After the recent explosions by tanker cars carrying crude oil from North Dakota’s Bakken region, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx issued a “call to action” by railroads, the oil industry and ethanol producers to work with the department to ensure their products are safely transported by rail. “We’ve got to work with them to make sure we’re listening
A Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) issued its recommendations on December 21 to settle the 3-1/2 year old dispute between eight unions, including TCU, and the Long Island Rail Road. The Board, known as PEB 244, recommended a wage settlement totaling 18.4% over six years, or 2.9% a year. The Board’s wage recommendations are retroactive to
In a recent letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives from rail labor, supporting H.R. 3489, a bipartisan legislation, introduced by Representatives Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) which would repeal the current funding mechanism for the Transitional Reinsurance Program authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family. If these events are not reported, benefit overpayments can occur that have to be repaid, sometimes with interest and penalties. Events that can
President Barack Obama created Presidential Emergency Board 244 on Nov. 21 in an effort to resolve an impasse over contract negotiations between the Long Island Rail Road Co. (LIRR) and a coalition of unions. The coalition consists of TCU, SMART (UTU and SMWIA) and the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers/SEIU. The PEB put in
TCU joined with other Unions and Business in support of a bill introduced by Reps. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) that would end the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) reinsurance fee beginning in 2014. TCU has repeatedly worked to end the reinsurance tax that the ACA has placed on all health care plans. This
The contract provides excellent compensation gains for TCU members, more than 20% in wage increases plus a $3,000 signing bonus over its six-year term. The agreement rivals the historic national freight agreement in compensation produced, but employee contributions to health insurance are only introduced gradually on a staggered basis, not reaching national levels until the
Members covered under the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan, the Plan, still have an opportunity to enroll in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2014. Members who wished to enroll but failed to do so by the open enrollment deadline have until December 1, 2013 to enroll in the FSA for 2014. This
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, are scheduled to increase in January 2014 on the basis of the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2012 to the corresponding period of the current year. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the tier I and tier II benefits included
Railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2014 without having their benefits reduced as a result of increases in earnings limits indexed to average national wage increases. Like social security benefits, some railroad retirement benefit payments are subject to deductions if an annuitant’s earnings exceed certain exempt amounts. These earnings restrictions
