Category Archives: TCU Blog

Rail Labor and Management Continue Calls For Increased Funding For Railroad Retirement Board

A joint letter was written to Congress from the Rail Labor Division (RLD) of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member and the Association of American Railroads (AAR), requesting full funding of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The letter reads: On behalf of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and

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FreightCar America sends Carmen jobs to Mexico

For immediate release  |  Contact: Kevin Gifford, TCU Communications Director, 301-840-8741, giffordk@tcunion.org On September 19th, FreightCar America [“FCA”], a manufacturer of freight rail car rolling stock, announced their intentions to begin manufacturing operations in Castanos, Mexico. In a joint venture with Fasemex, a Mexican manufacturing and servicing company, FCA will begin operations by mid-2020. This

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Litigation Update – In Light of New Jersey Law, Third Circuit Reinstates FELA Award Holding NJ Transit No Longer Possesses Sovereign Immunity

On August 29, 2019, in Robinson v. NJ Transit, the Third Circuit Federal Court of Appeals found that NJ Transit was not an “arm of the state.” This occurred because, on June 26, 2019, the New Jersey General Assembly passed New Jersey P.L. 2019, c.137, named the “New Jersey Transit Corporation Employee Protection Act” (Act).

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FRA Denies CSX’s Request for Relief from Brake System Safety Standards

CSX Transportation (CSX) recently petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a waiver of compliance from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations regarding the testing and inspecting of air brakes for trains traveling over 1,000 miles but are not designated as extended haul trains under § 232.213. More specifically, CSX requested relief from

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Emergency Resources for Those Impacted by Hurricane Dorian

The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan insurance companies are offering emergency resources to those impacted by Hurricane Dorian. They released information on details and contact numbers for affected individuals in need of emotional support, prescription supplies, vision wear, dental, medical care and more. HealthAdvocate services are available to help locate in-network providers in

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Rail Hazmat Chemical/Emergency Response Training Programs

The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program is funded by a federal grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to provide hazmat training to rail workers. This five-day hazmat training course will provide rail workers the essential knowledge, skills, and response actions in the case of an unintentional release. These tools will

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