Transportation News

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Senators seek review of rail safety

WASHINGTON – Three senior Democratic senators have asked the General Accountability Office – informally known as the congressional watchdog – to review the state of railroad safety and how the Federal Railroad Administration, state rail safety agencies and other stakeholders [...]

No defense for violating worker rights

Even when railroads return workers to their jobs with full back pay after wrongly terminating them for suffering a workplace injury, significant monetary sanctions may still be imposed by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Case in [...]

Vote your job security, paycheck Nov. 6

Important links: Find your early vote location Voters’ Rights Voter information news: Why Obama-Biden deserve your vote Nov. 6 The unscripted Mitt Romney speaks his mind Democratic, GOP platforms compared Republicans, Romney & Ryan agree: Kill Amtrak Romney will del [...]

Republicans, Romney & Ryan agree: Kill Amtrak

The Republican National Convention has made it official and in writing – the Republican Party, its presidential candidate Mitt Romney and its vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan are in agreement to end all federal funding for Amtrak and high-speed rail. Romney previously si [...]

Previsich elevated to UTU No. 2 post

John Previsich has been elevated from International vice president to assistant president by the UTU Board of Directors, succeeding Arty Martin, who retires Sept. 1. UTU International President Mike Futhey said of Martin’s departure, “It is difficult to lose a talent like Art [...]

Romney will deliver on his promises

By International President Mike Futhey –  There is an old political saying: “If you stop lying about me, I’ll stop telling the truth about you.” When it comes to Mitt Romney, we don’t have to tell the truth about him. He already is telling the truth about himself. Here [...]

Regional meeting workshops improved skills

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New pact on Columbia & Cowlitz

Train and engine, mechanical and maintenance of way employees on Columbia & Cowlitz Railway in Washington state – all represented by the UTU — have ratified their first agreement since voting “UTU yes” in October 2011. They are members of UTU Local 1348. Negotiation [...]

Update on conductor certification

By Larry Mann, UTU Rail Safety Coordinator –  The FRA amended its conductor certification rules in February, delaying the time for testing conductors, extending the time for formulating training programs and amending the territorial qualification requirements. By Sept. [...]

IC yardmasters have tentative pact

UTU-represented yardmasters employed by Canadian National Railway’s Illinois Central Railroad have reached a new tentative agreement following mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board. A March tentative agreement was rejected by the membership, which will now vo [...]