NOTICE: C-146 Posted:
DATE: JUNE 8, 2005 Initial:
File: HL0015
RUNNING TRADE EMPLOYEES - ALBERTA SERVICE AREA
SUBJECT: HELD AWAY Q & A CLARIFICATIONS
The following Q&A's have been prepared by Industrial Relations
in consultation with the TCRC to clarify the application of
additional Held Away payments beyond the previous order time.
Q-1 I am called for a run through train. When does my held away
calculation cease?
A-1 When you take control of your train. For a run through
train, you will be expected to take control of your train as
soon as it arrives at the change off location, assuming that
the change off location is at the report location. (i.e.
when the train stops at the change off location.
Q-2 I am ordered for a run through train at 1800 and am on
held away at 1700. The train pulls in at the East end of the
yard at 1830 and the report location is at the west end of
the yard. I get into a taxi and arrive at the locomotives at
1845 and change off with the inbound crew. When does my
held away calculation cease?
A-2 When you take control of the train at 1845.
Q-3 I am called for a train and my locomotives are off the shop
track. When does my held away calculation cease?
A-3 Your held away will cease upon reporting for duty unless you
are delayed waiting to be informed of the locomotive(s) in
your consist or your locomotives are not available, e.g..
they haven't been released by the Mechanical Department in
which case your held away will cease when you are informed of
the locomotive(s) in your consist and they have been released
by the Mechanical Department.
Q-4 I am on a Conductor-only crew and am off duty at 0100. I am
called for a run through train at 1000, the train is delayed
and does not arrive until 1130 at which time I take control.
Can I claim held away ten hours from the end of my previous
tour of duty from 1100-1130?
A-4 Yes. Calculation of held away continues until you take
control of your train.
Q-5 I am on held away at 1500 and called for 1600, my train shows
up at 1630 and I take control, however there is a broken rail
and I wait in the yard for two hours. When does my held away
cease?
A-5 Calculation of held away ceases when you take control of your
train in this case at 1630.
Q-6 Does my knowledge of the broken rail above mean that I do not
have to take control of the train at 1630?
A-6 No. You are still required to take control of the train.
Q-7 I am on held away at 1700 and called for a train at 1800.
At 1745 the crew dispatcher cancels me and I get ordered
again at 2300. Do I continue on held away as if it was not
interrupted?
A-7 Yes, calculation of held away is not interrupted by a called
and cancelled when you have not commenced work under the
called & cancelled article.
Q-8 I am on held away and called for 0930. My train fails to
arrive at the regular change off location which is an
expanded crew change point and is stopped one siding out. I
am told at 1030 to run long and relieve/retrieve my train.
When does my held away calculation end?
A-8 Your held away ceases when you get into the cab to DH to
retrieve your train.
Q-9 Does the new held away provision impact the rules concerning
called & cancelled?
A-9 No. The called & cancelled provision remains the same.
Q-10 Is it possible for the Locomotive Engineer and Conductor on>
the same crew to have their held away calculation cease at
different times?
A-10 Yes in the following circumstance. In the situation where a
crew is normally transported to their train and the Company
elects to send one crew member ahead of the other, held away
ceases independently for each crew member upon their personal
arrival at the train. In circumstances where power is off
the shop track (Q&A 3) or where a run through train stops at
the change off location and the crew is not normally
transported to the head end (Q&A 1) the held away calculation
for both crew members stops at the same time.
Note: For submission in the the CMA system the employee with
the least held away shall use that time in the "held away"
field. The CMA system will calculate held away up to
that point for all employees. The later employee(s)
will be required to submit an "IP" claim for the
additional time from when the first employee took
control until control was assumed by the other crew
member(s). The difference in held away between crew
member(s) will be processed as an "HB" claim for
subsequent auditing. All claims must be indicate why
the control was assumed at a later time. ie... "Wait
forms off RIT until 2030."
Please be governed accordingly.
B.J. Lockhart
Director RTC/CMC