by

D. Moorhouse, UTU Local 1778

Peter Rebaliati states that he is hoping to resolve some long-outstanding issues. There has always been some controversy regarding whether this committee belongs under the jurisdiction of Mechanical or Service Delivery. He took it upon himself do dissolve the existing committee and appoint this new committee, which will now be comprised of the present unionized members as well as a field supervisor from each end of the railway, and two people from mechanical.

The two outstanding issues on the agenda are limited working space in the Dash 7's and GM's and installation of a headphone system.

The available cab space of both the GE Dash 7’s and the GM SD40’s is about the same dimension. We need to be able to accommodate seating and baggage for three crew members; including either a trainee or a required brakeman. Storage of crew baggage is the problem, there needs to be a place to store six bags.

At a recent ad hoc meeting with the Prince George members it was suggested that the toilet in the short hood of the GM SD40's be moved to the long hood. This would open up enough room for the inside short hood wall to be moved forward, which would create about an extra two feet of interior floor space. Probably enough space for bags and some extra foot room for the center seat. Moving the toilet to the rear might make it easier to heat the toilet space to Ministry regulations (68 F). Possibly use hot water heat.

If the storage space can be increased, the committee agrees to give up the idea of a removable center seat. The existing seating arrangement will be maintained. The IPS seat chosen by our respective General Chairs will be installed in the center. The seat will be reclinable and situated so that it can be rotated with its back out of the way, against the control stand when not in use. Engineman’s seat to be Balaur type, sidewall mounted on rails. The conductor’s seat will be high-backed reclinable, rotatable Air Chief type.

The committee agrees that the egress problem will be ameliorated if the bags are off the floor.

Discussion arose about whether the engineman’s seat in the Dash 7's blocks the rear door in normal circumstances; does it create an egress problem? The CUTE 1 contingent were very adamant that they do not want to lose the agreed-to Balatur seat arrangement. Apparently, the Ministry is aware of this condition. It was decided that individual members experiment with options for the seat-door arrangement and address it at the next meeting.

The new storage space in the front hood will be level with the existing floor.

We will try a similar arrangement in the Dash 7’s, but the space gained by moving the short-hood wall will only be about 18". We will explore the option of creating additional space behind the conductor’s seat by bumping out the wall and window towards the walkway. Harry requests that if the short-hood wall arrangement is changed, that we ensure that the pull-out desk located in the wall is as close to the conductor as possible.

A commitment was given by G. Younger to have drawings and costing of the proposed modifications done by the end of June, possibly have a prototype by September 1998. The Ministry will be contacted for approval.