This week in a letter, International President Buffenbarger urged Congress to repeal the 40 percent excise tax on high-value employer-sponsored health care benefits and for members to support Rep. Courtney’s bill to repeal the excise tax and further urged members to become a co-sponsor on the bill. Rep. Joe Courtney a critic of the excise
The Highway Trust Fund, long an essential funding vehicle for both federal roads and mass transit systems, is under attack by some House Republicans seeking to strip protections from mass transit employees. The Highway Trust Fund is used to fund major transportation networks, including mass transit systems, and is facing a budget shortfall. Currently, 16%
PTC Video published by the American Association of Railroads (AAR). One of the most important enhancements to rail safety is the timely implementation of Congressionally mandated positive train control (PTC) systems that will prevent collisions and save lives. Although the current language in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and the Federal Railroad Administration
Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member, issued a statement about the Senate markup of the Positive Train Control (PTC) extension bill: “A five-year extension of the deadline by which Positive Train Control (PTC) technology must be implemented cannot be considered in a vacuum or in
The House recently passed Amtrak reauthorization legislation, The Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act H.R.749, authorizing nearly $8 billion in funding for Amtrak that would expire in 2019. The 316-101 vote badly divided Republicans, as all of the no votes came from firebrand conservatives. The Bill wouldn’t have passed except for the support of all
TCU President Bob Scardelletti wrote a letter to Congress in support of H.R 749, supporting Amtrak funding. In the letter President Scardelletti writes; “On behalf of the Transportation Communications Union/IAM, I am writing you to urge the members of the House of Representatives to pass, without amendment, H.R. 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment
Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), of which TCU is a member, recently issued a statement about the markup of the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015: “We are pleased that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved a bipartisan passenger rail bill that provides multi-year investment for Amtrak while
In 1993, Intel shipped the first-generation Pentium chips and Nintendo released Star Fox for the Super Nintendo system; the average monthly rent was $532.00; and tuition to Harvard University cost $23,514. A lot has changed since then. One thing, though, hasn’t changed at all: the federal gas tax. When last raised – to 18.4 cents
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) reviewed the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015 (PRRIA 2015) introduced by the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, the NARP found many commonsense reforms but is concerned over the following issues: PRRIA Ignores Funding Question, Caps Capacity Improvements: PRRIA Fragments National Network PRRIA Shortchanges Equipment And
The Legislative Department As National Legislative Director, National Vice President Ron Kloos oversees TCU’s legislative and political action programs. The Legislative Department’s challenge is to protect the gains our members have made over the years and to work for legislation to further improve conditions in the workplace and in society. Department staff work both at
