Transportation News

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Boomer of 3rd quarter for major railroads

It was a boomer of a third quarter for major railroad profits. Blockbuster earnings were reported by Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific as railroads exercised market pricing power and enjoyed robust increases in [...]

Calif. voters lock-down rail, transit funds

Voters in California have approved a ballot proposition preventing the state or local governments from borrowing or redirecting to other budget projects any fuel tax or local property tax funds earmarked for transportation projects such as rail and transit. The California bal [...]

Protect dependent health care coverage

Although UTU members participating in the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan and the National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union Health and Welfare Plan (NRC/UTU) have received notices that they must provide Social Security and Medicare Health I [...]

What election results mean to UTU members

By International President Mike Futhey What do the Nov. 2 congressional election results mean for UTU members and their families? Consider these facts that are not always obvious: While it is true that organized labor has more friends among Democrats, many of the Republicans [...]

Diabetes: A rampant and devastating disease

Diabetes is a lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. It can affect your heart, kidneys and eyes, and is the number one cause for amputation and blindness.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in every 10 Americans now suffe [...]

Staten Island Railway has new vice president

NEW YORK — UTU represented Staten Island Railway (SIR) has a new vice president and chief officer, Stephone Montgomery, who succeeds John Gaul, reports railwayage.com. Montgomery is a 27-year veteran of New York’s Metropolitan Transit Administration (MTA), the par [...]

FRA moving to require crew respirators

WASHINGTON — Railroads will be required by the Federal Railroad Administration to provide respirators for train and engine workers hauling hazardous materials. The Rail Safety Improvement Act mandated that the FRA impose such a requirement through a rulemaking, which is [...]

Superintendent appointments at UP

Union Pacific has announced the following assignments to superintendent-transportation services positions, effective Nov. 15: Lance Hardisty will become superintendent-transportation services, El Paso, Texas, moving from a similar position in St. Paul, Minn. Rod Doerr will be [...]

BNSF creates new post of president, COO

BNSF Railway executive vice president Carl Ice has been promoted to the newly created position of president and chief operating officer, with responsibility for rail operations, marketing and technology, BNSF announced Nov. 1. Ice is a former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe e [...]

Rail sickness benefits now available online

Rail workers may now file biweekly claims for railroad sickness benefits directly online with the Railroad Retirement Board. The agency said rail workers may now access this online service at www.rrb.gov by clicking on “Benefit Online Services.” The RRB implemente [...]