I hope this edition of the SMART Transportation Division News finds that all our members enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season. The SMART TD has been successful in recent organizing campaigns, adding new members to our union in general, and the bus department in particular. [...]
PORTLAND, Maine – A railroad that went bankrupt after a fiery oil train derailment killed 47 people last summer in Canada was sold at auction Tuesday to a subsidiary of a New York City-based investment management company. Railroad Acquisitions LLC, a subsidiary of Fortress In [...]
When Medicare began in the 1960s, it was the primary payer for all services except those covered by workers compensation. In 1980, Congress enacted provisions to shift costs from the Medicare program to private insurers, when possible. This legislation stopped Medicare from m [...]
Bipartisan legislation introduced on Friday by Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) would establish a $50 billion fund to promote job creation and enhance the nation’s ability to maintain and update its infrastructure. The Partnership to Build America Act woul [...]
Word has just leaked out of the State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa that the Koch Boys are talking to severely wounded Republican Governor Corbett to move legislation this winter and spring to outlaw union dues deduction for all state and local public employees. It is the same ki [...]
Last month, a Metro-North Railroad train plunged off the track while taking a sharp curve at 82 miles per hour, killing four and seriously injuring 20. In the aftermath, some experts said the disastrous results could have been prevented by positive train control (PTC). An aut [...]
The following message was sent to the UTU National Legislative Office from Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo. Friends, I wanted to share with you a rail safety achievement from 2013 that really meant a lot to me. Last year, only one railroad employee died during switch [...]
FARGO, North Dakota — North Dakota’s two senators took turns peppering two BNSF executives Saturday on the railroad company’s plans to prevent another train derailment like last month’s crash and fire near Casselton. The Dec. 30 collision that happened when [...]
OMAHA, Neb. – Another job fair for veterans and their spouses will be held in Omaha. The Hiring Our Heroes program organizing the job fairs nationwide is trying to help veterans transition into civilian life. Read the complete story at Greenfield Daily Reporter.
Labor unions are funneling cash to a super-PAC tied to a former lawmaker that is working to elect centrist Republicans to Congress. Unions have contributed about $765,000 so far to the Defending Main Street Super-PAC, which is associated with former GOP lawmaker Steve LaToure [...]
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