News - Page 569 of 658

Colo. short line is 30th organizing win in 53 months

May 22, 2012 Train and engine employees on Colorado short line San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad have voted to be represented by the UTU. This is the 30th organizing win in 53 months for the UTU. International Vice President Bonnie Morr led the organizing effort. The 150-mile San Luis &a [...]

Tags Bonnie Morr, Iowa Pacific Holdings, San Luis & Rio Grande Ralroad

LIRR disability probe offers amnesty

May 22, 2012 In the wake of 10 more arrests of Long Island Rail Road retirees for alleged conspiracy to commit health care fraud in collecting disability payments, the U.S. attorney in charge of the investigation has offered amnesty from prosecution for any retiree who comes forward volun [...]

Tags amnesty, arrests, health care fraud, Long Island Rail Road

UTU-member bus driver murdered in Los Angeles

May 21, 2012 WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) bus driver, and member of UTU Local 1563, was murdered aboard his bus here Sunday morning, May 20, by a lone gunman, according to media reports. Alan Thomas, 51, who began driving par [...]

Tags LACMTA, Local 1563, murdered

Great Lakes Airlines pilots ask mediation release

May 17, 2012 After 53 fruitless mediated bargaining sessions stretching over almost three years between United Transportation Union-represented pilots and Great Lakes Airlines, the union has asked the National Mediation Board to declare an impasse in the talks, release the parties from me [...]

Tags Essential Air Service, Great Lakes Airlines, impasse, John Previsich, Local 40, National Mediation Board, pilots

Confidential Close Call Reporting proving its worth

May 15, 2012 It’s confidential and no-fault. And the result, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, is a significant reduction in rail workplace derailments that too often lead to serious injury and death — plus, as a bonus, better labor/management relationships and impro [...]

Tags Amtrak, C3RS, Canadian Pacific, Confidential Close Call Reporting System, CP, Federal Railroad Administration, FRA, John Previsich, New Jersey Transit, north platte, Portage, Union Pacific

Hazmat train-the-trainer programs scheduled

May 14, 2012 The National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., has scheduled several hazardous materials train-the-trainer programs to help build a nationwide pool of peer instructors. Funded by the Department of Transportation, the train-the-trainer courses provide regional peer trainers [...]

Tags hazmat, National Labor College, training

Minnesota members help defeat anti-labor bill

May 11, 2012 With the adjournment of the 2012 Minnesota legislative session, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, along with the UTU and other AFL-CIO member organizations, has succeeded in defending against right-to-work (for less) legislation introduced by Tea Party Republicans. “The AFL-CIO lo [...]

Tags Minnesota, Phil Qualy, right-to-work

FRA allows reduction in PTC mileage

May 11, 2012 WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration has granted railroads greater flexibility to determine on which lines positive train control (PTC) must be installed by the federal deadline of Dec. 31, 2015. PTC initially was mandated for 70,000 track miles, but 10,000 of tho [...]

Tags positive train control, PTC

Calif. bus line 29th organizing win in 53 months

May 10, 2012 More than 170 bus operators, mechanics, service employees and store keepers employed by the Los Angeles area Montebello (Calif.) Bus Lines are now UTU members after overwhelmingly voting, “UTU, yes.” In the Los Angeles area, the UTU also represents employees of Los Angeles Co [...]

Tags Bonnie Morr, Brian Donald, Ernesto Tolentino, Fank Garcia, John England, Manuel Gonzalez, Montebello Bus Lines, Rachel Burciaga, SMART, SMWIA

New contract on Dallas-area railroad

May 10, 2012 Wier UTU-represented trainmen and engineers on Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad have overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year agreement. The contract provides for wage increases with full back pay, an incentive compensation plan with an opt-out provision allowing fo [...]

Tags Bobby Taylor, Dallas, Danny Mayhan, Dave Wier, Garland & Northeastern Railroad, Joe Newsome, RailAmerica