Brothers and Sisters,
I hope this finds you and your families doing well. I like to mention your families because they are why we get up every day and come to work. They depend on us financially to provide them with all the benefits an excellent union-paying job offers, but more importantly, they depend on us to be safe and come home daily. There is nothing more important to your family than you. Recently, since the completion of the second track, there has been a dramatic increase in RWIC incidents. The frequency with which trains are running has increased by 40%, making the likelihood of a significant accident just a matter of time if we do not SLOW DOWN and ensure we are being afforded the proper protection when we are on the tracks. This issue was brought to the attention of the safety department, and on January 26, 2024, a meeting was held at the Bethpage facility to find solutions to improve safety. We offered our real-life observations, expecting our observations and your concerns to be addressed with quick, meaningful actions. I should have known better.
Yesterday, I received a RED ALERT from the railroad. It began with a synopsis of three separate incidents that occurred in January within a twenty-four-hour period.
Grand Central Madison: Working Limits Violation
Beaver to Valley: Working Limit Miscommunication
PCC: Working Limit Violation
Any of these incidents could have resulted in a fatality. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR UNSURE OF THE PROTECTION BEING AFFORDED, CHALLENGE THE PROTECTION AND REFUSE TO WORK until the challenge process is complete.
Toolan, Boyd, Carrol, Caggianno, and Sampson all went to work, expecting to go home at the end of their shift. They left behind wives, children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, and families. Safety is of the utmost importance, but it depends on you to keep yourself and your brothers and sisters safe. Tomorrow's train out of Jamaica leaving at 8:05 will still leave tomorrow at 8:05, with or without you. Your families are much more important and so are you.
Fraternally,
Ricardo Sanchez
General Chairman