Date: 02 Jul 96 16:51:05 EDT
From: Jon Flanders <72763.2240-AT-compuserve.com>
Subject: Something for Jon F


 >> 4) The inability of 'liberal', 'progressive' media to make anything
 sensible of the facts they present or make any links with other industries or
society as a whole;

 5) No mention of unions or any articulated employee opinion at all. <<Hugh
Rodwell

 Thanks Hugh,

  While the death toll today is not in the numbers of 100 years ago, the
growth in traffic in recent years, pushed through diminished numbers of
tracks, has led to a distinct increase in the danger level on the railroads in
the US. As in other industries, the drive for profits is unrelenting, and the
toll is beginning to show.


  This is the second death of a worker in our yard in about a year. The first
fatality, right in the yard would not have made the Albany paper without a
phone call from one of us.

  The article in the paper this time seems garbled, and there is a lot of
speculation going on about the accident. The RR will no doubt try to hang the
engineer from the nearest yardarm.

  In the shop, there is a campaign to reduce injuries by intimidating workers
>from reporting them. I was talking to a friend this morning about his recent
back strain. The shop manager tried to talk him into not accepting a doctor's
prescription so the injury would not be counted as reportable.

  Another friend of mine in the shop is to be fired after his latest injury.
Some railroads are adopting a 3 strikes and you are out policy. Three injuries
and you are on the street.

  Given our higher than average rate of compensation, the class war for us is
most focused around this issue.

  I have heard that there is some discussion about a mass leave from work by
train crews to attend the funeral this time. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

 Best, Jon Flanders

 Train Conductor from Colonie Killed

 Worker is crushed after out of control engine slams into equipment

 AP

 Clyde--A freight train conductor from Colonie was killed Saturday when
 his out of control engine slammed into heavy track maintenance equipment
 and crushed him.

 The driver of the Conrail train apparently did not see a warning sign
 and a stop sign leading up to where the track repairmen were digging a
 ditch using a conveyor-belt boom, said Wayne County Chief Deputy Sherriff
 William Shortsleeve.

  The train was believed to be traveling at about 55 mph when it crashed
 into the equipment, which extended across the tracks, Shortsleeve said.
 The front engine was damaged heavily, and firefighters took half an hour
 to remove the conductor from the wreckage.

  The victim  was identified as Anthony Vignola, 49, of Colonie.

  In the 7:30am collision, near Clyde, 40 miles east of Rochester, the
 engine car came loose from the rest of the train, and rolled down the
 track for 2 and  one half to three miles, Shortsleeve said.

  The driver, who was not injured," had no means of stopping the engine
 until it slowed down," Shortsleeve said, "It was not under any power at
 all, it was on its own momentum that continued it on down the tracks,
 literally out of control.

  Track workers "had to jump off the ditch digger when they saw the train
 coming," he said. They were not injured.

  The accident was being investigated, and Shortsleeve said it was
 possible a grand jury might be convened to decide whether to bring
 charges.












  E-mail from: Jonathan E. Flanders, 02-Jul-1996




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