News Archive
RRB: Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance taxes in 2020
The amounts of compensation subject to Railroad Retirement Tier I and Tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2020, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will not inc [...]
More testimony needed in a fifth hearing on Ohio rail safety bill H.B. 186
State Legislative Director Stu Gardner reports that an additional round of testimony has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, in House Hearing Room 114 in the Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square in Columbus, regarding H.B. 186, a comprehensive railroad safety bill [...]
Enrollment period has been extended for new SMART VDP
The open-enrollment period for the new SMART TD Long-Term Voluntary Disability Plan (VDP)<strong? has been extended until Jan. 15, 2020. The high call volume that occurred as last week’s deadline approach allowed the negotiation of a longer period for members to take [...]
ERMA lifetime maximum benefit to increase in 2020
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA or GA-46000) Plan will increase from $166,400 to $171,100 beginning Jan. 1, 2020. At the end of 2001, labor and management had agreed on various procedures to adminis [...]
Local 1227 member killed in Kansas yard accident
Brother Chris Seidl of Local 1227 (Wichita, Kan.) was struck and killed by a train car the night of Dec. 3 while performing service in a yard in north Wichita. He was an employee of Wichita Terminal Association, which is jointly owned by BNSF and Union Pacific. He had been a [...]
Daughter of retired member talks about why unions matter in essay
“My daughter and her friend work for Grub Hub and live off tips,” said Donna, “and they live with me because there is no way that they can afford to live on their own.” Donna’s story hit me hard and here is why. My dad made a choice at 18 that if he was going […]
As holidays approach, a note from President Ferguson
Dear Brothers & Sisters: We are approaching the close of another year, and my thoughts grow stronger about each of you during this forthcoming holiday period. Your daily lifestyles, both personally and professionally, are demanding and sometimes conflictive. Giving them r [...]
Cheryl Sneed, former administrative assistant to Futhey, passes away
Cheryl Sneed, who worked in the office of the United Transportation Union for nearly four decades, including as an executive administrative aide in the President’s Department, passed away on Nov. 25, 2019. She was 66 years old. Cheryl started with the UTU in 1975 in the [...]