A representative from the American Train Dispatchers Association, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, sent a message to members this week telling them that NS executives plan to relocate and centralize all train dispatching operations for the eastern railroad at the Goode Center in Atlanta.
Representatives with Norfolk Southern declined to comment. Union officials did not respond to Trains‘ request for comment.
The union message forwarded to Trains News Wire reads:
“Brothers and Sisters,
Yesterday, myself, Vice President Broyles and President McCann received word of the Carrier’s intent to serve the Organization with a formal notice to centralize all Train Dispatching Operations into a single facility at the Goode Building, located at 1200 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia. Once formal notice has been issued, the Carrier and the Organizations (the ATDA and the TCU) will schedule meetings to begin the process of negotiating an implementing agreement. Obviously, this will be a lengthy and in-depth process with a multitude of issues to consider; many of which are well beyond the scope of any of our previous implementing agreements.
While we have not yet been given any type of official schedule regarding how or when this move will commence, we have been told that the Carrier intends to move each office in phases, beginning the process sometime in May of 2018, with plans to have all Train Dispatchers in Atlanta by October of 2018. Obviously, the Organization believes that this is an overly aggressive timetable, and given the difficulties encountered by our brothers and sisters on CSXT over the past year, I would implore everyone to not make any plans based on this preliminary announcement. The Organization will provide as many updates as possible throughout the process to ensure you have as much time as possible to make any necessary plans or arrangements.
While I am sure you all will have numerous questions and concerns, I would ask that you please try to address as many of them as possible through your Local Chairman or Vice General Chairman as I may not be able to respond to everyone individually on a regular basis. While I certainly can attest that receiving this news is extremely difficult, it is imperative that, now more than ever, we remain united and focused on the work that we need to do.
In Solidarity,
Brandon M. Denucci
American Train Dispatchers Association”
