Category: Washington
Pacific Northwest sustainability advocates pick up on ECP benefits
An article published March 28 on the website of the Sightline Institute follows up on an Associated Press report from over the winter about the Department of Transportation’s repeal of the Federal Railroad Administration’s electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) [...]
Supreme Court: Part of lost wages award is taxable under Railroad Retirement Act
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court found that the portion of a damages award attributable to lost wages for a workplace injury is considered to be taxable compensation under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). The decision in BNSF Railway Co. v. Loos (No. 17-1042) was r [...]
Two large U.S. rail unions announce national two-person crew legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22, 2019) – Two large railroad unions in the United States have pledged their joint support for the Safe Freight Act legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Don Young (R – Alaska). The Safe Freight Act (H.R. 1748) requires that two certified crew mem [...]
FRA declares emergency because of Midwest flooding
Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald L. Batory has determined that the extreme flooding currently occurring throughout the Midwest United States constitutes an “emergency event” as related [...]FRA denies KCSR’s request to outsource brake tests to Mexico
In a victory for safety, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) denied a request by Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCSR) to outsource brake inspections to Mexico, the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) reports. “In its decision, the FRA correctly told KCSR th [...]
AFL-CIO TTD sets rail safety priorities at meeting
The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) on March 11 announced the railroad industry issues that the coalition of transportation unions, of which SMART Transportation Division is a member, will prioritize in the coming months. Of the highest importance, the [...]
Transportation labor announces eight key policies to promote safety, protect transit jobs in era of automation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to take seriously threats posed by automation, the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO on March 11 laid out eight principles for promoting safety, protecting the livelihoods of transit opera [...]
Deadline approaching for Union Pacific workers to apply for refunds
Certain Union Pacific (UP) workers who were employed by the carrier from 1991 to 2017 might get some money back in their pockets thanks to a ruling made in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. If they meet certain criteria and were taxed on particular st [...]