunity for a referendum vote for the General Chairman. The referendum ballot needs to be in a separate envelope and can be included with the "official election ballot".

Talk to your Divisions. We all have to be onboard.