Track Division: Prepare for Pick Fight!

by Eric B. Josephson

Track Department management is preparing a Pick. They propose at least one major attack, the elimination of Trackwalker and Dual Rate T/W jobs, to be done thenceforth by M/S II’s. They are moving cautiously since ND won the Local election. So they fear the anger of the ranks: let’s give them cause!

Instead of just protesting management’s proposals, we should draw up our own demands and organize to fight for them. To arrive at demands we all want is not hard. As Division Vice-Chair, I propose demands and a plan of action, including: Restore All Restricted Duty Jobs! No Mid-Week RDO’s, Forced Vacations, Lock-ins or “Various” Shifts/RDO’s/Reporting Locations! Keep and Expand All Bargaining-Unit Jobs!

No Pick Without Members’ Discussion and Vote

We should discuss and vote on our demands and plan of action. Under Toussaint and his predecessors, the Division Committee often accepted Picks without a membership vote. We should not accept a Pick without a full discussion and vote by the membership.

How We Can Prepare for a Fight

Hopefully Track management will offer an acceptable Pick. If not, however, we should mobilize the ranks and confront management intransigence with numbers. Rallies and demonstrations, at least, may be necessary.

Infrastructures’ Pick Boycott

A few years ago, Infrastructures management tried to force a Pick with major takebacks on the Structural Maintainers. Our Sisters and Brothers in Infrastructures mounted a mass, militant Pick Boycott, with big, loud, continuous picket lines at the Pick room. Fewer than 10 maintainers broke the boycott and picked.

The boycott was so solid that the top union leadership had to come out in support – even Willie James walked the picket line! Management made threats, but disciplined no-one, and the maintainers were able to defeat some of the proposed takebacks. If management plays hard-ball with us, the maintainers can help us with lessons of their struggle.

Let’s Start Acting Like One Union!

Further, the new union leadership claims they will support rank-and-file struggles: to triumph, a Pick Boycott must become a fight of the whole Local, with serious involvement of Local officials from Vice-President on up. They should publicize the struggle Local-wide and organize members of all Divisions to picket.

Let’s start acting like one union!