SMART, BLET to fight KCS in-cab cameras

[Omaha Steve]

http://utu.org/2013/05/10/smart-blet-to-fight-kcs-in-cab-cameras/

May 10, 2013

During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks.

According to KCS, each locomotive will have two cameras – one behind the engineer focused on the control panel, and one across the cab focusing on both crew members. (Some locomotives with cameras installed already are in use in Mexico; others are being fitted for cameras in Shreveport.)

The carrier told the two presidents that it has “management prerogative” to take these actions and does not have to, and does not intend to, bargain with the unions over the use of these cameras, or the effects of this dramatic change on its operating craft employees.

Without notifying the unions, that same day KCS filed suit in federal district court in Shreveport, La., to obtain a ruling allowing it to implement its plan. Upon learning of these developments, BLET National President Dennis Pierce and Mike Futhey, President of SMART Transportation Division, together told the carrier that both unions vehemently disagree that the carrier has the right to install and use inward-facing cameras unilaterally without exhausting the bargaining processes of the Railway Labor Act.

FULL story at link.

[jschurchin]

1. Sounds to me like the 3 day

Swine flu epidemic is about to hit KCS. Oh look an empty cab. Can't wait till management try to explain to the customers why their product is sitting in the middle of nowhere because they can't get a crew.

[Brickbat]

2. Mr. Brickbat, BLET, welcomes cameras in the cabs, as longs as there are cameras on every other

railroad employee as well, including the CEO.