Transportation News

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Obama walks the walk with labor

By International President Mike Futhey The most successful military generals are those who care best for their troops, walk among their troops and listen intently to their ideas and concerns. This week in Denver, Barack Obama, who consistently expresses his support for workin [...]

New safety push aims at rail culture

WASHINGTON — Railroads, the Federal Railroad Administration, and labor organizations, including the UTU, launched on Aug. 12 a new and formal effort to improve workplace safety through an emphasis on cooperation and education and a de-emphasis on aggressive discipline. [...]

Baffoni: Many hits, but more to play

By Vic Baffoni Bus Vice President UTU-represented bus operators and mechanics can take great pride in their accomplishments the first half of 2008, but there remain many hurdles to overcome. The final DOT rule on drug and alcohol testing for holders of a commercial driverR [...]

AAR confirms FELA saves lives

Rail operating employees know the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) saves lives by forcing railroads to address safety problems carriers might ignore if the penalty were no more than the equivalent of a parking ticket. Confirmation now comes from the Association of Amer [...]

Futhey: ‘State of our union improving’

DENVER — “I will not stand down, I will not retreat and I will not surrender until our members have the right to vote on their own constitution,” UTU International President Mike Futhey told some 700 cheering UTU officers and members here at a regional meeti [...]

UTU wins grievances, helps pass paid-leave law

By Vic Baffoni Vice President, Bus Congratulations to Local 1900 Chairperson Albert Collie and President Juan Ucanan at Parsec in Florida on their success in winning four of five grievances. Kudos also go to Local 172 Chairperson Theresa Costantini and Trustee Kathleen Sitong [...]

Leadership reports on UTU finances

Brothers and Sisters: As we approach the six-month point of our administration, we are pleased to report that UTU finances have been improving steadily. When we took office Jan. 1, there were forebodings of financial disaster just around the corner. For sure, there were finan [...]

UTU seeks improvements in bus-driver training

By Vic Baffoni, Vice President, Bus Congratulations to officers and members of Local 1589, New Brunswick, N.J., on a new contract that includes improved wages and benefits. The UTU International is working with members of Local 1697, employed by TNM&O Coaches in Texas, fo [...]

Treasurers: Form 990-N may be filed after May 15

UTU local treasurers are not required to file Internal Revenue Service Form 990-N by May 15. However, said UTU International Auditor Steve Noyes, locals that are required to file IRS Forms 990 and 990-EZ must still file those forms by the May 15 deadline. Noyes said he was to [...]

Our priority is always the safety of members

By Vic Baffoni, Vice President, Bus The safety of our members in the work place has been — and will always be — a priority of this union and its officers. More and more, we are experiencing passenger assaults on drivers. Any environment where a bus operator fears [...]