The Florida Deptartment of Transportation plans to eliminate commuter rail safety and union jobs in Central Florida. FDOT does not intend to employ Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen members after the proposed expansion of commuter services in the Orlando area.

We know from experience in South Florida that BRS members not only can do the work, but they can do it timely, properly and safely. The safety of the residents of Florida deserves nothing less. More importantly, federal, state, and local taxes should not be used to eliminate jobs that union members have performed so well.
 

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing as a concerned citizen who supports the expansion of commuter rail in Central Florida but along with Brotherhood of Railroad Signalman (BRS) has serious reservations about two major issues-BRS UNION JOBS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

Under the current agreement between FDOT and CSXT, FDOT not only will purchase the track in Central Florida, it will also take over the responsibility of the signal and track maintenance, construction, and dispatching. In the process, the BRS members- who have provided competent, safe, and reliable maintenance for decades-will lose their jobs!

These BRS members are stable, taxpaying members of their communities with good union jobs, health benefits, and railroad retirement. To use federal, state, and county taxes to eliminate these workers' jobs is an unjust action, and was not permitted in South Florida and should not be permitted in Central Florida!

Throughout the country, BRS members install, test, and maintain signal systems for the trains and crossing safety equipment for the public. This work is vital for the safety of all railroad employees, train passengers, motorists, and pedestrians. BRS members work under strict federal regulations, ones the BRS advocated and helped to develop. In 2006, SIGNALMEN IN FLORIDA WERE RECOGNIZED AS THE SAFEST IN THE INDUSTRY in terms of workplace accidents and injuries.

Years ago in South Florida, CSXT sold the track for the Tri-Rail Corridor to the State. With BRS signal construction teams and signal maintainers, it has been highly regarded for its safe day-to- day operations. If the South Florida Rail Transit Authority (SFRTA/Tri-Rail) decides to take direct responsibility for signal maintenance on the Tri-Rail Corridor, the members of the BRS have the right to continue to do the work under any new operator/contractor. This is based upon a 1992 agreement between rail unions and the State that recognizes the obligations of employers using federal monies under the former Urban Mass Transportation Act and the current Federal Transit Act (sometimes called 13C).

While a 13C agreement has not yet been applied for Central Florida, FDOT should conduct itself in the same manner. It is in the interest of a successful start up of the Central Florida project, safety and the continuation of professional standards, and the preservation of deserving BRS members. The decisions that FDOT makes regarding commuter rail in Central Florida sets a precedent for Florida and the nation.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 21, 2008