Transportation News

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RRB sickness, jobless benefits update

A new benefit year for jobless and sickness benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act begins July 1, 2010, the Railroad Retirement Board reports. Administered by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), this law provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroader [...]

Strength, unity will help us win a good contract

By James A. Williams General Chairperson, LACMTA Contract negotiations are underway between the UTU and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). As required by California law, the parties exchanged proposals prior to April 1, and, as also dictate [...]

UTU, AFL-CIO tackle school bus driver issues

By Bonnie Morr Alternate Vice President-Bus The UTU, other labor unions and the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO are jointly tackling workplace training, discipline and other workplace safety and economic issues on behalf of school bus drivers. Nationwide [...]

Healthy options a phone call away

By Steven BurdickSenior VP, UnitedHealthcare Committing to a healthier lifestyle is something that all of us struggle with everyday. We all think about it, but it’s doing something about it that’s the challenge most of us face. The goal of UnitedHealthcare wellness programs i [...]

Health plans require dependent info

To comply with federal law, those enrolled in the Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan and the National Railway Carriers and United Transportation Union Health and Welfare Plan must provide Social Security numbers of dependents. Failure to comply can result in [...]

Quit smoking, lose weight, feel better

By Dr. Norman K. Brown UTU medical consultant Hold the ketchup. Did you know that ketchup contains fructose, a processed sugar? I’ll get back to this shortly. Many of our common diseases are aggravated by — or even caused by — the way we live, especially how we ea [...]

Wellness programs promote healthier lives

By Steven Burdick, senior vice president, UnitedHealthcare Committing to a healthier lifestyle is something that all of us struggle with everyday. We all think about it, but it’s doing something about it that’s the challenge most of us face. The goal of UnitedHealthcare welln [...]

FRA: Rails can discipline camera disabling

The Federal Railroad Administration, following disciplinary action by Los Angeles Metrolink against two operating employees who disabled an inward facing camera in the locomotive cab, said that while the agency does not now regulate cab-installed inward facing cameras, it  [...]

Fatigue, harassment, intimidation take toll

By International President Mike Futhey We all know that when one wants the truth from the iron horse’s mouth, we ask the rank-and-file membership. That is especially so when it comes to safety. I commend our Rail Safety Task Force for going directly to the membership wi [...]

FRA proposes permanent cell-phone ban

The Federal Railroad Administration is moving to make permanent an October 2008 emergency order restricting the use by on-duty train crews of cell phones and other electronic devices. A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was published Tuesday, May 18, in the Federal Register, indi [...]