Author Archives: giffordk@TCUnion.org

September 30th – Workers Rally, Call on Congress to Save Jobs, Fund Amtrak

Transportation Communications Union/IAM members and leaders hosted a rally in four major U.S. cities on Sept. 30th to urge Congress and the Administration to provide Amtrak emergency funding, and to protest looming job cuts. More than 850 TCU members are targeted by Amtrak’s cuts, scheduled to take effect Oct. 1st. Members represented by five labor

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September 30th – Workers to Rally, Call on Congress to Save Jobs, Fund Amtrak

Absent Emergency Funding, Amtrak Plans to Furlough 2,000 Employees and make Substantial Service Cuts WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 28, 2020) —Transportation Communications Union/IAM and the members it represents will rally in four major U.S. cities on Sept. 30th – to urge members of Congress to provide Amtrak emergency funding and protest looming job cuts. More than

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Litigation Update – Court Vacates FRA Approval of Mexican Engineer Use

On August 28, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA’s) approval of the Kansas City Southern Railway Company’s (KCSR’s) plan to use Mexican engineers to operate trains within the U.S. As background, KCSR recently developed a revised engineer certification program for engineers working for

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CSX Petitions FRA to Post Monthly Listings of Injuries, Illnesses and Fatalities on Web Portal

CSX has recently petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for waiver from certain provisions of the Federal railroad safety regulations contained at 49 CFR part 225, Railroad Accidents/Incidents: Reports Classification, and Investigations. Specifically, CSX requests a waiver from 49 CFR 225.25(h), which requires, in part, that monthly listings of employee reportable injuries, occupational illnesses, and

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TCU President Maratea Testified Before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

TCU National President Artie Maratea testified before the House Railroads, Pipelines & HazMat Subcommittee to discuss Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19. He spoke regarding the ongoing challenges TCU members face on the job and the dire need for adequate funding to provide the much-needed employee protections. “I’m here on behalf of Amtrak workers to urge Congress

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TCU President Arthur P. Maratea Will Testify Before Congress Tomorrow

TCU National President Artie Maratea is expected to testify tomorrow, September 9th  before the House Railroads, Pipelines & HazMat Subcommittee to discuss Amtrak’s Response to COVID-19. President Maratea will testify regarding the ongoing challenges TCU members face on the job and the dire need for adequate funding to provide the much needed employee protections. The

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Railroad Retirement Board Release Regarding Unemployment and Sickness Benefits Payable Under the Railroad Retirement Insurance Act (RUIA)

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) released a questions and answers that describes unemployment and sickness benefits payable under the Railroad Retirement Insurance Act (RUIA), their eligibility requirements, and how to claim them. In addition, it details how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, affects the RRB’s administration of benefits under

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