I am addressing this to all railroad workers, retirees, widows, widowers and dependents who are covered under the Railroad Retirement Act. In 2001, on the floor of the House of Representatives, then Congressman Mike Pence, R-Ind., voted against the Railroad Retirement and Survivors Improvement Act. This was the bill that provided retirement at age 60
Wilmington, DE – Vice President Biden joined with Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Amtrak officials in announcing a new $2.45 billion loan to purchase up to 28 brand new state-of-the-art locomotives, upgrade track and improve stations throughout the Northeast Corridor. In addition, the new trainsets will be built at the Alstom manufacturing
The upcoming presidential election presents one of the starkest choices for union workers in our lifetimes. Hillary Clinton has proudly stood with union workers throughout her career. Donald Trump says he’s pro-worker – but everything in his public life suggests the opposite. It is no accident that every major labor union in America, including TCU/IAM,
Congress may force the Social Security Administration to cut back on services and furlough employees, according to the agency, which pointed to proposals in both the House and Senate to reduce its funding. Although not directly effecting Railroad Retirement, this is the thinking of Congressional members on retirement benefits and could paint a dim picture
The SMART Transportation Division is pushing for new legislation to ensure that freight trains are operated by two-person crews, including a certified conductor and a certifief engineer. TCU/IAM supports this legislation (H.R. 1763, the Safe Freight Act) introduced by long-time defender and supporter of railroads and rail labor, Rep. Don Young (R-AK). You can tell
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently released their second ‘State of the Industry’ report, which includes new research from Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI). For the first time ever, there is data available that quantifies the economic impact that railroads have on the American economy and the American landscape. The new data
President Obama announced today the nomination of Thomas Kotarac to serve as Chair of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Mr. Kotarac has been recently working as Deputy Director of Policy for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Prior to that he served as a Senior Aide to Senator Dick Durbin (IL) for eight years.
Earlier today, Hillary Clinton joined via phone to accept the endorsement from the AFL-CIO Executive Council. In her acceptance she reaffirmed her pledge to fight for working people, raise wages, invest in America, improve retirement security, and to defend the right to collectively bargain. With the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, Hillary Clinton has the
TCU is pleased that the International Trade Commission (ITC) has decided to move ahead with a Sec. 337 trade complaint filed by the U.S. Steel Corporation. The complaint alleges unfair and illegal trade practices by Chinese steel companies whose actions have contributed to the closing and/or shuttering of steel facilities and the loss of thousands
TCU Leaders Lobby Congress (clockwise from top left: Mitch Canter, Susan Harmon, Larry Jones, Greg Kocialski, Mark Taylor, Ron Kloos, Dennis Proulx, Bill Kelaher, Charles Jackson, Sal Rodriguez, Stephanie Reavis, Maggie Canter, Kevin O’Connell, Vernon Dove, Jeremy Fitzgerald) As part of the Machinists Legislative Conference, TCU leaders and representatives went to the Hill to lobby
