Disability annuities for railroad employees

The Railroad Retirement Act provides disability annuities for railroaders who become totally or occupationally disabled. Medicare coverage before age 65 is also available for totally disabled employees and those suffering from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or chronic ki [...]

Treasurers’ workshop scheduled for April

The UTU International is conducting a local treasurers’ workshop at its headquarters in North Olmsted, Ohio, April 23-25. Attendance is limited to 24 registrants. Those interested in attending the workshop should contact the office of the UTU director of updating/auditing dep [...]

UTU poll finds support for Amtrak

A public opinion survey done for the United Transportation Union found strong support for Amtrak in three conservative, Republican-dominated districts where service exists. Less than a quarter of respondents favored eliminating Amtrak funding. The survey focused on three dist [...]

Szabo: Our vision for high speed rail in America

The following message was sent to the UTU National Legislative Office from Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo: Whenever one is discussing an ambitious, long-term program, like our high speed and intercity passenger rail program, it is helpful to remind ourselves – and o [...]

Express Scripts/Medco’s packaging may change

Members who receive prescription medications through Express Scripts/Medco’s home-delivery pharmacy service may notice a change to their prescription bottle and its packaging beginning May 1. For those who are unaware, the companies merged last year. Members may notice differ [...]

Local 243 at Fort Worth hosting CPR class

Local 243 at Fort Worth, Texas, will be hosting a CPR class at its next monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. on April 23, according to member Steve Cline. SMART Transportation Division members who want to receive CPR-certified training should plan on attending. Members that complete [...]

UTU-SMART: ‘No knives on aircraft’

Airline passengers will soon be able to carry small knives, souvenir baseball bats, golf clubs and other sports equipment onto aircraft, and transportation workers represented by UTU-SMART and others are not happy about it. The new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) [...]

Amtrak celebrating National Train Day May 11

WASHINGTON – On Saturday, May 11, 2013, Amtrak will join communities across America to celebrate the importance of trains to their town at the sixth annual National Train Day. More than 200 communities are expected to host events at local train stations, railroad museums and [...]