Category: News

New deputy administrator at FRA

November 14, 2011 WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration’s chief legal counsel has been named deputy administrator – the agency’s number two position. Karen Hedlund succeeds Karen Rae, who departed to take a post in the administration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Hedlund had been a [...]

Tags Federal Railroad Administration, Karen Hedlund, Karen Rae

Merger update: Moving forward constructively

November 10, 2011 By UTU International President Mike Futhey “Stay calm and carry on” has always been the best advice during challenging times. It is appropriate advice for UTU members and employees as we move forward following the October 10 merger arbitration award. That arbitration ruling [...]

Tags arbitration award, Joe Nigro, merger, Mike Futhey, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, SMART, SMWIA

It’s time for flu and pneumonia vaccines

November 10, 2011 The head-cold and flu season is upon us, making it time to lower your risk of disease and illness by receiving a flu shot and pneumonia vaccine – and if you or your spouse is covered by Medicare, you won’t bear the cost and do not require a doctor’s referral. The flu shot is [...]

Tags flu, Medicare, Palmetto GBA, pneumonia

Conductor certification now a reality

November 9, 2011 WASHINGTON – It’s now official. Conductor certification, mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, became effective Jan. 1. In a final rule, published by the Federal Railroad Administration Nov. 9, railroads were ordered to implement, by Jan. 1, a formal trai [...]

Tags conductor certification, David Brooks, James Stem, John Lesniewski, John Risch, Larry Mann, Rail Safety Advisory Committee, ron Parsons, RSAC, Vinnie Tessitore

Ohio voters restore collective bargaining rights

November 9, 2011 Voters in Ohio overwhelmingly restored to public employees Nov. 8 their collective bargaining rights that a conservative majority in the state legislature – with support from Gov. John Kasich — chose to revoke earlier this year. The mean-spirited legislative attack on c [...]

Tags collective bargaining, collective bargaining defense fund, John Kasich, Ohio

UTU partners with Amtrak for training

November 8, 2011 The UTU, as a subcontractor to Amtrak, is in the final stages of developing a training manual – “Emerging Incidents Procedures” – for some 8,000 front-line Amtrak employees. “The manual will be used as part of Amtrak’s 2012 Block Training cycle to assist frontline employees a [...]

Tags Amtrak, Bruce Feltmeyer, Emerging Incidents Procedures, training manual

DOT ‘hero’ awards to 2 Amtrak conductors

November 4, 2011 Heroism has no timetable, no expectation, no formula. It is displayed instantaneously and accompanied only by rare courage. Enter, center stage, two UTU heroes – Amtrak conductors Richard d’Alessandro and Loxie Sanders – a couple of regular rails, represented by the UTU and s [...]

Tags Amtrak, DOT, heroes, Laurette Lee, Local 1525, Local 166, Loxie Sanders, Ray LaHood, richard d'alessandro

NS hiring conductors, other crafts

November 4, 2011 Norfolk Southern said Nov. 3 it intends to hire 500 employees by year end, and add another 2,600 employees in 2012 to meet growing demand for service and to replace those retiring. Hiring will be for conductors, as well as other crafts, including freight car repairers, machin [...]

Tags hiring, Norfolk Southern

UP lone “revenue adequate” railroad for 2010

November 4, 2011 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Surface Transportation Board has determined that only one major railroad – Union Pacific – was “revenue adequate” in calendar year 2010. A railroad is considered “revenue adequate” if it achieves a rate of return on net investment equal to at least the c [...]

Tags BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, revenue adequacy, STB, Union Pacific

Medicare Part B premium will rise in 2012

November 3, 2011 The Medicare Part B premium will rise by $3.50 monthly to $99.90 monthly beginning Jan. 1, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This is the first increase in the Part B premium in two years. For Medicare participants who first enrolled in 2010 and 20 [...]

Tags Medicare, Part B, Part D