Tag Archives: rail workers

TCU and TTD Joint Letter Gets Results – CDC Issues New Mask Mandate For U.S. Travelers on Airlines, Trains and all Public Transportation

Beginning Monday February 1st, travelers and commuters will be required to wear face masks on nearly all forms of public transportation as part of a new order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). TCU joined with the TTD affiliate unions requesting a mask mandate on all Department of Transportation regulated (DOT) modes.

Read More

House Committee includes pro-rail worker provisions in INVEST in America Act

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee recently passed the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 2). The bill will now go to the House floor for consideration. Amtrak The bill authorizes a record $29.3 billion over five years in grants supporting Amtrak, while including numerous provisions to help Amtrak workers in their fight to be treated

Read More

Rail shippers to Congress: PSR, demurrage are killing us

Last Thursday, the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials held a roundtable discussion with various railroad customers to hear their concerns with recent business policy initiatives of the railroads, including Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) and increased demurrage rates. Many of the concerns raised by customers are similar to those expressed by TCU and

Read More

CBS News affiliate interviews TCU’s Kevin Loftin on PSR, train safety

On Tuesday, Salt Lake City’s KUTV CBS News local affiliate published an investigative news piece on Union Pacific’s Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) model and its impact on safety, including the derailment of several trains in western states.  TCU Carmen National Representative Kevin Loftin was interviewed throughout the program, and highlighted the importance of having adequate

Read More

TCU & IAM District 19 safety survey on “Precision Scheduled Railroading”

Today, TCU and the IAM’s District 19 are announcing the rollout of a survey tool for union members to tell their stories with regards to the safety impacts of “Precision Scheduled Railroading” (PSR), the Class 1’s new operating model. The goal of this survey is to collect data and information on unsafe practices being deployed,

Read More

TCU Members Vote!

This election is crucial for TCU/IAM members as we have a chance to elect our friends that will write critical legislation next Congress. On the ballot this November are a number of key issues for TCU/IAM members: Railroad Jobs (Clerks, Carmen, Intermodal, and others) Amtrak Jobs (Clerks, On-board Service, Carmen, and Supervisors), Long-Distance Train Service,

Read More

FRA to renew Rail Safety Advisory Committee

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced that it will be re-establishing the Rail Safety Advisory Committee – commonly known as ‘RSAC.’ The committee’s charter was recently dissolved in order to redesign the charter’s memberships and voting-eligibility. Rail labor unions have been assured that their voting ability and weights will not be reduced. Rather, the

Read More

TTD: Freight rail safety, jobs must not be jeopardized in pursuit of profits

The following is an article by Transportation Trades Department (TTD, AFL-CIO) President Larry Willis. TCU/IAM is an affiliate of TTD’s Rail Labor Division.   SEP 20, 2018 MOVEAMERICA BLOG, RAIL FREIGHT RAIL SAFETY, JOBS MUST NOT BE JEOPARDIZED IN PURSUIT OF PROFITS By Larry I. Willis There is little disagreement among lawmakers, frontline workers, government agencies, and even

Read More

Railroads to Congress: Industry depends on international trade

On Tuesday, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) sent a letter to leaders of the Congressional committees with trade jurisdiction. The letter urges them to consider the effect of renegotiating NAFTA on the railroad industry. AAR President Ed Hamberger wrote, “approximately 50,000 rail jobs and more than $5.5 billion in annual wages and benefits…depend directly

Read More

Trump budget guts Amtrak long distance…again

For the second year in a row, President Trump’s budget calls for Amtrak funding to be cut in half. This year’s budget again asks to cut funding from the current $1.495 billion to $738 million in FY19. And though the math is the same, the Administration’s goals have apparently changed. Last year’s budget simply called

Read More