So where’s my contract? Why can’t I see it? How can I vote on something I haven’t seen?

Good questions. The answer to all those questions is that the UTU constitution provides for a number of specific steps before a tentative national agreement is presented to the membership for a ratification vote.

The tentative agreement with BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific is currently being fleshed out in preparation for distribution to the membership for inspection and a ratification vote.

As provided by the UTU constitution, general chairpersons affected by the tentative agreement prepared questions regarding its provisions and submitted those questions to the International.

A subcommittee of the UTU negotiating committee has been sifting through the questions, eliminating duplicates and preparing the questions for the UTU negotiating committee to review.

The UTU negotiating committee will then transmit the questions to the National Carriers' Conference Committee, and work with that carrier negotiating committee on responses.

The full set of questions and answers will then be made a part of the tentative contract.

On March 25, general chairpersons involved in national handling will meet in Houston to discuss with the UTU negotiating committee the questions and answers. Those general chairpersons will receive a full briefing on the tentative agreement at that time.

Again, under provisions of the UTU constitution, the International president, on behalf of the UTU negotiating committee, will then transmit the entire document -- the tentative agreement along with the questions and answers -- to the membership for inspection and a ratification vote.

That package, including voting instructions, should be mailed to the membership in early April.

The UTU Web site, at www.utu.org, will advise members when the package is mailed, and also provide additional information.

The UTU Web site, www.utu.org, should be considered the official source of information about the contract, and a special link has been created on the home page that provides access to the Section 6 notices originally served by the UTU and carriers, plus commentary on the tentative agreement.

Affected members should regularly view the UTU Web site for that information -- and sign-up for e-mail alerts. There is also a link on the UTU Web site home page to sign up for e-mail alerts.