Category: Alumni Association
Union membership slips after anti-labor attacks
The percentage of American workers in labor unions took an unusually large fall in 2012, dropping to 11.3 percent last year from 11.8 percent in 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced. The total number of union members also took an unusually big drop, by 400,000, to 1 [...]Contacting Railroad Medicare when a beneficiary dies
Handling the affairs of a deceased family member can be a difficult task. But like estate planning, it’s important to prepare in advance. Medicare law prevents contractors from disclosing information and updating records for a deceased beneficiary without appropriate document [...]RRB awards Palmetto GBA new Medicare contract
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has once again awarded its Medicare contract to Palmetto GBA, which will continue to handle Medicare Part B claims for Railroad Retirement beneficiaries. The award, which was announced Sept. 28, names Palmetto as the Railroad Specialty Medi [...]
Early rail retiree insurance cap rises in 2013
UTU members and their dependents insured under the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA) Plan (GA-46000) will have their lifetime maximum amount of coverage increased, effective Jan. 1. ERMA is a comprehensive benefits plan for employees wh [...]UTU political strength praised in retirement fight
Among the numerous political challenges facing working families is preservation of Railroad Retirement and Social Security, which are both under attack by political conservatives. As the UTU’s Portland, Ore., regional meeting commenced June 18, the labor member of the Railroa [...]Memorial service for former Local 318 officer Hagen
A memorial service will be held May 7 at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Susquehanna Depot, Pa., for retired former Local 318 Legislative Rep. Robert A. Hagen, who died April 16. The address of the church is 695 Jackson Ave. Hagan had also served as vice local chairpers [...]Former Canadian officer Dennis Schweitzer dies
Dennis J. Schweitzer, former chairperson of the UTU’s Canadian Legislative Board and the Ontario Provincial Legislative Board, died April 4. A member of the former UTU Local 472 at Windsor, Ontario, Schweitzer, 64, had also served as vice chairperson of the Canadian Workers’ [...]