Category: News

New RRB labor member; NMB nominees await Senate

September 28, 2011 WASHINGTON – A former secretary-treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen – Walt Barrows – is the new labor member of the Railroad Retirement Board following his Senate confirmation Sept. 27. He succeeds Butch Speakman, who chose to retire. Barrows began his railroad [...]

Tags Harry Hoglander, Linda Puchala, National Mediation Board, Railroad Retirement Board, Thomas Beck, Walt Barrows

Court orders FMCSA to consider UTU concerns

September 26, 2011 By Calvin StudivantAlternate Vice President, Bus Department In late August, a federal appeals court vacated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s final rule requiring electronic onboard recorders. The court said the rule does not sufficiently protect drivers from [...]

Tags Calvin Studivant, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, Local 1715, Local 172, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, on-board recorders

Door reopened slightly on high-speed rail funding

September 22, 2011 WASHINGTON – Just when federal funding for high-speed rail appeared dead as a rusted rail spike, Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois exercised his clout and reopened the door – if only slightly. On Sept. 20, the Senate Transportation Appropriations Committee vote [...]

Tags Amtrak, high-speed rail

New rail rate tables now posted online

September 21, 2011 The standard basic daily and mileage rates of pay negotiated under the new national rail contract are now available at smart-union.org/td/. The rate tables pertain to employees in the crafts of conductor, yardman, brakeman, engineer and fireman/hostler who are covered by the [...]

Tags rate tables, rates of pay

Congress and the road ahead

September 21, 2011 By James StemUTU National Legislative Director Congress is back from its August recess and eyes are focused on the “Super Committee” of House and Senate members charged with finding $1.5 trillion in budget cuts over the next 10 years. Should that committee fail to agree ̵ [...]

Tags Congress, James Stem

UTUIA helps provide secure retirements

September 20, 2011 How long will you live after you retire, and will you have enough money to live on comfortably? Good question. That’s why – before you retire – you should think about post-retirement economic security, because few things could be worse than money running out [...]

Begin your document search early

September 20, 2011 To apply for Railroad Retirement or Social Security benefits, you must provide certain information, and it is suggested you begin the process at least three months prior to your anticipated retirement date. You will need the following information to register successfully for [...]

Continuing income a concern for retirees

September 20, 2011 After a lifetime of hard work, UTU rail, bus and airline members look forward to a secure retirement. In an ideal world, it would be that simple. In the real world, careful planning and attention to detail are essential. Topping the list of retirement concerns are money and h [...]

Funding lapse will halt RLA Section 3 cases Sept. 30

September 20, 2011 WASHINGTON – Most Railway Labor Act Section 3 arbitration cases will grind to a halt Sept. 30 if Congress does not pass a new appropriation for the National Mediation Board. The federal government’s fiscal year ends Sept. 30 and Congress has not passed an appropriation to fun [...]

Tags National Mediation Board, NMB, Section 3

Death of young member puts family in distress

September 19, 2011 MARRERO, La. – CSX conductor Jonathan Batieste, 29, with a wife and four young daughters between the ages of three and 12, died unexpectedly Aug. 22 following a motorcycle accident. Batieste, a member of UTU Local 1066 in New Orleans, signed on with CSX just 13 months ago. He [...]

Tags Gary Devall, Jonathan Batieste, Local 1066