UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY DENNIS J. DUFFY
Room 1206 November 11, 2002 To: Operating General Chairmen From: Dennis Duffy RE: System
implementation of Field Training Exercise As many of you are aware, during the last year the Utah Service Unit piloted a new approach to administering efficiency tests. The new approach is known as "FTX", which stands for "Field Training Exercise". It is based on promoting education and understanding of rules through a process of discussion between managers and the employee(s) involved in an efficiency test. Many of you have commented favorably about FTX and have asked that it be expanded to the rest of the system. This letter is to inform you that the decision has been made to implement the program on the rest of the system effective January 1, 2003. Enclosed is a copy of "FTX Guidelines", setting forth the details of the program. Between now and January 1, these guidelines will be distributed to the Regions for their use in preparing to implement the program. I believe FTX is another example of what we can do together to improve our culture and make Union Pacific the safest railroad in the country. I hope you will support this effort by communicating the program to your local chairmen between now and January 1. Of course there will also be company communications to the employees between now and then. FTX Questions and Answers Over the past year, the Utah Service Unit has piloted a new approach in the way Efficiency Testing results are handled. This new approach, called 'Field Training Exercise Program' (FTX), utilizes a practice called 'debriefing' for promoting compliance with UPRR rules, policies, and instructions, and for handling instances of substandard performance. Debriefing involves discussion between the testing manager(s) and the tested employee(s) and promotes education and understanding in lieu of the current practice of invoking disciplinary action for a test failure. Because of the success of this pilot, FTX will now be expanded to other service units. Following is a summary of the FTX process. Notification of testing results is within or outside of acceptable standards. For tests involving routine observations, crews will be informed of their performance by the most expedient method, when practicable. This may include direct follow-up discussion or subsequent contact/notification by the manager. For Structured Simulations (Set-up tests), crews will be debriefed at the scene. Performance below standard • For UPGRADE Level 4
and all FRA engineer decertification events, a Formal Debriefing will be
held as soon after • Any combination of
three failures within a 24-month period, regardless of level, will
result in ineligibility from FTX for • Handling of certain rules infractions (I.e. decertifiable event), as dictated by Federal Regulations, remains unchanged. • If the employee
becomes ineligible from participating in the FTX process due to test
failure(s), any subsequent test • The intent of the
field debriefing is to review the rule(s) tested, the intent and
application of the rule(s), and the • All debriefings will
utilize a debriefing checklist and affected employees will receive a
copy of the checklist at the Formal Debriefing representative will also be invited to attend. The formal debriefing will be conducted at a suitable location allowing for privacy and open discussion as soon as practicable after the day of the failure. • The formal debriefing
is not a fault-finding exercise. It is intended to be an open discussion
and will focus on root * If an employee declines to participate in a debriefing, the failure will be handled through the disciplinary process. FTX Implementation
|