Railroad Retirement Spouse Benefits—In addition to the retirement annuities payable to employees, the Railroad Retirement Act, like the Social Security Act, also provides annuities for the spouses of retired employees. Payment of a spouse annuity is made directly to the wife or husband of the employee. Divorced spouses may also qualify for benefits. Read more.
December 3, 2007—The 2008 employee health and welfare cost-sharing contribution amount under the recent national freight rail agreement will remain exactly the same as it was in 2007. At $166.25, the figure is well below the $177 projection used in the explanation sent to members during the ratification process. “The fact that there will be
TCU’s negotiated medical plans for early retirees contain provisions for automatic adjustments in the lifetime insurance maximum based on medical cost inflation. Effective January 1, 2008, the lifetime maximum will increase by $6,500. Read more.
Railroad retirement annuitants subject to earnings restrictions can earn more in 2008 without having their benefits reduced, as a result of increases in earnings limits indexed to average national wage increases. Read more.
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, are scheduled to increase in January 2008 on the basis of the rise in the Consumer Price Index during the 12 months preceding October 2007. Read more.
The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $96.40 in January 2008, an increase of $2.90 from the 2007 premium of $93.50. Read more.
Agreement Reached with Amtrak to Prevent Outsourcing Reservation Sales Office Work December 21, 2006—TCU has reached an agreement with Amtrak that puts a stop to Amtrak’s previously announced plans to hire an outside contractor to perform reservation sales office work. The agreement establishes a longer rate progression, with lower starting rates applying to reservation sales
Joe Sullivan and Don Johnson were among the honorees. Both are members of Lodge 2503. October 29, 2007—A number of TCU members are winners of 2007 President’s Service and Safety Awards at Amtrak. Presentation was made at an awards luncheon held today in Washington, DC. As Amtrak’s President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Kummant himself wrote in
After 35 years as a union leader, J.V. Waller retired at the end of August 2007. Click here to read more about his commitment and career. With Waller’s retirement, a number of changes have occurred in September within the Division. Jack Wright is now the International Representative of Unit 200 while Roger Cain steps up to
