Railway Track & Structures - February 2008 - (Page 6) I N D U S T R Y T O D AY applies to approximately 3,000 employees who maintain CN track infrastructure across Canada. It became effective January 1, 2008. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ratified a new fiveyear collective labor agreement for IBEW members at CN's Canadian operations. The agreement applies to approximately 700 employees who maintain CN signals and communication systems across Canada. It was effective January 1, 2008, replacing a contract that expired on December 31, 2007. campus. Companies represented were Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road, Alaska Railroad, Canadian Pacific Railway, CSX Transportation, FCM Rail, Illinois Midland, Kansas City Southern, Kansas City Terminal Railway and Terminal Railroad of St. Louis. Richard Timmons, president of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, kicked off the program with a speech on leadership and what kinds of things supervisors at any level should know when they come to a job. MSU designed the four-week comprehensive course for railroad employees who have been employed for two or more years and show potential for professional growth and management capabilities. The four weeks do not run consecutively so the active employees in the class don’t have to be away from their jobs for too long a time The course was developed by the MSU Railway Management Program Staff, under the leadership of Robert Gallamore and Steve Ditmeyer, working closely with Class 1 and Class 2 railroad education and training directors, as well as with the AAR, ASLRRA and FRA and other transportation industry leaders. The course consists of four weeks of classroom and field experiences, linked to on-line sessions with an assigned instructor responsible for mentoring the learning experience. The entire course will be delivered in a six-month period of time. Among the general topics for the first week are Industry History and Safety, Labor-Management Relations, Service Management, Industry Structure, Regulation and Industry Organization. Later sessions will cover such topics as Technology Development, Infrastructure, Technology Futures, Customer and Shipper Focus, Company and System Financials, Company Leadership, Network Analysis, Railroads and Government Agencies and Energy, Environment and Security. Class size will be limited to a maximum of 25 students, and the railroad companies will have priority choice in the available openings for each class. This is hoped to be the beginning of a railroad management program that may lead to Master’s and Ph.D. degrees and, eventually, an undergraduate degree. MSU, with donations from Dennis www.rtands.com 17 students in initial MSU rail management class Seventeen students from eight railroads and one supply company comprise the inaugural class of Michigan State University’s Certificate Course in Railway Management, launched in midJanuary on the East Lansing, Mich., 6 Railway Track & Structures February 2008 http://www.rtands.com
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