SMART Union
BISMARCK, N.D. — The percentage of North Dakota oil shipped by pipelines has dramatically slipped in the past year as producers have turned to trains to reach faraway U.S. refineries where premium prices are fetched based on foreign crude prices.
But state and industry officials believe the pendulum may be swinging back in favor of pipelines as the price differential narrows between domestic and overseas crude.
Read the complete story at the Bismarck Tribune.
As part of a reorganization, the Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) recently realigned its top-level management team, including the appointment of William O’Leary as chief operating officer and Barbara Amy as chief financial officer.
ARRC’s vice president of finance and CFO since 2001, O’Leary now is responsible for transportation, engineering, mechanical, safety, labor relations, marketing, customer service and grant administration functions. He previously served as the railroad’s interim president and chief executive officer in 2010.
Read the complete story at Progressive Railroading.
The following release was issued June 18 by the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
The National Association of Railroad Passengers announced that it will fight implementation of the House Appropriation Committee’s Fiscal Year 2014 transportation funding levels.
The draft bill, which the subcommittee will consider tomorrow, slashes Amtrak’s budget by a third, threatening Amtrak’s very existence. The bill also fails to include funding for the High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Not only does the bill include no new funding for the highly over-subscribed TIGER grants – a competitive, multi-modal program – it rescinds $237 million in previously appropriated FY 2013 TIGER funding that is not yet obligated.
The House proposal denies state and local leaders the resources they need to develop the modern transportation network necessary for mobility and economic growth. It comes as economic experts and the International Monetary Fund criticize the U.S. for plunging ahead with austerity even as low interest rates make borrowing for projects unusually affordable, America’s unemployment rate remains unacceptably high, and the need for transportation infrastructure investment is widely acknowledged.
The House committee’s bill has just $950 million for Amtrak, a 29 percent cut from the final 2013 number ($1,344 million). This includes a $350 million operating grant (21 percent below the FY 2013 level), and $600 million in capital (33.5 percent below FY 2013).
These numbers are even more disappointing when compared to President Obama’s FY 2014 request of $6.7 billion for passenger rail. That request targeted $2.7 billion for current rail service, including $675 million for the Northeast Corridor, $300 million for state corridors, and $800 million for Amtrak’s long-distance routes. The president had proposed moving Amtrak from the discretionary funding pot and reclassifying it as mandatory spending.
“The proposed House budget is extremely disappointing in its unwillingness to tackle America’s growing infrastructure crisis,” said NARP President Ross Capon. “Millions of Americans depend on the U.S. rail network to commute to work everyday, and for millions more Amtrak is a vital intercity connection, allowing them to travel for work and for family. This is especially true in smaller and rural communities where trains serve as the only alternative to driving, connecting residents to essential services in larger cities. Curtailing service at a time of growing demand makes no sense.”
The committee has also trashed the Administration’s proposal to continue development of a National High Performance Rail System. The president proposed $3.7 billion in FY 2014 for the development of world-class high speed rail and upgrades to conventional rail service.
“Elected officials at the local level depend on the Congress to aid them in maintaining and developing the transportation network that is foundational to our community, our economy, and our way of life,” added Capon. “That infrastructure is crumbling, and we are living off the investments made by previous generations. This House budget is another instance of Congress kicking the can down the road. If enacted, it will be a disaster for future generations of passengers.”
The following statement was issued by AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Edward Wytkind regarding the raiding of union membership by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
“As many of you are aware, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) has increased raiding activities directed at TTD affiliates. At a time when the labor movement – and more importantly, its membership – is under constant attack in Washington, at the state and local government level and on the job, these raids are weakening our movement and should not be tolerated.
“Specifically, the IBT has filed for an election with the National Mediation Board (NMB) to represent US Airways mechanics who are longtime IAM members. This election has now been ordered for July 8 by the NMB. Simultaneously, the IBT has filed for an election with the NMB to represent American Airlines mechanics who have been TWU members for decades.
“These raids are especially egregious and ill-timed. As you know, US Airways and American have a pending merger before our government and by all accounts, the merger is headed towards approval. Clearly, IBT is attempting to take advantage of the fear and uncertainty surrounding this merger, and to position itself to represent the combined mechanics workforce once the merger is consummated. This is not how to grow our movement.
“It is significant that American Airlines is just emerging from bankruptcy where TWU has had to wage a difficult fight under badly rigged bankruptcy rules to defend its members. Similarly, the IAM has represented mechanics at U.S. Airways through mergers and difficult economic challenges and the union is fighting to secure a new contract in the face of company stonewalling. Another important fact is that the IAM and TWU reached a joint council agreement in May to represent the employees together – a forward-looking approach to dealing with the wrenching employee challenges stemming from mergers. This will combine the strength of the two unions in representing workers at the new American Airlines who will be employed at the world’s largest airline.
“TTD stands solidly and completely against these raids. We will lend any assistance needed and urge all affiliates to do so as well. I have directed the TTD staff to no longer work or cooperate with the IBT on legislative or political activity in Washington. While we have had many transportation labor issues in common with IBT, we can no longer conduct business as usual while these raiding activities continue.
“In addition to the raids against the TWU and IAM, I know that IBT has raided other TTD unions. Recently, the IBT attempted to raid SMART – Transportation Division bus drivers in Charlotte, N.C. Fortunately, this raid was defeated by a vote of 268-94. Similarly, in 2012 IBT failed in its bid to raid SMART-represented bus drivers in Pennsylvania. We would appreciate receiving any information regarding other IBT raids against your union.
“This is of course a very challenging time for the labor movement and for the workers we represent. The last thing we need is to spend time, money and other resources on these types of destructive raids. It is my sincere hope that the IBT raids will be rejected and that this predatory behavior will end. More than 9 out of 10 private sector workers in America do not have collective bargaining. Surely, IBT could redirect its organizing resources to giving voice to those workers that desperately need union representation.”
TULSA, Okla. — An engineer killed in a fiery train collision in the Oklahoma Panhandle last year suffered from serious vision problems for much of his life, underwent several corrective procedures in the years leading up to the crash and even complained that he couldn’t distinguish between red and green signals, a doctor told a federal oversight board Tuesday.
Despite his failing vision, the engineer continued driving freight trains and was guiding one of the ones that collided June 24, 2012, near town of Goodwell, killing him and two other railroad workers and causing about $15 million in damage.
Read the complete story at the Associated Press.
National Labor College’s Alumni Association has named Marc A. Norberg – who graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor Studies – Alumni of the Year. Marc is the Assistant to the General President of SMART (Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union). Read about it here.
The following students have been awarded scholarships from the United Transportation Union Insurance Association for 2013-2014 academic year. Fifty continuing $500 scholarships are awarded each year to UTUIA policyholders, their sons, daughters and grandchildren.
District 1:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Conor W. Patak, son of William J. Patak of Local 898, Boston, Mass.; Robert A. Quinn, grandson of Avido R. Quinn of Local 645, Babylon, N.Y.; Kelsey M. Clarke, daughter of William A. Clarke of Local 277, Hartford, Conn.; Tim Wolff, grandson of Lawrence E. Wolff of Local 645, Babylon, N.Y.
District 2:
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
John M. Gennuso, grandson of Ronald L. Fell of Local 1390, Trenton, N.J.; Alexa C. Bell, daughter of Carmen J. Bell of Local 1379, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Kelsey L. Firlein, daughter of Brian K. Firlein of Local 1378, Wilmington, Del.; Stephen J. Spruell, grandson of Wayne E. Miller of Local 340, Connellsville, Pa.; Victoria R. Evick, granddaughter of Samuel L. Wagoner of Local 631, Brunswick, Md.
District 3:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Kimberly A. Papa, granddaughter of Larry J. Batten of Local 48, Norfolk, Va.; Carim M. Adams, granddaughter of Robert J. Adams of Local 1106, Rocky Mount, N.C.; William T. Winfrey, son of William D. Winfrey of Local 753, Memphis, Tenn.; Richard C. Kilpatrick, grandson of James D. Chappell of Local 974, Nashville, Tenn.; Kara R. Burcham, daughter of Robert E. Burcham of Local 62, Huntington, W. Va.; Landon E. Turbyfill, grandson of Paul E. Emert of Local 750, Knoxville, Tenn.; Nicole L. Goins, granddaughter of Billy G. Vaughn of Local 118, Hinton, W. Va.; Madison L. Johnston, granddaughter of Ollie I. Caines of Local 1105, Wilmington, N.C.; Abbey N. Volpenhein, daughter of Andrew J. Volpenhein of Local 1190, Ludlow, Ky.; Kristen P. Looney, granddaughter of Jack D. Gatlin of Local 1053, Selma, Ala.; Joey L. Luiso, step-son of Ben R. Evans of Local 1557, Memphis, Tenn.
District 4:
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
Meredith J. Liedtke, step-daughter of Timothy W. Rasgaitis of Local 6666, North Olmsted, Ohio; Kaylee L. Ogle, granddaughter of Ronald Ringlein of Local 1709, Pontiac, Mich.; Derek A. Coffey, grandson of John W. Case of Local 145, Columbus, Ohio; Jesse A. Tomlin, grandson of William A. Tomlin of Local 14, Cincinnati, Ohio; Nick R. Bramel, grandson of Larry J. Gabbard of Local 14, Cincinnati, Ohio; Hansen J. Mechling, son of Eric L. Mechling of Local 1202, Fort Wayne, Ind.
District 5:
Illinois, Wisconsin
Michael A. Cook, son of Michael F. Cook of Local 583, Fond du Lac, Wis.; Kelsey E. Johnson, granddaughter of Ronald E. Mosby of Local 469, Madison, Ill.; Stephanie J. Baxter-Ivey, daughter of Allen F. Ivey II of Local 1534, Chicago, Ill.; Breanna P. Seaton, granddaghter of Jimmie J. Stanberry of Local 768, Decatur, Ill.
District 6:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Morgan T. Fiorello, daughter of Gerald J. Fiorello of Local 1066, New Orleans, La.; Abraham L. Rutherford, son of Larry R. Rutherford of Local 1904, Houston, Texas; Laura B. Gibbon, daughter of Daniel R. Gibbon of Local 937, Mart, Texas; Shelby P. Vandeventer, granddaughter of Robert F. Robinson of Local 949, Sherman, Texas; Tyler J. Cribbs, grandson of Joe H. Odom of Local 950, West Memphis, Ark.
District 7:
Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
Alexander C. Elston, step-son of Gaylord W. Solberg of Local 934, Alliance, Neb.; Shane D. Sams, step-son of John S. Bartlett of Local 763, Pittsburg, Kan.; Jenna L. Blad, daughter of Matthew C. Blad of Local 44, Phillipsburg, Kan.; Devon M. Keith, son of Robert E. Keith Jr. of Local 763, Pittsburg, Kan.; Candace A. Shacklette, granddaughter of Norbert J. Shacklette of Local 1823, St. Louis, Mo.; Natalie R. Johnson, grandaughter of Warren W. Johnson of Local 1292, Proctor, Minn.
District 8:
Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah
Matthew T. Dutro, son of William J. Dutro of Local 202, Denver, Colo.; Dylan C. O’Donoghue, grandson of Denis J. O’Donoghue of Local 240, Los Angeles, Calif.; Kahlil L. Bausley, son of Lujen Bausley of Local 1564, Los Angeles, Calif.; Bailey E. McAndrews, granddaughter of James P. McAndrews of Local 771, Needles, Calif.; Frank I. Benitez, son of Eliceo Benitez of Local 1563, El Monte, Calif.; Joseph C. Shelley, son of Michael P. Shelley of Local 1168, Clovis, N.M.
District 9:
Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Austin M. Spicer, son of James P. Spicer of Local 1348, Centralia, Wash.; Laura M. Webb, daughter of Matthew T. Webb of Local 324, Seattle, Wash.; Teal A. Hatten, granddaughter of James F. Hatten of Local 544, Havre, Mont.
Los Angeles County bus drivers say they are regularly becoming ill — sometimes while behind the wheel — from pesticides sprayed inside their vehicles by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
At least 14 Metro drivers are pursuing workers’ compensation claims, and more than 110 have signed a petition that demands a halt to the spraying, according to their attorney. Some operators are on medical leave, and a few say they have left Metro because of repeated exposure.
Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times.
BNSF Railway Co. expects to begin moving unit trains of crude oil from a Carlsbad, N.M., transload facility later this year after an expansion project is completed at the facility.
The project at the Cetane Energy L.L.C.-owned facility calls for adding track to accommodate unit train loading, and creating additional rail-car loading stations and a long-term crude-oil gathering system.
Read the full story at Progressive Railroading.
Gordon Bowe doesn’t become personal friends with all of his passengers.
But after more than three decades of walking the aisles as a conductor on Metra trains to and from Chicago, Bowe, known by many as “Gordo,” has come to know those who ride the trains from Elburn through La Fox and Geneva, sometimes more than they may know.
Read the full story at Kane County Chronicle.