CSX commuter rail bill gets union support

The United Transportation Union has backed the maligned commuter rail project in Orlando, giving the $641-million project a breathe of support heading into debate this week.

Citing a protection that its workers wouldn't be excluded, the union "is supporting of efforts to bring commuter rail," wrote Andres Trujillo, director of the UTU's Florida legislative board, in a letter to CSX lobbyist Craig Camuso. Union unease, along with trial lawyer complaints, had helped lead to legislation for the project being withdrawn in the Senate.

Update: The Florida AFL-CIO isn't a fan, though. "The majority of our unions remain in strong opposition to the CSX deal.  The idea that Florida is handing out almost $650 million in corporate welfare while vital services for sick children are being cut is of great concern to Florida’s labor movement," responds spokesman Rich Templin, who questions the job protections. (more)

The state' transportation department's $150-million purchase of CSX rail line, and state-paid improvements to the private company's freight lines, have angered some lawmakers who did not get a chance to vet it. Debate on chipping away the rail project's funding in the 2008-09 budget is expected Wednesday in the Senate. A House council could vote on a bill Friday that exempts CSX for any liability for damages it causes to state commuter trains.

Comments

Looks like Dockery is toast.. Here last minute budget amendments dont pass the smell test.
How could anyone be against improving the state's transportation system.

I-4 in Polk County was widened long before any meaningful road work in Orlando. If the commuter rail deal dies, the Legislature and FDOT should make sure that Polk doesn't get another dime of transportation money for at least a decade. And the Central Florida legislative delegation should declare war on Dockery and any other RINO that stands with her.

[Rich Templin]

Statement from the Florida AFL-CIO

The above mentioned article references a single transportation workers union. The Florida AFL-CIO is a federation of over 500 local unions across the state, including other transportation unions that represent rail workers. While this one single union has in fact withdrawn its opposition to the CSX deal, this view is not shared by all of the unions representing railroad workers and does not reflect the official position of the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates. The majority of our unions remain in strong opposition to the CSX deal. The idea that Florida is handing out almost $650 million in corporate welfare while vital services for sick children are being cut is of great concern to Florida’s labor movement. Additionally, the deal as currently structured does not provide adequate protections for many of the rail workers we represent. The area needs vital improvements to its transportation infrastructure, however this particular project is a bad deal for Floridians.

Rich Templin
Communications Director

[Rich Templin]

Statement from the Florida AFL-CIO

The above mentioned article references a single transportation workers union. The Florida AFL-CIO is a federation of over 500 local unions across the state, including other transportation unions that represent rail workers. While this one single union has in fact withdrawn its opposition to the CSX deal, this view is not shared by all of the unions representing railroad workers and does not reflect the official position of the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates. The majority of our unions remain in strong opposition to the CSX deal. The idea that Florida is handing out almost $650 million in corporate welfare while vital services for sick children are being cut is of great concern to Florida’s labor movement. Additionally, the deal as currently structured does not provide adequate protections for many of the rail workers we represent. The area needs vital improvements to its transportation infrastructure, however this particular project is a bad deal for Floridians.

Rich Templin
Communications Director

[Buzzard]

Buy it, yes. But pay CSX only what THEY paid for it, plus an adjustment for inflation. No more.

Why not just lease rights to operate commuter rail on it for 12 hours per day at the same rate CSX will pay the state $7 million per year to operate fright trains on the line for 12 hours per day. Let's see $650 million we are giving CSX divided by $7 million per year would allow us to lease it for 93 years. This is not about commuter rail it's about corporate welfare for CSX and Senator Alexander.

Wish our legislators had the guts Massachusetts legislators have. They told CSX there would be no shifing of libility for the railroad's negligence to the taxpayers of the state. CSX will be operating on our tracks not theirs. They should be indeminfying Florida taxpayers. Not the other way around.

The AFL-CIO is so right on this. This deal will take money away from organ transplant patients to give it to Jacksonville/Winter Haven fat cats who are making millions.That makes a lot of sense.

The only people who support the CSX deal are people who think they will profit from it---right JD? Dean?

3:55---what transportation system? Orlando's commuter rail will not take a single car off of I-4. That's the offical word from the Feds on this. Remember, it just runs for 12 hours a day. I would hate to get stuck downtown if I missed the last train...

Since when is giving away millions in corporate welfare a fiscally conservative Republican idea? Wonder why the Dems are gaining...

They will shove it down out throat folks... wake the hell up!

Vote them out before 700-million of our tax dollars are gone... AGAIN!

3:55, please go back to your cushy seat in a government funded office, turn on your government funded tv, and watch paula dockery kick your boss in the butt

how many CSX lobbyists does it take to instill fear in the union workers?

there's nothing quite like threatening the livelihood of people with families to coerce a supportive press release

tax dollars slotted to be GIVEN to a FOR-PROFIT corporation: $691 million

73 lobbyists assigned to attacking union workers and schmoozing legislators: $1.7 million

waking up as JD Alexander, taking a dip in your swimming pool of money, and driving to Alico via the JD Alexander Heartland Parkway: PRICELESS

Paula Paula Paula, please take a break from the keyboard. Everyone is quite bored with your incessant fussing over everything JD does. I personally don't care for him myself, but your being a crybaby is SOOOOO much more annoying.

She only cries cause she loses everything. What has Paula ever actually done? Hmmmmmmmmmm

11:06, what does she do? Are you kidding? Where have you been?

She's put on a bike ride down the St. Marks trail for like 10 years!!!!

She ran a Sunday night bowling league for several years AND posted the scores every Monday morning!!!

Why are the unions supporting this? It's not creating any huge amount of jobs. What kind of money is pouring into the union PACs money from CSX?

At least AFL-CIO gets it. This may be there best statement yet:

The idea that Florida is handing out almost $650 million in corporate welfare while vital services for sick children are being cut is of great concern to Florida’s labor movement.

So let me get this straight:

Paula Dockery is team up with the AFL-CIO opposing commuter rail.

Paula Dockery spent millions trying to get the bullet train built.

Paula Dockery used to be an insurance agent.

Paula Dockery is carrying the Democratic bill to open up the primaries with the support of Garcia and Villalobos.

Paula Dockery supported Villalobos' effort to join with Democrats and overthrow the Republican majority in the Senate.

Quite trustworthy. Great job Polk County.

11:09, don't forget that Sen. Dockery was also a founding member of the defunct Italian caucus!!!! That alone has been a huge accomplishment for Florida and her constituents!

Paula Dockery also ran for Speaker against Byrd and President against Haridopolos. Doesn't that count for something? She at least gets an "A" for effort.

I didn't know the anti-women party aka RPOF had staff that was sober enough to blog at this hour. I'm impressed.

Meanwhile, tax payers are left to foot the over $500 million bill to make the lives of CSX leadership better.

I am one unhappy Republican taxpayer.

CSX is a disaster. Maybe union involvement will be an improvement.

Argensiano started the Italian caucus. What does that have to do with CSX trying to play with the support of one pathetic little union?

How typical of the legislators to pressure or cut deals with the union that would prosper if this giveaway passes. Sorry Charlie, or should I say sorry JD Alexander, this won't cut it. I know the extortive tactics you use to get someone on your side to make it look appealing. You cannot make this pig look more appealing by having ONE union you pressured and probably promised something to, to go along with this. Do you really think this will make the taxpayer go along with it? The one Union agrees, so this translates to you that we will allow you to make these monetary decisions behind closed doors with no real committee vetting? You have got to be kidding. This deal is a giveaway to a PRIVATE railway. Shifts liability to the taxpayer and is a pure and simple piece of garbage that may only benefit the private company and one legislator who happens to have land that would benefit from this deal. This has got to be stopped. I am sick of this kind of Republicanism.

12:05 you show your real ignorance. The Italian caucus was started before Dockery or Argenciano were elected. You must be part of that caucus to evenmention this. I guess even in the Italian caucus there are betrayers and back stabbers.

Just what the state needs - unions supporting the acceptance of more liability. Didn't leadership say that the state of Florida isn't in the insurance business?

[Andres Trujillo, United Transportation Union]

Comments from the United Transportation Union:

The column reporting that the United Transportation Union is backing or supporting this deal is non factual and incorrect. The three word caption used was also inacurate and taken from an excerpt of general support for rail based mass transit solutions. The letter speaks for itself in what it says and does not say. It does not support, back or endorses this project and it does not oppose it either.It calls for a specifically quoted language to be supported by lawmakers without addressing other issues within the implementation language.

Andres Trujillo, Director
UTU FL. Legislative Board

So, other than an annual bike ride and Sunday night bowling, what has Paula done in her 8 years of Senate service? Ohhhh, she does go to the islands a lot to her mansion.

So the Times publish an article stating that a union endorses an absurd project, that union says "we never endorsed this project" and your issue is that Paula allegedly has a big house on some island?

It's a shame that you weren't around during the Enron scandal. You could've taken issue with the cost of jet fuel used by the CEO to fly to the Hamptons while papers were being shredded and employees were exploited.

Why don't you give as much attention to the assets of CSX and there demand for public funds to boost their personal profits?

Wow Wow Wow

There was no union endorsement after all

Not that proponents of the CSX deal would ever embellish or out right lie about anything---right Dean Cannon?

Dean Cannon is the one who has a lot to gain financially from getting this deal through the House.

He really needs to find a way to pay for his big house in Winter Park. A House member's salary only goes so far.

I am a Republican and have always been proud to say so. But lately what I see, with this whole CSX boondoggle makes me sick. Some would like to fray the issues by name calling of Dockery, but truthfully shouldn't everyone's concerns be the budget crisis we are in, and the lack of money to support needed programs? Spending over $600 million and giving it to a for profit company goes against everything the Republican party that I thought I was a member of stands or at least, stood for.
I agree with the comment about the state leasing the track from CSX. No liability issue, no immunity, and no $600 million. Plain and simple.
If CSX won't lease back, then move on to Amtrak. They currently lease the rails and they take priority over frieght. It may be the most economical way to go into the future. And the entire state can have commuter rail within a year.

The Orlando Sentinel just reported that Fred Leonhardt is lobbying for the CSX deal. Let's review his last endorsements: Mitt Romney and Tom Gallagher. Polk County may be saved after all.

[Q]

You can't defend this deal with facts, so attack Sen. Dockery instead. Sounds like some more of JD's hatchetmen to me. I'm no big fan of the Dockery's but at least they're not breaking into their opponents' homes stealing government laptops.
Hey People's Govenor, get your head out of the ethanol clouds and do the right thing!!!!

[Don Mott]

Don't count on the Gov to stop this boondoggle. I recently e-mailed his office expressing my opposition. Guess who replied? Not a Crist staffer but a mouthpiece for the DOT telling me how great this will be for us. What a joke. You're giving over a half million dollars to a very profitable corporation and it's great for us. Tell that to the old people and kids who cannot afford health care. Tell that to the people who will have to quit their jobs to take care of their terminally ill parents because Hospice funds are cut. Not to mention the future costs which haven't been mentioned. The costs of actually putting a train on the tracks, the 17 proposed stations and all of the employees that will be required to operate them. Serving an area that is basically in the boondocks. The train will travel near or through 6 cities, not counting Orlando, that have a combined population of about 140,000 people. How many of those people will ride a train at peak hours? No one will say because they don't know but it probably will not be enough to pay the bills so the taxpayers will be stuck for operating costs as well. We're probably looking at over a billion dollars before this thing is done and for what? This whole thing stings worse than dead fish!

[Fed up]

Is there any truth about this terrible project other than the public getting the shaft?

CSX says their proposed Winter Haven facility will not link to west coast. Port of Tampa and Port Manatee say they are looking forward to sending several hundred thousand containers to the proposed ILC, presumably by truck. Known facts not factored into the transportation portion of the DRI study.

JD Alexander is in the forefront for a new college in Lakeland. Why? Because the new school will focus on Logistics; in other words a taxpayer funded training camp for CSX. Is there anything this guy does not have his hands into?

[j]

pathetic
a pathetic waste of taxpayer dollars to money hungry CSX

[t]

Sheesh...all this personal stuff about Sen. Dockery. That must be a CSX staffer! Nobody...nobody...nobody is being fooled by all this. You are either getting some money from this CSX corporate welfare or you are against it.
Where's the Governor? Oh...that's right, CSX funded his Amendment 1 campaign, how are those tax cuts coming?

From the Trujillo letter:
"The United Transportation Union is supportive of efforts to bring commuter rail and other rail based mass transit solutions throughout the State of Florida that bring traffic relief, are environmentally positive, create solutions for independence and respect and protect the rights of workers, particularly, the Members of the United
Transportation Union."

10:44 -- Right street, wrong address. The question you should have asked is how many AFL-CIO leaders does it take to instill fear in the UTU members. It must have been some message to have him backing up like that. Maybe a reference to meeting Jimmy Hoffa?