Legislative Representative

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BLET Legislative Office Letter
Rusty Powless

618-322-7865

hoghead@tincans.net
RAIL LABOR SAFEY ACT OF 2008
Changes coming to BLET Short Term Disability plan

CLEVELAND, November 18 — A number of changes to the BLET Short-Term Disability
Insurance Plan will become effective January 1, 2009. These changes will impact you if you are
an eligible employee working on a railroad that participated in the Wage Rules portion of the
National Agreement dated December 16, 2003. Two parts to the Plan are being offered as
outlined below:

Part A – Non-Occupational Disabilities

Effective January 1, 2009, the current plan covering both occupational and non-occupational
disabilities will be modified:

• Part A will pay $402 per week for non-occupational disabilities only. This is an increase from
$362 per week.
• Occupational disabilities will not be covered.
• Each eligible member will also be insured for $50,000 of Accidental Death and Dismemberment
(AD&D) coverage.

NOTE:
• This plan change will not impact members with current claims. Those members who have a
date of disability prior to January 1, 2009 will continue to qualify for the $362 per week benefit
for occupational or non-occupational as determined by the Plan.
• Claims for occupational disabilities prior to January 1, 2009 will continue to be administered as
they are today, making them subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement
(repayment after a personal injury settlement).

Part B – Occupational Disabilities

Effective January 1, 2009:
• Part B will be voluntary.
• The cost will be $23 per month and will be payroll deducted with your monthly union dues.
• The weekly benefit for occupational disabilities will be $402 per week.
• Each eligible member will also be insured for $50,000 of AD&D coverage.
• The benefit will not be subject to repayment upon receipt of a FELA settlement (no repayment
after a personal injury settlement).
• The benefit will not be considered taxable income.

NOTE:
• Eligibility for Part B will be driven by your eligibility for Part A. You will have two options if you
become ineligible for Part A: Pay $40 directly to the BLET Trust Fund by the 10th of the month
for Part A and continue your payroll deduction of $23 for Part B or drop out of Part B. If you
choose to drop out of Part B, you may discontinue the $23 payroll deduction. However, you may
not resume coverage for Part B until a subsequent annual enrollment period.
• Participation in this additional occupational coverage is not required. If you wish NOT to
participate, you must notify us in writing by completing and returning the attached form prior to
December 1, 2008. Your completed form should be sent to the Secretary-Treasurer of your
Local Division. If you are a BLET member and do nothing, you will be automatically enrolled in
Part B effective January 1, 2009.
• Members opting out of Part B coverage effective January 1, 2009, will not be eligible to enroll
for the coverage until the next annual enrollment period.
• UTU members may purchase Part B coverage by making an annual payment of $276 to the
BLET Trust Fund.

If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.

Fraternally yours,

Jim Bradford
BLET Short-term Disability Administrator
(216) 241-2630, ext. 205 or email Bradford@ble-t.org

-----------------------------
OPT OUT FORM
PART B – BLET SHORT TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE PLAN

(You need only complete this form if you wish to DECLINE Part B coverage)

If you desire to OPT OUT or DECLINE Part B coverage under the BLET Short Term Disability
Insurance Plan, complete the remainder of this form. Be sure to include your signature and the
date and deliver to your Division Secretary-Treasurer by December 1, 2008.

“I, _____________________________(Print your name here and sign below), hereby choose
to DECLINE coverage, or OPT OUT, of the BLET Short Term Disability Insurance Plan, Part B. I
understand that I may only seek enrollment in Part B during a future open enrollment period.”

Signature: ___________________________

Date: __________________________

Phone Number: ______________________

DEADLINE TO OPT OUT IS DECEMBER 1, 2008

-----------------------

A copy of this letter and the opt out form are available as a PDF here:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/STDletter.pdf

For UTU members, an "opt in" form is available for download:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/BLETSTD-UTUform.pdf

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
bentley@ble.org


Hours of Service Q&A now available

CLEVELAND, November 20 — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen is
making available a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding changes to the Hours of
Service Act that are going into effect following passage of the 2008 Rail Safety Bill.

The document is available for download as a PDF from the BLET website at:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/HOSFAQ.pdf

The FAQs concerning the new Hours of Service provisions represent the understanding and
interpretation of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen only. They are subject
to clarification, correction, and/or revision upon the Federal Railroad Administration publishing
formal interpretations of applicable statutory provisions. They pertain only to “train employees” (i.
e., operating craft employees), and not to any other employees governed by the Hours of
Service Act (e.g., signalmen and train dispatchers).

The FAQs address key areas such as recordkeeping; extra board issues; pool jobs; home
terminal and away from terminal issues; working six consecutive days with two days off (“6&2”);
the 276 hour monthly cap; undisturbed rest; eligibility to work; and a host of other related issues.

The National Division continues to field questions from the General Chairman regarding various
scenarios that arise under the revised Hours of Service Act, and will continue to seek
clarification from the Federal Railroad Administration.

When available, updates will be provided on the BLET website.

Thursday, November 20, 2008
bentley@ble.org


Information on FRA Emergency Order No. 26 now available

CLEVELAND, October 22 — The BLET National Division is making available to its members
several important documents regarding Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Emergency
Order No. 26, which imposes restrictions on the use of personal cell phones by operating crews
and bans the use of almost all other personal electronic devices while on duty.

The FRA published the Emergency Order on October 7 and it goes into effect on Monday,
October 27.

“The surest way for BLET members to avoid violating the Emergency Order or associated
railroad rules is to turn off all such devices when you register for duty, stow them in your grip,
and do not retrieve and activate them until you have been relieved from duty,” BLET National
President Ed Rodzwicz said.

The FRA issued Emergency Order 26 in response to the tragic Metrolink accident of September
12, 2008, which claimed the lives of 25 people and injured 135 more. In its accident
investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the locomotive
engineer was using his cellular phone while on duty.

The following documents regarding the Emergency Order are now available on the BLET
website:

• Click here to view or download the Federal Register publication of FRA Emergency Order 26 in
PDF format (7 pages):
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/EO26FR.pdf

• Click here to view or download a FRA-prepared summary of EO 26 in PDF format (2 pages):
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/EO26Summary.pdf

• Click here to view or download a FRA-prepared summary flowchart concerning EO 26 in PDF
format (1 page):
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/EO26Chart081021.pdf


• Click here to view or download a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) prepared by the
National Legislative Office, which will be updated as necessary, in PDF format (2 pages):
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/EO26FAQs081113.pd