{"id":6208,"date":"2009-09-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-09-07T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/utu.org\/2009\/09\/07\/solving-problems-through-a-positive-approach-6\/"},"modified":"2023-10-19T16:08:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:08:49","slug":"solving-problems-through-a-positive-approach-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smart-union.org\/solving-problems-through-a-positive-approach-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Solving problems through a positive approach","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
By Assistant President Arty Martin<\/strong><\/p>\n Viewers of the cable television sitcom, Fawlty Towers, may recall an episode in which Basil Fawlty (played by John Cleese) beat his broken-down car with a branch, blaming the car rather than his own failure to maintain it.<\/p>\n Being too negatively focused on a problem rather than identifying and pursuing a workable solution can be a costly error in the workplace.<\/p>\n Remote control operations come to mind. For sure, remote control cost jobs, but beating up on new technology has never preserved jobs in the long run, and diverts our productive energies from crafting a positive strategy to ensure new technology is safe and that those using the new technology are properly trained and compensated for their improved skills.<\/p>\n An example of positive problem solving through the identification of workable solutions is a recent joint petition filed with the FRA by the UTU and the BLET seeking a safety rule requiring a qualified conductor be aboard every freight train.<\/p>\n Indeed, a priority of the UTU International is finding positive solutions to problems affecting our membership.<\/p>\n Consider other recent initiatives:<\/p>\n In the face of an unacceptable increase in rail-employee fatalities and career-ending injuries, a rail safety task force was appointed by UTU International President Mike Futhey to gather information and make recommendations regarding employee safety. The task force has an interactive Web page accessible from the UTU home page at www.utu.org.<\/p>\n Within the next couple of weeks, the task force will post a member survey on its Web page, seeking information on workplace distractions, carrier-enforced work practices, instances of worker fatigue, and other workplace safety problems.<\/p>\n The Web page also encourages direct communication with task force members, intended to help the task force gather detailed facts required to back-up recommendations the task force will be making to the carriers for remedial action; and, if necessary, by the UTU International to the FRA and Congress.<\/p>\n Moreover, the International leadership is meeting with other rail labor organizations to build a coalition aimed at convincing the carriers that intimidation, harassment and excessive discipline are jeopardizing the ability of workers to do their jobs efficiently and safely.<\/p>\n