Transportation News

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BNSF worker dies in Texas yard accident

AMARILLO, Texas – A BNSF maintenance-of-way employee was killed here Jan. 9 after being struck by a rail car, according to media reports. One report said the accident occurred as a rail grinder was being moved in a BNSF yard. The Federal Railroad Administration is investigati [...]

Former Ind. State Director Carrico dies

James F. Carrico Sr., 61, former Indiana State Legislative Director of the United Transportation Union, died Jan. 4. A member of Local 333 at North Vernon, Ind., Carrico entered rail service as a conductor with CSX in 1974 following discharge from the U.S. Army. He was a grad [...]

No serious crew injuries in Indiana train wreck

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Members of the UTU Transportation Safety Team have joined investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration here following a collision and derailment involving three CSX trains Jan. 6. Valparaiso is some 60 [...]

Marie Weisbarth, mother of Jeff, dies

Marie C. (Armagno) Weisbarth, mother of UTU International Director of Membership Services Jeff Weisbarth, has died. She was 83. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation of Ohio, 2831 Prospect Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115.

FRA seeks new passenger train safety rules

Improvements to existing passenger train emergency systems regulations have been proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The improvements are aimed at helping passengers and passenger-train crew members better locate and operate emergency exits during evacuations, an [...]

Indiana commencing new assault on labor unions

A new assault on labor unions is commencing in Indiana, with the Republican-controlled legislature setting their No. 1 2012 priority on passing right-to-work legislation that would permit workers covered under collective bargaining agreements to opt out of paying union dues. [...]

DM&IR, DW&P merged into Wisconsin Central

Canadian National has completed the merger of Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway and Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway into its Wisconsin Central subsidiary. CN said the merger, approved by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, will make operations more efficient [...]

‘Tis the season for sweets — and restraint

By Dr. Norman K. BrownUTU Medical Consultant When I want to get started on a job that I have been putting off, I eat a few chocolate chip cookies (think sugar), and my enthusiasm picks right up and I am on my way.   Unfortunately, there is a downside to our easy access to ene [...]

OSHA website offers winter safety tips

WASHINGTON –The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has created a webpage to provide worker and employer guidance during winter weather: http://s.dol.gov/L1 The web page includes links to guidance from OSHA, the Federal Emergency Management Age [...]

Two new rail agreements ratified

Wier Two new UTU negotiated rail agreements have been ratified by members. UTU-represented trainmen and engineers employed by Evansville & Western Railroad overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year agreement, while UTU-represented trainmen and engineers employed by Iowa Int [...]