The House Committee on Appropriations’ Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee recently passing the fiscal year 2012 budget, which would effectively eliminate state-supported and long-distance Amtrak train service. In light of this, TCU and Rail Labor have partnered with the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) and other groups to help educate the riding public
The U.S. Senate confirmed Walter A. Barrows to serve as the Labor Member of the Railroad Retirement Board. Barrows currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS). President Barack Obama nominated Barrows for the RRB Labor Member position in March of 2011. Regarding Barrows and other nominees, President Obama said: “I am
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction—or “Super Committee”—is working on Capitol Hill to craft a bill aimed at slashing the U.S. budget deficit by $1.5 trillion or more by 2021. The U.S. Congress must pass a deficit reduction bill by January 2012 or there will be mandatory reductions across the board. Several proposals are
Beginning September 26, 2011, Railroad Enrollment Services will begin mailing the annual enrollment packages to eligible Railroad employees for coverage under The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (H&W Plan). Enrollment in the H&W Plan will provide coverage for railroad employees and their eligible dependents effective January 1, 2012. The enrollment period for the
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) announced the retirement of V.M. Speakman. V. M. Speakman Jr. was appointed Labor Member of the Board by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 upon the recommendation of the Railway Labor Executives’ Association (RLEA). The agency’s longest-serving Labor Member, he was reappointed to additional terms of office by President Clinton
Amtrak, highway and transit programs would take a big hit in the proposed FY 2012 Transportation-HUD spending bill released Wednesday by House appropriators. Overall, the bill would provide $217 million less than current levels and $19.8 billion less than Obama requested. While the Transportation Department would receive a modest increase in discretionary funds, Amtrak, highway
Pictured is Assistant National Representative Randy Bower presenting the TCU Disaster Relief Checks to TCU Members Wallin, Hansen, Holter and Maki. On Wednesday, August 10, 2011, Lodge 6440 Local Chairman Darren Treiber and Assistant National Representative Randy Bower met with members Jeremy Holter, Brent Wallin, Jeff Hansen and Kevin Maki, who lost their homes as
TCU Local Lodge 5093 received two MNPL Awards Of Excellence for 2010. The awards of excellence are presented to TCU/IAM Local Lodges for outstanding Contribution to MNPL. Local 5093 received: Top Percentage of Sponsoring Members in 2010 (giving $25.00 or more per year) Top Local Lodge in Dollars per Member in 2010 TCU National Representative Joe
WE ARE FACING THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT TO AMTRAK’S EXISTENCE IN MANY YEARS! Congressman John Mica, a Florida Republican, has opposed Amtrak’s existence for more than fifteen years. But now, because the Republicans won the House of Representatives in the last election, he has become Chairman of one of the most powerful committees in Congress.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently continued its partisan attack on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by approving a bill to prohibit the NLRB from doing its job of protecting workers and their right to bargain collectively. The so-called “Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act” (HR 2587) prohibits the NLRB from
