Category: News

Another UTU bus organizing win

September 7, 2011 PERRIS, Calif. – In the 24th organizing victory in 43 months, the UTU has added representation of additional employees of Southland Transit here. Following the lead of bus drivers and mechanics of Southland Transit, who voted “UTU, yes” in June, the company’s call center empl [...]

Tags Bonnie Morr, organizing, Southland Transit

Labor Day: For too many, another day without a job

September 6, 2011 UTU members participated in Labor Day events and parades nationwide, demonstrating that a healthy, energized and committed labor union movement is alive and well in America. In truth, there was not too much to celebrate. For too many Americans, this Labor Day was just another [...]

Tags Labor Day, unemployment

National rail contract ratified

September 2, 2011 A new national rail contract, delivering a 17 percent wage increase over 60 months (18.24 percent when compounded), a 78-month cap on health care insurance contributions, plus improvements in health care benefits, has been ratified by solid margins by UTU members in each of [...]

Tags National Rail Contract

Knowing you have high cholesterol is important

September 2, 2011 (The following message is provided by UnitedHealthcare) High cholesterol affects children, young adults and older individuals — and many do not know they have it because high cholesterol usually doesn’t present noticeable symptoms. However, it is a major risk factor for [...]

Tags cholesterol, health care; united healthcare, physician

National Rail Contract voting deadline: Sept. 2

August 31, 2011 The deadline for voting on the National Rail Contract is 4 p.m., Eastern time, Friday, Sept. 2. Votes may be cast by telephone around the clock. Voting packages, with information on the tentative agreement and voting instructions, including a telephone access code, were maile [...]

Tags National Rail Contract

Bus companies ordered to post organizing message

August 29, 2011 WASHINGTON — Employers, including union and non-union bus companies, covered by the National Labor Relations Act must now post notices on bulletin boards informing employees they have a right under federal law to organize and be represented by a labor union. The Nationa [...]

Tags National Labor Relations Act, National Labor Relations Board, NLRB, organizing

Court validates concern over bus-driver harassment

August 29, 2011 WASHINGTON – When UTU Bus Department Alternate Vice President Calvin Studivant was appointed to a 20-member congressionally created Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee earlier this summer, he was no shrinking violet. Studivant had serious concerns about a proposal by the [...]

Tags Calvin Studivant, electronic onboard recorders, EOBR, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, hours-of-service

2 crew members injuried in Mont. BNSF derailment

August 28, 2011 HAVRE, Mont. – Two unidentified BNSF crew members were injured here Aug. 28 when their 93-car freight train derailed, reports the Associated Press. The injuries were described as “not life-threatening.” The eastbound train from Spokane, Wash., to Minneapolis reportedly left a [...]

Tags BNSF, derailment, havre

UP track inspector dies in hi-rail accident

August 28, 2011 ABILENE, Kans. – A unidentified Union Pacific employee, operating a hi-rail vehicle, was killed in an accident here with a SUV at a highway-rail grade crossing, reports KAKE television news. KAKE reported the UP employee was driving the hi-rail vehicle westbound while inspect [...]

Tags abilene, hi-rail, killed, Union Pacific

Advice from a member’s spouse

August 25, 2011 Vivian Porretto, spouse of UTU member John Porretto (Local 597, Des Planes, Ill.), sent the following unsolicited comment to the International after reviewing with her husband the voting materials on the National Rail Contract, and making comparisons with other private- and p [...]

Tags John Porretto, National Rail Contract, Vivian Porretto