Transportation News

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Charlotte bus mechanics approve new pact

The members of Local 1596, Charlotte, N.C., have ratified a new three-year deal with Transit Management of Charlotte (CATS) by an overwhelming margin. UTU represents bus mechanics on the property. Major advances were made in job classifications and job protection, with a guar [...]

New UTU agreement on S. Florida Tri-Rail

MIAMI — A tentative agreement between Veolia Transportation — operator of South Florida Tri-Rail — and the UTU has been reached, covering both sides of the locomotive cab. The agreement now goes to members for ratification, with the vote count scheduled May [...]

Buffalo school bus drivers ratify agreement

BUFFALO, N.Y. — School bus drivers employed by First Student here and represented by the UTU have ratified a new agreement by a 213-90 vote. The agreement ratified by members of UTU Local 1908 provides for wage increases retroactive to June 2010, no loss of benefits and [...]

‘Safety’ is middle name of UTU D.C. legislative director

For UTU District of Columbia Legislative Director Willie Bates the recognition and honors keep rolling in. The latest is from the State of Virginia, which on April 7 bestowed upon Bates the Governor’s Transportation Safety Award in the category of rail safety. His accom [...]

Working families are under attack

By Robert KerleyUTU International Vice President America’s soldiers and their families are sacrificing to preserve liberty and ensure justice throughout the world. As labor unionists, we can follow their example of service by remaining resolute in our struggle against i [...]

Wisconsin rail CEO faces felony charges

MILWAUKEE — The CEO of privately owned regional railroad Wisconsin & Southern, William Gardner, says he will plead guilty to felony charges of making some $53,000 in illegal political campaign donations to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, reports the Milwaukee Journal S [...]

OSHA follows through on whistle-blower complaints

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — A Union Pacific machinist here was ordered rehired with back pay in a ruling by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) that found Union Pacific violated the worker’s rights under the Federal Rail Safety Act of 2007. OSHA rule [...]

Rail Retirement, Social Security benefits go electronic

Effective May 1, Social Security and Railroad Retirement checks for new recipients no longer will be mailed. Instead, all benefits payments — retirement, survivor and disability — will go electronically to the recipients’ bank accounts via electronic direct [...]

FRA issues switching safety advisory

WASHINGTON — A new safety advisory applying to switching operation hazards has been issued by the Federal Railroad Administration. The advisory focuses on federal federal regulations and railroad operating rules governing procedures for leaving rolling equipment in the [...]

UTU to Congress: Eliminate fatigue, boost safety

WASHINGTON — The single most important action Congress and the Federal Railroad Administration can take to improve rail safety — especially in the movement of hazardous materials — is to eliminate train-crew fatigue and provide predictable start times for tr [...]