Rail Industry News
Amtrak, MTA join forces on mega rail infrastructure deal
The $2.87 billion effort would connect Metro-North Railroad to Penn Station in Manhattan.
Trains on Amtrak’s St. Louis-Chicago route now running at up to 90 mph
After a delay of more than three years, trains on Amtrak’s St. Louis to Chicago route are finally running regularly at speeds of up to 90 mph.
Willie Brown, head of SEPTA’s largest union, steps down
Willie Brown has stepped down as president of the Transport Workers Union Local 234 this week.
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...
BLET News
Signalmen become second CBG union to ratify new national agreement
Yesterday, the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced that the union’s members had ratified the new national agreement.
ATDA ratifies the national mediated collective bargaining agreement
The American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA), a partner union of the Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG), announced on November 27, 2017, that nearly two-thirds of its members voted for ratification of the national mediated collective bargaining agreement.
CP Rail members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a letter from General Chairman Pete Semenek, CP Rail-US/Metra North/Indiana Southern RR/DM&E GCA, to his Local Chairmen, urging them and all GCA members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Contract.
Thanksgiving 2017
By Dennis R. Pierce, BLET National President As we approach Thanksgiving, I ask our membership to join me in thanking those who are away from their families at this special time of year.
Can you spare less than two minutes to vote?
The following is a statement from BLET Missouri State Legislative Board Chairman Brian Kelley in support of the Tentative National Agreement.
Duplicate ratification ballot schedule for Thanksgiving weekend
Voting continues on the question of approving the Tentative National Agreement until 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 30th. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, the National Division Office will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th.
Dehart reelected NS-Northern Lines/CFE General Chairman
Dewayne L. Dehart was reelected to his second term as General Chairman of the BLET’s Norfolk Southern-Northern Lines/CF&E General Committee of Adjustment at the GCA’s quadrennial meeting in Indianapolis, Ind., September 30-October 2, 2017.
CSX Northern Lines members urged to vote YES on Tentative National Agreement
The following is a statement from CSX Northern Lines General Chairman Bill Lyons encouraging his members to vote in favor of the Tentative National Agreement.
BLET members to keep Health FSA plan for 2018
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will keep the Health Flexible Spending Account (Health FSA) through 2018 thanks to high enrollment levels in the money-saving plan.
GA-46000 Lifetime maximum adjusted for 2018
The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $157,800 to $162,500 on January 1, 2018.
