Congress may force the Social Security Administration to cut back on services and furlough employees, according to the agency, which pointed to proposals in both the House and Senate to reduce its funding. Although not directly effecting Railroad Retirement, this is the thinking of Congressional members on retirement benefits and could paint a dim picture
The SMART Transportation Division is pushing for new legislation to ensure that freight trains are operated by two-person crews, including a certified conductor and a certifief engineer. TCU/IAM supports this legislation (H.R. 1763, the Safe Freight Act) introduced by long-time defender and supporter of railroads and rail labor, Rep. Don Young (R-AK). You can tell
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently released their second ‘State of the Industry’ report, which includes new research from Towson University’s Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI). For the first time ever, there is data available that quantifies the economic impact that railroads have on the American economy and the American landscape. The new data
President Obama announced today the nomination of Thomas Kotarac to serve as Chair of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). Mr. Kotarac has been recently working as Deputy Director of Policy for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Prior to that he served as a Senior Aide to Senator Dick Durbin (IL) for eight years.
Earlier today, Hillary Clinton joined via phone to accept the endorsement from the AFL-CIO Executive Council. In her acceptance she reaffirmed her pledge to fight for working people, raise wages, invest in America, improve retirement security, and to defend the right to collectively bargain. With the endorsement of the AFL-CIO, Hillary Clinton has the
TCU is pleased that the International Trade Commission (ITC) has decided to move ahead with a Sec. 337 trade complaint filed by the U.S. Steel Corporation. The complaint alleges unfair and illegal trade practices by Chinese steel companies whose actions have contributed to the closing and/or shuttering of steel facilities and the loss of thousands
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
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
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,
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
