Category Archives: Legislative Outlook

TCU Members Lobby Congress

TCU Leaders Lobby Congress (clockwise from top left: Mitch Canter, Susan Harmon, Larry Jones, Greg Kocialski, Mark Taylor, Ron Kloos, Dennis Proulx, Bill Kelaher, Charles Jackson, Sal Rodriguez, Stephanie Reavis, Maggie Canter, Kevin O’Connell, Vernon Dove, Jeremy Fitzgerald) As part of the Machinists Legislative Conference, TCU leaders and representatives went to the Hill to lobby

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CP Abandons Takeover Plans of NS

Following growing opposition from Capitol Hill and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) announced today that they are ceasing efforts to merge with Norfolk Southern (NS), citing “no clear path to a friendly merger at this time.” This is a major win for workers on both carriers, as well as

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U.S. Army & DOJ Join Chorus of Opposition to CP-NS Merger

The past week has not been kind to fans of a merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). After House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster came out in opposition, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Antitrust Division and the U.S. Army both issued their own calls to pump the brakes. On Thursday,

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T&I Chairman Shuster Opposes CP-NS Merger

In a short statement released this morning, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) stated his opposition to the prospect of a merger between Canadian Pacific (CP) and Norfolk Southern (NS). CP has been attempting a semi-hostile takeover of NS, vying to apply an unusual voting trust structure and make a direct appeal

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Senate Holds Hearing to Discuss Passenger Rail

On Tuesday, the Senate subcommittee that oversees railroads held a hearing titled, “Passenger Rail: Opportunities and Challengers for the National Network.” Testifying were two people from regional rail commissions, a city manager from Colorado, and Joseph Boardman, the soon-to-retire CEO of Amtrak. The hearing was almost entirely focused on Amtrak, not just passenger rail. Republicans

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Congress tells New Jersey Transit to settle

Yesterday, nine members of the New Jersey Congressional delegation wrote to New Jersey Transit urging them to settle the long-standing contract battle with the large rail labor coalition, which includes TCU. Even though the labor coalition has made major concessions in its negotiations, and two independant federal panels have said that labor’s offer is the

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Senators urge Amtrak Board to hire committed CEO

On February 11th, Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to Amtrak Board Chairman Anthony Coscia urging him to find the absolute best candidate to replace outgoing Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman: …With the announcement of Boardman’s retirement, it is important that the Board of Directors makes certain that his successor possesses a deep

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