Brothers and Sisters, the 2009 session of the NC Legislature was a long one. Mostley because of the deficit in the budget, over 3 billion dollars. It was hard to get anything introduced that had a cost to it. The UTU managed to get two bills introduced this session dealing with conditions on the railroads. Representative Ray Rapp along with 22 other co-sponsors introduced a walkway bill that would require the railroads to provide us with a safe smooth walking surface anywhere we normally performed our duties. We also got a Van Driver bill similar to one passed in Arkansas. The Van bill did not get heard in commitee and did not make a crossover deadline so it is dead  until 2011. Our walkway bill did make it out of committee after a very hard debate. It was sent to a sub-committe where they decided to make it a study bill. The full Transportation commitee agreed with the sub committee recomendation and voted it out as a study bill.

This means between now and May 15 2010 we need to document the need for walkway legislation in North Carolina. If we can prove through pictures, or documented injuries caused by the walking conditions we will be able to draft some kind of legislation next session. If you have any information you can share please foward to my office.

Fraternally yours,

Dickie Westbrook, Director NC Legislative Board