Transportation News

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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 [...]

Death by rail: For crew, healing takes time

Suicide by rail is no stranger to operators of steel-wheel trollies on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Victory Division in suburban Philadelphia. UTU-represented members of this SEPTA property recall having to plead with management to replace the front fa [...]

Neb. UTU member dead; son dies in police shootout

ALLIANCE, Neb. — A 62-year-old BNSF Railway conductor, a member of the UTU for 42 years, was found dead in his house June 12, and his 27-year-old son was later shot to death in a standoff with police that left two police officers and a hostage wounded. Dead are BNSF conductor [...]

Fund aids family of member killed on job

Members of Local 887, Harvey, N.D., have established a fund to benefit the family of conductor Robert J. Glasgow, 38, who died May 28 while setting out cars as part of a two-person crew at a CP yard. Glasgow began railroading on CP in 2005 as a track worker; transferring to t [...]

Maker recalls oral contraceptives

The following was received June 11, 2012, from Medco/Express Scripts: On June 5 Sandoz announced it is conducting a voluntary recall of 10 lots of its generic oral contraceptive Introvale in the U.S., following a recent report of a packaging flaw. Introvale is an extended-cyc [...]

Slain UTU bus operator eulogized at funeral

Some 600 mourners – including more than 300 coworkers and UTU officials — attended the funeral June 9 of slain Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) bus operator Alan Thomas, who was murdered May 20 by a lone passenger. Also in attendance wer [...]

Passenger rail essential as population grows

By Joe Szabo – Federal Railroad Administrator It seems like just yesterday, as UTU Illinois state legislative director and mayor of Riverdale, Ill., that I joined other mayors to successfully advocate for more frequent rail service from Chicago to downstate Illinois communiti [...]

RRB issuing “Statements of Service”

Each year, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) prepares a “Certificate of Service Months and Compensation” (Form BA-6) for every railroad employee who received creditable railroad compensation in the previous calendar year.  The forms will be mailed to employees by the R [...]

OSHA holds contest to teach workplace safety

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is running a competition to help educate the public about workplace safety.  Applicants should use publicly available government information (i.e., DOL/OSHA data, NIOSH data, and other online government resources) to cr [...]

TWIC reforms moving through Congress

A Transportation Security Administration effort to help protect ports against terrorism was creation of a tamper-resistant biometric worker-access pass known as the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) that is issued, in addition to maritime workers, to rail [...]