IAM Delegates meeting in Toronto, ON, for the 38th Grand Lodge Convention voted overwhelmingly to formally endorse Barack Obama and Joe Biden for a second term as President and Vice President of the United States. IAM Grand Lodge Conventions are scheduled in part to coincide with U.S. presidential elections and to give delegates an opportunity to
IAM Local 1947 Vice President Andrew Hounshell (left) was chosen to introduce President Barack Obama at a campaign rally in Cincinnati, OH, where the President vowed to protect U.S. auto and steel workers from unfair duties levied by China on American-made cars. IAM Local 1943 Vice President Andrew Hounshell admitted he was stunned to receive
At the recent 2012 GOP Convention a platform was adopted with the obvious purpose to eliminate labor and undermine collective bargaining. The proposed platform would attempt to eliminate the NLRB voting rules for fair union elections and enact a national right to work law. Other direct attacks on labor written into the program would seek
The platform approved by Republicans at the recent GOP Convention calls for the elimination of funding for Amtrak, passenger rail service, privatizing airport security screening “wherever possible” and stopping the use of money earmarked for highway construction for other purposes. The more than 30,000-word document was approved on the first full day of the 2012
Alaska Railroad and Other Transit Funding The Transportation Reauthorization Conference Committee has agreed on a surface transportation bill. The Conference Committee bill has passed by both Chambers of Congress and will be heading to the President to be signed, which is expected to happen soon. TCU supported the language that maintains FTA formula funds for
In a recent release by AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka he stated his approval of the Supreme Court decision that upheld the Affordable Care Act: We are pleased and relieved that the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. Today’s decision means that we can continue moving full speed ahead to implement
The recent attacks on Railroad Retirement in the provisions of the Ryan Budget needs to be strongly opposed. The Congressmen who voted for the Budget Resolution completely misunderstood how the Railroad Retirement system works, and disregarded the contributions of rail workers and retirees who fund the pension plan. Congress needs to know that Railroad Retirement
In a letter written to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman John Mica (R-FL) the joint member unions of TTD, which includes TCU, responded to a recent statement from the Association of Independent Passenger Rail Operators (AIPRO). The letter from AIRPO argues that certain provisions in the Senate Rail Title of S.1813 are “extremely harmful
In a statement recently released by the White House, the passage of H.R.5972 would receive a veto vote from President Obama. The statement includes, The Administration is committed to working with the Congress to produce a long-term surface transportation reauthorization bill devoid of controversial policy riders, to put Americans to work building the Nation’s roads,
TCU sent a joint letter to the U.S. Senate urging support for S.J. Resolution 37, a Congressional Review Act resolution that would set aside and send back to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (UMACT) rule. The joint statement from TCU, UTU and the Association for American Railroads stated, “Freight
