News Archive
Amtrak contract talks: July 2011 update
Sampson Dirk Sampson, now acting general chairperson for Amtrak GO 769, issued the following update on wage, benefits and work rules negotiations with Amtrak following the death of General Chairperson Roger Lenfest. Sampson will join with Amtrak General Chairperson Bill Beebe [...]
UTU to Congress: ‘Get serious on security’
WASHINGTON — America learned a tragic lesson a decade ago when armed terrorists gained entry to the flight decks of multiple commercial airliners. The results of 9/11 will live in infamy. Inexplicably, neither railroads nor the federal government has moved to require th [...]Amtrak GC Roger Lenfest, 65, dies
General Chairperson Roger Lenfest (Amtrak, GO 769), age 65, died July 10 following a short illness. Lenfest, of Sicklerville, N.J., succeeded Al Suozzo as general chairperson following Suozzo’s death in March 2010. Assistant General Chairperson Dirk Sampson becomes acting gen [...]
Recipe for success: Safety first
By Vic BaffoniVice President, Bus Department I recently spoke with UTU Local 1785 (Santa Monica, Calif.) member William Alvarenga, who has driven a motor coach for more than 30 years and who has been commended for his safe and courteous driving record. I asked Brother Alvaren [...]Former Local 997 officer charged in embezzlement
A former secretary-treasurer of UTU Local 997 (Camp Hill, Pa.) has been charged with embezzling union funds. Brandon S. Borders, 47, of Harrisburg, Pa., was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge, according to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith. The indictment alleges Borde [...]Seminars for women in transportation careers
Two separate two-day online dialogues focusing on unique issues for women in blue-collar transportation careers are offered at no charge by the U.S. Department of Transportation. July 11-15: How do we best describe and promote women working in skilled, blue-collar transportat [...]House bill would slash Amtrak, transit funding
WASHINGTON – The Republican leadership of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will introduce legislation July 8 to slash Amtrak’s federal subsidy by 25 percent, prevent federal funds from being used to create additional rail passenger services unless they [...]Rail CEO sentenced on campaign contribution charges
MILWAUKEE – The president of regional railroad Wisconsin & Southern, William Gardner, was sentenced to 24 months’ probation by a state court here after pleading guilty to improperly donating some $53,000 to the election campaign of Wisconsin’s Republican Gov. Scott Walker [...]