News Archive
Union Retirees Launch Campaign To Protect Medicare
Alarmed by the House Congressional Leadership’s plans to dismantle Medicare, the Alliance for Retired Americans today kicked off a grass roots campaign to block any attempts to cut or convert guaranteed, earned health benefits into a voucher or privatized scheme. Speaker Paul [...]
New Unemployment Bill For PA Workers
Last month, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed PA HB 319 into law which will provide nearly 44,000 additional workers with with insurance in the event they lose their job or are unable to find new work opportunities. The legislation will ensure that workers, especia [...]
LACMTA increases security after bomb threat
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) increased security after having received a bomb threat Monday, Dec. 5. The threat warned of a possible attack at the Red Line subway’s Universal Station in Studio City, Calif. LACMTA is working with t [...]
Rail labor seeks federal mediation in national negotiations
On December 5, 2016, Rail Labor’s Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) released the following statement, requesting that a federal mediator assist in negotiations: “Despite our best efforts, collective bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads completely stalled la [...]
Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance Taxes in 2017
The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2017, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will continu [...]
FMCSA establishes national drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a final rule, Friday, Dec. 2, that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers. The clearinghouse database will serve as [...]Emotional Wellness This Holiday Season
In this informative Q&A that addresses common misconceptions related to mental health concerns during the holidays, Lisa Furst, LMSW, MPH, Assistant Vice President of Training and Quality Improvement at MHA-NYC, makes recommendations and provides supportive resources that [...]RRB: Medicare Part B premiums for 2017
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $134.00 in 2017. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not pay this amount. By law, Part B premiums for current enrollees cannot increase by more than the amoun [...]