House Republicans are once again pushing a proposal to dismantle Amtrak, by carving up the national network and awarding private investors the right to build and operate high-speed rail service between Washington and Boston. While the highly profitable Northeast Corridor would be privatized under the GOP plan, less profitable routes would remain part of the
In a letter to Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), TCU expressed support for retiree health coverage currently before the Senate. The bill would provide an additional five billion dollars in funding for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. “Insurance for older Americans is more than four times more expensive than coverage for young
When the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled that Boeing violated the law by transferring thousands of jobs from its unionized facilities in Washington to its non-union plant in South Carolina, Congressional Republicans were furious. They immediately retaliated by introducing legislation to reverse the decision and to defund the agency. “The NLRB makes a
In a letter sent to the Senate by TCU/IAM President Bob Scardelletti, he voiced his strong concern in opposing S. 49, the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2011. In the letter President Scardelletti states, “This bill, if passed, would cause dual and possibly conflicting oversight of the railroads by the Surface Transportation Board (STB)
Most Republicans in the House of Representatives voted today to strip the rights of rail and airline workers at the behest of their corporate buddies. Namely FedEx and Delta Airlines whose employees are currently attempting to join unions. Word on the hill is the Republicans who gutted our rights are in line for substantial contributions
A Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state’s new and contentious collective bargaining law from taking effect, a measure that drew tens of thousands of protesters (including TCU members) to the state Capitol and sent some Democrats fleeing to Illinois in an attempt to block a vote on it. The judge’s order
Transportation Trades Department (TTD), of which TCU is a member, President Ed Wytkind Testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee field hearing March 11, 2011. The hearing titled “Finding Ways to Encourage and Increase Private Sector Participation in Passenger Rail Service” again focused on ways to privatize
TCU President Bob Scardelletti testified January 27 at a special hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I). The hearing was held at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The hearing was called by new T&I Chairman John Mica (R-FL), a longtime fierce critic of Amtrak, who replaced one of
Walter A. Barrows is currently the Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) since 1999. Click here to read the release from the White House.
TCU President Bob Scardelletti sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood in support of the ten Northeastern Senators request to redirect the $2.4 billon in High-Speed Intercity Rail Passenger funds to the Northeast Corridor that were rejected by Governor Scott of Florida. “This would mark a major step forward in building the Northeast
