After a grueling recount process, former Sen. Norm Coleman finally conceded defeat and congratulated Al Franken on his Senate victory in Minnesota. Franken is a longtime union member and supporter of workers’ rights. Sen. Franken is expected to take a seat on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, where he will play a
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis outlined, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, the President’s fiscal year 2010 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor. The budget builds on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, restoring worker protection programs; promoting an inclusive, green recovery; and ensuring
Health care reform is needed and who will pay for it is a major concern. Under consideration in Congress is the elimination or capping of the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored health coverage. Eliminating this exclusion would remove a major incentive for employers providing coverage and could undermine employee-sponsored coverage in general. Taxing benefits would cause
The Senate has decided not to bring S. 146 to a vote. This is what your swift action has brought about. Thanks to all who wrote their Senators, the Senate felt pressure to stop this vote and keep Railroad oversight where it belongs with the STB. Posted June 2, 2009
Linda A. Puchala has been confirmed by the Senate as a member of the National Mediation Board. She was the Sr. Mediator at the National Mediation Board. Puchala joined the National Mediation Board in May 1999, as a Mediator, working on both airline and railroad cases. She directs the Board’s training programs, develops and maintains
It’s time for Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. It’s time the economy worked for everyone. In a study released this week, Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, documents this in detail — including the increase in corporate tactics to interfere with, block and delay workers’ attempts
UTU Illinois State Legislative Director Joe Szabo has been confirmed by the Senate for the Federal Railroad Administration position as nominated by President Barack Obama. Szabo, a fifth-generation railroader, hired out with the Illinois Central (now part of Canadian National) in 1976. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) predicted, “Joe will bring his passion
A resolution, presented to the House of Representatives by Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), asks for support of National Train Day. With a statement that remembers Promontory Point and the “Golden Spike” the resolution brings back the thoughts of when the United States was coming together. Amtrak and intercity passenger rail were also credited as keeping
Clear support of high speed rail and Amtrak came from both sides of the aisle in the April 1, 2009 House Committee on Appropriations hearing to discuss the future of high speed rail, intercity passenger rail and Amtrak. “This is a breath of fresh air, just a few years ago we were talking about how
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) was a sponsor of the original Employee Free Choice Act in 2003, he supported the bill again in 2005 and voted against a Republican filibuster of it in 2007, but he recently announced that he would support a filibuster this year in an attempt to block the legislation from coming to
