I agree on that one, Schlub. I was once referred to, as the "King of Claims", by my LC, on Conrail. I did not have a single day, in five and one half years, with Big Blue, that I didn't submit a claim, or penalty timecard. I would never wait till 3 denials, though. After the first one, I filled out the form, supplied by my LC, and filed the claim, on the form, with a copy of the original claimed timesheet, and the denial. Every union meeting, I would hand deliver my "manuscript"(manifesto?) to the LC, or his assistant, for processing. In the quarterly claims settlement forums they held, some would be paid, some not. I know one thing, for sure though. I was never paid a single penny, for a claim I did not submit, or for a denail that I did not re-submit. Sometimes those claims were so many, in number, that the "system" would lag behind, by as much as 2 years, but that was still "money in the bank". Ultimately, I was paid for an average of one third of those submitted claims, sometimes earning half a years pay, in a calendar year. I feel sorry, for the new kids, who feel the 5 minutes "wasted" on filing claims is not worth the time. My best year produced over 25K in paid claims, and all I invested was the time to fill out the original, and follow up with the denials. As another member on this forum will attest, I even have been known to file a claim for such things as a TM staring too long at me, or even no color TV on a loco, when I was forced to sit in a siding all day long!!!(the CNDR was called into a "meeting" with the SUPT over that one, but for some reason, I wasn't) Of course those two weren't paid (
), but some that were just as "unique" were. The trick is to bury them in paperwork, and force them to mediate every single claim. Also, don't forget to volunteer for every project your Local has on it's calendar, and never refuse a request, or favor, to your Union leaders. They make it happen, and it's nice to be seen at your monthly meetings, as well. Regards
