Rail Industry News
BNSF, Caterpillar, Chevron to pilot hydrogen-powered locomotive
BNSF, Progress Rail and Chevron U.S.A., Inc., have teamed on a locomotive pilot to “confirm the feasibility and performance of hydrogen fuel for use as a viable alternative to traditional fuels for line-haul rail.”
COVID-19 vaccine mandates and Unemployment and Sickness Benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
The Railroad Retirement Board has prepared a list of frequently asked questions regarding those situations in which an employer’s vaccine mandate has adversely affected an employment situation.
Q&A: Reporting events than can affect Railroad Retirement benefits
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
NS to STB: “Service levels do not meet our customers’ or our expectations
In a Nov. 23 letter submitted to NS Chairman and CEO James A. Squires, STB Chairman Oberman wrote that NS’s recent key operating metrics “are hovering far below 2019 comparables.” For the second reporting week of November 2021 vs. the same period in 2019, he noted a “marked decline” in average train speed for manifest service.
CP, KCS close into voting trust
Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CP”) today announced the completion of its acquisition of Kansas City Southern (“KCS”). The transaction represents an enterprise value of approximately US$31 billion. KCS stockholders will receive 2.884 CP common shares and US$90 in cash for each share of KCS common stock held and US$37.50 in cash for each share of KCS preferred stock held.
Michigan lawmakers introduce train crew size legislation
Two Democratic state lawmakers in Michigan have introduced legislation that would require freight trains to have at least two individuals operating them. State Rep. Tim Sneller introduced H.B.5596 and Sen. Erika Geiss introduced S.B. 767 on Dec. 2. Both bills have been referred to their respective transportation committees.
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board releases report on fatal Montreal yard accident
A jerk caused by slack action, following a sudden brake application, resulted in a railroad crewman falling from a car he was riding in a fatal January accident at Canadian National’s Pointe-Saint-Charles Yard in Montreal, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada determined in a report released Monday.
MTA to retire 1960s-era R-32 subway cars
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) last week announced the retirement of its 1960s-era R-32 trains — nicknamed the Brightliners — after 58 years in service.
CP Rail provincial tax exemption should end, Sask. officials say
Saskatchewan’s Conservative Members of Parliament are calling on the federal government to remove an exemption for Canadian Pacific Railway from various Saskatchewan provincial taxes. CP Rail is seeking $341 million in tax refunds, citing an 1880 agreement that exempted the railway from paying provincial taxes.
Buttigieg visits New Hampshire to talk passenger rail
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Manchester on Monday to talk about the future of passenger rail in New Hampshire and promote the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Flying without wings: The world’s fastest trains
As the world faces up to climate change, short-haul flights look increasingly unattractive to many travelers. The flygskam (flight shame) phenomenon that started in Scandinavia is already inspiring many travelers to reduce their reliance on airlines.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
COVID-19 vaccine mandates and Unemployment and Sickness Benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA)
The Railroad Retirement Board has prepared a list of frequently asked questions regarding those situations in which an employer’s vaccine mandate has adversely affected an employment situation.
Q&A: Reporting events than can affect Railroad Retirement benefits
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family.
Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance taxes in 2022
The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2022, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will include a surcharge of 3.5 percent, reflecting increased unemployment claims due to the pandemic.
Get the latest labor news from the Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters updates the news section of its website each day with the latest regarding the Teamsters, domestic and global labor and trade issues, state and living wage battles, social justice, the War on Workers, and many other important...
Q&A: Reporting events than can affect Railroad Retirement benefits
Rights to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act also carry responsibilities for reporting events that may affect the payment of these benefits to the employee or to members of the employee’s family.
Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance taxes in 2022
The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2022, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will include a surcharge of 3.5 percent, reflecting increased unemployment claims due to the pandemic.
KCS stockholders approve merger with CP
Kansas City Southern (“KCS”) announced that the Company’s stockholders have voted to approve the previously announced combination with Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (“CP”) at today’s virtual Special Meeting of Stockholders (“Special Meeting”). Of the 64.5 million shares voting at the Special Meeting, approximately 99.6% were cast in favor of the adoption of the proposed merger agreement.
BLET News
Officers of BLET Division 48 endorse Tentative National Contract
The President and Local Chairman of BLET Division 48 in St. Louis, Mo., have endorsed the Tentative National Contract and are encouraging their members also to vote YES on the deal.
Reminder: Replacement ballots available for Tentative National Agreement
Ballots for the BLET’s Tentative National Agreement were mailed to members on November 9, 2017, and those who haven’t received theirs by now should contact the National Division for a replacement ballot.
UP-Central Region BLET members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
By Ronnie E. Rhodes, General Chairman On October 6, I attended a meeting in Cleveland where the current Tentative National Agreement was reviewed by all the BLET General Chairmen. I supported the National President’s decision to put this agreement before the membership for a ratification vote. I want you to be informed when your ballots arrive so I will lay out the facts in an attempt to help you make an informed decision.
All CBG union members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a statement from BLET Pennsylvania State Legislative Board Chairman Ken Kertesz urging all Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) union members to vote YES on the Tentative National Agreement. Brother Kertesz is a former Vice General Chairman on the Delaware & Hudson/CP Rail General Committee of Adjustment.
North Little Rock Brothers support Tentative National Contract
A group of members from North Little Rock, Ark., has written to express their support of the BLET’s Tentative National Agreement. These Brothers are Union Pacific locomotive engineers.
NS-Northern Lines General Chairman applauds Tentative National Agreement
The following is a letter from Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines/W&LE/CF&E General Chairman Dewayne Dehart in support of the Tentative National Agreement.
UP-SR GCA members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a letter from Union Pacific -outhern Region General Chairman Dana Marlow and his Vice General Chairmen encouraging their members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Agreement.
BNSF/MRL GCA members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a letter from General Chairman Jerry LaPrath in support of the tentative national agreement to all members of the BNSF/MRL General Committee of Adjustment dated October 27, 2017.
I’m voting YES on Tentative National Agreement
By James H. Dixon, BLET Division 62 Dear Brother Pierce: My thanks to you and your team for the Town Hall Meeting in Houston (October 25) to explain the new agreement proposal being considered. I arrived opposed to it and departed in support of it.
Video: BLET Town Hall Meeting
On November 7, 2017, the BLET National Division hosted a Town Hall Meeting regarding the Tentative National Agreement. More than 100 members and officers were in attendance, including representatives from BLET, SMART TD, and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA). To help all BLET members make an informed decision about the agreement, a video of BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce’s presentation at the Town Hall is being made available online.
