Retired National Mediation Board arbitrator Roy J. Carvatta, known to many UTU general chairpersons, has died in Chicago at age 87. Carvatta served for many years as the NMB’s director of arbitration services, retiring in 1996. In an advisory posted by the NMB, it was s [...]
The Republican controlled Wisconsin state senate, with all Democrats still absent, passed a bill late Wednesday, March 9, stripping from public employees almost all collective bargaining rights. The vote was 18-1, with a lone Republican, Sen. Dale Schultz, voting “no.&# [...]
WASHINGTON — Amtrak reported March 9 that it has marked 16 consecutive months of ridership growth, and that February was the best on record, with 2.1 million passengers. “The ridership increase shows the continued popularity of rail travel and the need for continu [...]
Railroads, enjoying record profits, say they will invest $12 billion in improving their track and operations in 2011, a significant increase over the $10.7 billion spent on capital improvements in 2010. Additionally, the railroads say they will hire some 10,000 employees in 2 [...]
MADISON, Wis. — The Associated Press is reporting that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has softened his insistence that Wisconsin public employees give up nearly all collective bargaining rights. Tens of thousands of Americans — union and non-union — have been d [...]
WASHINGTON — U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California, the third-ranking House Republican, told McClatchey Newspapers March 8 that California should not be the recipient of additional federal funds for construction of a high-speed rail li [...]
Shortline holding company Watco is seeking regulatory approval to acquire 43.6 miles of track from Norfolk Southern in Alabama between Maplesville and Autauga Creek, and 10.1 miles of track between Autauga Creek and Montgomery for creation of a new shortline railroad. The new [...]
A BLET special representative was charged by the U.S. Justice Department March 8 in a continuing investigation into alleged corruption involving bribery. Thomas E. Miller, 64, of Dunlap, Tenn., was charged in a “criminal information” with one count of conspiracy t [...]
As right-wing extremist lawmakers in Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin continue their drive to push through anti-union legislation, a status-quo remains this week. But what is moving forward is a public revolt against the union busters. Almost $1 million in political donations from [...]
Donald F. “Monk” Markgraf, a former UTU general chairperson on Chicago & North Western Railway (now part of Union Pacific) died March 3 at age 81. A native of Antigo, Wis., Markgraf hired on at C&NW as a switchman in Milwaukee, and initially was a member o [...]
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