Category: Amtrak/Commuter

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View ‘UTU: Stronger Than Ever’ video

February 2, 2012 A short video explaining the benefits of UTU membership, which was presented at the 2011 UTU regional meetings and the 2011 quadrennial convention, is now available online at www.utu.org. The video notes the history of labor unions in the United States, which originated in th [...]

Tags collective barga, video

Patience, persistence will ensure HSR

January 23, 2012 In 2008, California voters authorized a $9.95 billion bond measure as a down-payment for a high-speed rail project linking the Sacramento (in northern California), the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles. The projected $98 billion route subsequently won $3.3 billion in fed [...]

Tags high-speed rail, Interstate Highways, Jerry Brown, Jim Oberstar

UTUIA now accepting scholarship applications

January 19, 2012 The UTUIA is now accepting scholarship applications for the UTU/UTUIA Scholarship Program. Information regarding the scholarship and the application process is below. The application form printed in the January edition of the UTU News is the official scholarship application f [...]

FRA seeks new passenger train safety rules

January 4, 2012 Improvements to existing passenger train emergency systems regulations have been proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The improvements are aimed at helping passengers and passenger-train crew members better locate and operate emergency exits during evacuations, an [...]

Tags Amtrak, passenger train

Wisconsin Rally; Wisconsin; Rally; protest

Indiana commencing new assault on labor unions

January 3, 2012 A new assault on labor unions is commencing in Indiana, with the Republican-controlled legislature setting their No. 1 2012 priority on passing right-to-work legislation that would permit workers covered under collective bargaining agreements to opt out of paying union dues. [...]

Tags collective bargaining defense fund, Indiana, Mitch Daniels, right-to-work

Yard safety: Don’t let winter claim limbs and lives

December 16, 2011 We are into the season of losing limbs and lives in yard accidents. More career-ending injuries and fatalities occur during winter months – even in warmer climates – than any other season of the year. Even veteran rails – not just new yard employees — lose their situati [...]

Random drug, alcohol test rates set for 2012

December 14, 2011 WASHINGTON – The Department of Transportation has ordered the following minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates for 2012: For workers in safety sensitive positions and whose safety is regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration o [...]

Tags alcohol tests, drug tests, random alcohol tests, random drug tests

Rail disability plan revisions effective Jan. 1

November 23, 2011 Revisions to the Anthem Voluntary Short Term Disability (VSTD) plan that better reflect the actual claims experience of our rail members and adjust to the prevailing market rate for this type of coverage will become effective Jan. 1, 2012. Revisions to the Lincoln National Li [...]

Congress OKs Amtrak, air, bus, transit funding

November 21, 2011 WASHINGTON — Congress, unable to agree on very much lately, has agreed on funding for Amtrak, bus transportation, commercial aviation and transit through Sept. 30, 2012. The funding is for fiscal year 2012, which began Oct. 1. Earlier, Congress agreed to legislation extending [...]

Tags air, Amtrak, bus, commercial air, Essential Air Service, FY 2012, transit

Locals announce holiday events

November 18, 2011 Two locals have placed holiday party announcements in the November issue of the UTU News, which may not reach all members in sufficient time to plan attendance. To ensure that members have advance notice of the upcoming get-togethers, see the listing of announcements below: L [...]