Transportation News

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All UTU locals must file Form 990

Local treasurers and other officers should be aware that all UTU locals are now required to file Internal Revenue Service Form 990 for fiscal year 2007. The form must be filed no later than May 15, 2008. Previously, locals that ordinarily received less than $25,000 in adjuste [...]

Let’s strengthen our DIPP fund

Brothers and Sisters: The UTU Discipline Income Protection Plan (DIPP) has remained steadfast in looking for ways to pay claims of participants. By contrast, other job benefit plans are looking for ways to AVOID paying claims. A pattern of harsh discipline imposed by the carr [...]

We busted the pattern!

By Mike Futhey UTU International President Brothers and Sisters: The tentative national agreement with BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific, which you will vote on soon, was hammered out in an intense two-day bargaining session Jan. 22-23 becau [...]

Leadership message: Jan. 18

Brothers and Sisters: We know our rail members employed by BNSF, CSX, KCS, NS and UP are anxious about the status of talks with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC). The talks resume Jan. 22 in Jacksonville, Fla. It has been a year since the UTU and the NC [...]

Leaders report: Week one

Brothers and Sisters: This is another in a series of what will be many leadership messages to our membership. Our first week in office involved: Familiarizing ourselves with the day-to-day operation of the International; Assessing the financial condition of the UTU and the UT [...]

Let them explain themselves

By UTU International President Mike Futhey In spite of a federal court ruling Dec. 27 that UTU members were provided insufficient — and even misleading — information regarding the proposed merger with the Sheet Metal Workers’ union, seven current members of [...]

With new year comes new opportunities, hope

By Vic BaffoniVice President, Bus Department As we enter the new year, we must be on the lookout for new opportunities to organize the unorganized, increase financial resources and gain political power. We also must take advantage of new training and educational opportunities [...]

A new year, a new start

Brothers and Sisters: The membership of our union spoke through their delegates last August and chose a new team to lead us forward in these challenging times for labor unions. We accept that challenge and pledge today — as we pledged in August — to move the Unite [...]

Your family needs you so exercise, live right

By Dr. Norman BrownUTU Medical Consultant Baseball legend Mickey Mantle once joked, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” I wish more of us, including myself, would look into their crystal balls of the future and find themse [...]

Proving negligence under FELA

FELA Update By Mark Allen Coordinator of UTU Designated Legal Counsel The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) was enacted by Congress in 1908 to give railroad employees the right, under federal law, to recover damages from their employers for injuries occurring at w [...]