The House Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee held a hearing today on safety regulations throughout the railroad industry. Testifying on behalf of rail labor was John Tolman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). The debate was – at times – fierce between proponents of safety regulations and those that want
Congressional Republicans are aiming to repeal a regulation issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which mandates that employers keep records of serious work-related injuries and illnesses for 5 years. This would be a major setback for workers in dangerous industries where proper record-keeping helps identify health and safety-related trends, and thus enables both employers
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has submitted a proposed rule that would require Amtrak, commuter, and freight rail carriers to provide security training to their employees. The rule was part of the “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007,” but it is just now being written. As proposed, the TSA plans to divide
Canadian Pacific (CP) CEO E. Hunter Harrison has announced that he will be leaving the railroad at the end of this month. After years of cutting and gutting at CP, Harrison is now expected to be deployed in a similar manner to CSX. Harrison’s management style and operating scheme have made him notorious throughout the industry.
Late last Wednesday, the Senate voted down an amendment from Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) geared towards allowing pharmacies to import identical drugs from Canada, where prices are often much cheaper. In a boon to Big Pharma and their lobbyists, 13 Democrats and 39 Republicans voted against the amendment and it failed
Kentucky Republicans have changed legislative rules to speed through anti-worker legislation, without public hearings or comments, under the guise of “emergency legislation.” In addition to repealing prevailing wage laws and eliminating paycheck deduction, Kentucky is now poised to become the 27th ‘Right-to-Work’ state in the nation. Of course, we know what these bills are really about:
Over the past few weeks, TCU’s Legislative & Political Department staff has dispatched to the field to get TCU members out to vote. Ron Kloos, Mark Taylor, Bill Kelaher, and David Arouca have visited numerous local offices and properties across the country to support candidates that support TCU members. Election Day is November 8th! Click HERE
After the tragic crash in Hoboken, NJ, the New Jersey Transit (NJT) commuter railroad has been under intense scrutiny from the general public, regulators and elected officials. A week ago, the New York Times published a long expose detailing the failures of Governor Christie’s administration in properly investing in the railroad: …Under the Christie administration, the
