TRI-RAIL WHISTLES TO SOUND IN AL SUOZZO'S HONOR

Tri-Rail will honor the memory of longtime UTU General Chairperson Al Suozzo at noon, Eastern Time, Monday, March 22, with a directive that all engineers blast their locomotive whistles in a time-honored railroad tribute to the fallen.

Suozzo, age 66, died unexpectedly at his home in Brick, N.J., March 17, just weeks shy of the 18th anniversary of his having been elected to the post.

viewing will take place at Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740, (732) 222-2312, on Sunday, March 21, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday, March 22, at 9:30 a.m. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 22, at St. Michael's Church, 800 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Parkinson Foundation, 710 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032.

As general chairperson of GO 769, Suozzo represented UTU members on Amtrak; former Penn Central, Conrail and Pittsburgh & Lake Erie lines; Connex; Veolia; Herzog Transit; and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad.

Suozzo hired on in freight service with the former Pennsylvania Railroad in February 1964, becoming a member of UTU predecessor Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

He subsequently was elected delegate, local chairperson and legislative representative for Local 1390 in Trenton, N.J., and later as vice general chairperson of GO 769, working under retired General Chairperson Charlie Jones. Suozzo succeeded Jones as general chairperson in April 1992.

UTU International President Mike Futhey recalled Suozzo as "an aggressive general chairperson who fought vigorous fights for our members; and, most importantly, often prevailed in those fights. I spoke with Al last week. His concern was the current round of negotiations with Amtrak, and he expressed his usual fire in the belly on behalf of his members.

"His experience and tenacity will be missed. It is incumbent that we honor his legacy by being ever mindful of the ultimate task before us, which is to represent UTU members to our utmost," Futhey said.

In March 2008, following eight years of difficult talks, Suozzo was instrumental in negotiating for his members a new Amtrak agreement -- retroactive to Jan. 1, 2000 -- that saved the jobs of 400 Amtrak assistant conductors, guaranteed retroactive pay, provided general wage increases and avoided any work rules givebacks.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret, two daughters, a son and two stepsons.

March 18, 2010

LONGTIME GENERAL CHAIRMAN AL SUOZZO DEAD AT AGE 66

UTU General Chairperson Albert L. Suozzo (GO 769), age 66, died unexpectedly at his home in Brick, N.J., March 17, just weeks shy of the 18th anniversary of his having been elected to the post.

GO 769 represents UTU members on Amtrak; former Penn Central, Conrail and Pittsburgh & Lake Erie lines; Connex; Herzog Transit; and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad

Suozzo hired on in freight service with the former Pennsylvania Railroad in February 1964, becoming a member of UTU predecessor Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

He subsequently was elected delegate, local chairperson and legislative representative for Local 1390 in Trenton, N.J., and later as vice general chairperson of GO 769, working under retired General Chairperson Charlie Jones. Suozzo succeeded Jones as general chairperson in April 1992.

UTU International President Mike Futhey recalled Suzzo as "an aggressive general chairperson who fought vigorous fights for our members; and, most importantly, often prevailed in those fights. I spoke with Al last week. His concern was the current round of negotiations with Amtrak, and he expressed his usual fire in the belly on behalf of his members.

"His experience and tenacity will be missed. It is incumbent that we honor his legacy by being ever mindful of the ultimate task before us, which is to represent UTU members to our utmost," Futhey said.

Amtrak President Joseph Boadman, hearing the news of Suozzo's death during an Amtrak board meeting, called for a moment of silence in Suozzo's honor, saying afterward, in a message to Amtrak employees, "Al Suozzo was known for his passion and concern for his members. He presided over numerous contract negotiations and earned the respect of his peers and company officials."

In March 2008, following eight years of difficult talks, Suozzo was instrumental in negotiating for his members a new Amtrak agreement -- retroactive to Jan. 1, 2000 -- that saved the jobs of 400 Amtrak assistant conductors, guaranteed retroactive pay, provided general wage increases and avoided any work rules givebacks.

Funeral arrangements are currently incomplete. Survivors include his wife, Margaret, two daughters, a son and two stepsons.

March 10, 2010

TRI-RAIL TOWN HALL MEETING

The third in our series of "Town Hall" meetings will be held on Saturday March 13, 2010 from 10:00am until 12:00 noon at the SFRTA Conference room, 800 NW 33rd Street, Pompano Beach.

Participating at this month's event will be Ron Hartman, Executive Vice President of Veolia Rail Operations.

In addition, personnel from SFRTA, and Bombardier, as well as local Veolia management, will be on hand to meet and greet, and address questions / concerns.

We hope to see everyone come out and participate on March 13.

February 20, 2010

ATTENTION UTU MEMBERS.

If you have not submitted your Anthem Short Term Disability Insurance Waiver of Coverage Form yet you are urged to do so immediately.

If you wish to Opt-Out please do the following:

1. Fill out the opt-out card that came with the packet that you received in the mail last November, or

2. Print and fill out the Anthem Short Term Disability Insurance Waiver of Coverage Form , click on the forms button on the left then click on the Disability Opt-Out button, and

3. Make a copy and,
a) Fax to DK Lee at (904)-261-0997, or
b) Email DK Lee at daviddkl@msn.com

4. Then Mail your Opt-Out Card/Form to the address listed on the card or form.

If you mail in your opt-out card or form before March 1, 2010 and you were deducted the $31 from your pay check, you will receive a refund check in the mail shortly.

Failure to fill out and mail your opt-out to the address shown on the card or printed on the form (NOT the Local) will result in continued monthly deductions from your pay check.

Failure to send a copy of the opt-out to DK Lee will result in a delay in receiving your refund.

January 10, 2010

DISABILITY INSURANCE OPT OUT INFORMATION.

The UTU has selected Anthem Life Insurance Co. to provide a national group voluntary short-term disability plan for all rail members. Coverage will be automatic unless members opt out.

A disability insurance plan for UTU Bus Department members will be announced prior to Dec. 1. There is no coverage contemplated for UTU Airline Department members.

UTU delegates voted overwhelmingly in June to amend the UTU Constitution to permit offering such a plan to members. 

This selection of Anthem Life Insurance Co. concludes almost two years of effort by UTU International officers, the UTU Board of Directors, general committees, and multiple insurance brokers and insurance carriers.

Information packages have already been mailed to all UTU rail officers, with the enrollment process established in three phases:

* Phase 1 enrollees (those members employed by BNSF, Kansas City Southern, and Union Pacific) will have their disability insurance made effective Jan. 1, 2010. 

* Phase 2 enrollees (those members employed by Amtrak, CSX, Norfolk Southern, and  Paducah & Louisville) will have their disability insurance made effective Feb. 1, 2010.

* Phase 3 enrollees (all other UTU members, including bus members) will have their disability insurance made effective March 1, 2010. 

A mailing to the UTU membership is underway for Phase 1 enrollees, and mailings to Phase 2 and Phase 3 enrollees will follow and be completed by year end. 

The Anthem rail disability insurance plan provides a basic "safety net" of coverage for UTU members, and was designed to work in combination with Railroad Retirement sickness benefits. 

The Anthem plan pays up to $346 per week for up to 52 weeks a year, and provides 24/7 coverage for accidents and sickness. The 24/7 means on and off-duty coverage for accidents and sickness.

The cost is $31 per month, and is collected through payroll deduction. 

Everyone is guaranteed enrollment during the initial enrollment period. Anyone choosing to opt-out of the plan -- requiring they submit a waiver form to the International -- may desire to enter the plan at a later date, but they will be required to make application to Anthem at that time, be subject to full underwriting, and have no guarantee that Anthem will approve their application to join the plan.

Henceforth, new UTU members will be enrolled automatically and have the same opportunity to waive coverage if they choose. Should they choose to opt out, they also would need to make application to Anthem to join the plan at a later date and have no guarantee of acceptance.

Once enrolled, everyone is subject to a so-called 12/12 pre-existing condition provision. This provision excludes, for the first 12 months that a member is covered, any disability claims relating to treatment, diagnoses or existing condition that existed in the 12 months just prior to the enrollment date. After the first 12 months that an enrollee is covered, the pre-existing condition limitation expires.

The mailing UTU members receive will describe the plan in greater detail, and also provide frequently asked questions and answers.

Members are not required to complete any paperwork to enroll in the plan, as enrollment will be automatic. 

Members choosing NOT to participate must complete and submit to the International a waiver post card (included with the mailing, or via the form accessible by line at bottom of this article). Remember from the above paragraph that anyone choosing to opt out of automatic enrollment is not guaranteed entry at a later date.

You may view the plan brochure, FAQs and the waiver form by clicking on the links below.

* Anthem Voluntary Short Term Disability Insurance -- Rail Plan

* Frequently Asked Questions

* Anthem Short Term Disability Insurance Waiver of Coverage Form