Claims and Grievances

My career as an elected Official started as the Union Representative for the Brotherhood Of Maintenance of Way Employees Union back in the early ‘70’s, first as Secretary Treasurer for the Western District out of Weed California and later as District Chairman for the Eastern District out of Oakridge Oregon.

The union job didn’t pay any extra, it was non-gratis, but I always insisted there was some “Glory” to go along with the duties and that was the extra incentive. In truth I was the only one who could read and write it was more de-facto than popularity that got me elected. But it was a perfect fit since I was a nosey cuss by nature and the union guy gets to know everyone’s business and what better way to gain access to all those transcripts and records.

The three main functions to perform were: collecting dues; filing claims and grievances; attending hearings and dismissals. The dues was pure dirty work in the early days but it was all payroll deduction by the end. The claims and grievances were mostly requests for overtime that went to a junior employee or complaints of mistreatment according to the written “Union Agreement” book that everyone carried.

The hearings were the most entertaining, covering a large number of drug and alcohol violators but it included punishment for other infractions such as crashing a truck, getting injured, or otherwise damaging company property. One time I even had to go to the local news channel to get film footage of their coverage at a train derailment on a bridge where all 13 workers on the gang were fired in one fell swoop. They all ended up getting their back pay but it took years of appeals.

The funny part was that I got elected because I was such a hard worker they were sure I would work just as hard for the union and I did but they all assumed I would stop working so hard during the day and start acting like a lazy dog so I could be the union rep after hours. They were sorely disappointed to find that I kept working as hard as ever during the day at work.

Once I quit the Railroad that was the end of my political ambitions and I started to pursue on an honest career but I did come away with the idea that elected officials should have to work for free so we know their heart is in it and not just their bankbook.