On April 14, the Houston City Council passed a resolution opposing the use of remote control locomotives within its city limits. The resolution also calls on the FRA to implement regulations to govern the use of remote control.

BLET Texas State Legislative Board (TSLB) Chairman Terry Briggs said “Houston is the 4th largest city in the United States. I commend the Council members and the Mayor for adding this city’s voice to the growing number of other communities who are concerned about the safety of their citizens who live, work and go to school near where remote control is in use. This is an important contribution to the process that, hopefully, will lead to regulation of remote control

“Getting this resolution has been a long difficult process,” he continued. “We first started the idea of a resolution in Houston more than 18 months ago when Gil Gore, General Chairman UP Southern Region, authorized then Vice Chairman Rodney Stutes to work in conjunction with the Texas State Legislative Board on this project. We began a process of coalition building between members of the city council, other labor organizations, and community and civil groups. This process was primarily accomplished through the efforts of Herb Yambra, 2nd Vice Chairman, TSLB, and his wife Kathy, GIA Texas Legislative Representative, who worked with Brother Stutes until his untimely death in February of 2003. Since that time, Brother Herb and Sister Kathy have done the bulk of the work that was needed to get the resolution passed and they deserve the bulk of the credit.

“But we would be remiss if we did not recognize that this was a joint effort with many participants,” Brother Briggs said. “Thanks must also go to Gil Gore and all his Vice Chairmen, including Dave Phillips. Bob Tramuto, Attorney for the law firm of Jones and Granger and Richard Shaw, Secretary-Treasurer of the Harris County AFL-CIO both of whom helped out immensely. Also, thanks go to Council Member Carol Alvarado, who carried the resolution for us.”

Brother Briggs said that the supporters in Houston are too numerous to list, but the list includes all the participants and organizers of the rallies that raised public awareness of this issue, “especially all the BLET members who participated, and, therefore, assumed ownership of their Union’s activities.” Family members and GIA officers and members also participated and continue to be very supportive, he said.

Additionally, many local, State and Federal elected officials, as well as community and civic groups showed their support of the resolution by calling or sending letters to the City Council.

“This could not have been down without all the cooperation, help and support of everyone in this coalition,” Brother Briggs concluded. “In the end however, I think that those who knew him would agree that Brother Stutes is looking down in approval of the final outcome.”

Houston is the 38th U.S. city to enact a remote control safety resolution. Fifteen different counties and 16 AFL-CIO State Federations have passed similar safety resolutions.

A copy of the Houston resolution is available online at:
http://www.ble-t.org/pr/pdf/HoustonResolution.pdf