Representative John Mica (R-FL) recently released a six-year surface transportation reauthorization plan totaling between $215 billion and $230 billion, drastically reducing the 2005 bill of $286 billion which, most agree, was then grossly inadequate. The proposed plan would not provide the necessary funding the country needs to maintain good quality public transportation. TCU President Bob
IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger and TCU/IAM President Bob Scardelletti joined together to send a letter to every member of the House urging them to vote no on the “Competition for Intercity Passenger Rail in America Act.” The letter states, “We are writing to ask you not to support legislation proposed by Transportation and Infrastructure
Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) wrote an opinion piece that supports the Amtrak High Speed Rail system and rejects the northeast corridor privatization efforts currently being undertaken by House Republicans. In his article he writes, “Under the false promise of better service and cost savings, Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will soon unveil
House Republicans are once again pushing a proposal to dismantle Amtrak, by carving up the national network and awarding private investors the right to build and operate high-speed rail service between Washington and Boston. While the highly profitable Northeast Corridor would be privatized under the GOP plan, less profitable routes would remain part of the
In a letter to Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), TCU expressed support for retiree health coverage currently before the Senate. The bill would provide an additional five billion dollars in funding for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. “Insurance for older Americans is more than four times more expensive than coverage for young
When the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently ruled that Boeing violated the law by transferring thousands of jobs from its unionized facilities in Washington to its non-union plant in South Carolina, Congressional Republicans were furious. They immediately retaliated by introducing legislation to reverse the decision and to defund the agency. “The NLRB makes a
In a letter sent to the Senate by TCU/IAM President Bob Scardelletti, he voiced his strong concern in opposing S. 49, the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2011. In the letter President Scardelletti states, “This bill, if passed, would cause dual and possibly conflicting oversight of the railroads by the Surface Transportation Board (STB)
Most Republicans in the House of Representatives voted today to strip the rights of rail and airline workers at the behest of their corporate buddies. Namely FedEx and Delta Airlines whose employees are currently attempting to join unions. Word on the hill is the Republicans who gutted our rights are in line for substantial contributions
A Wisconsin judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the state’s new and contentious collective bargaining law from taking effect, a measure that drew tens of thousands of protesters (including TCU members) to the state Capitol and sent some Democrats fleeing to Illinois in an attempt to block a vote on it. The judge’s order
Transportation Trades Department (TTD), of which TCU is a member, President Ed Wytkind Testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I), Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee field hearing March 11, 2011. The hearing titled “Finding Ways to Encourage and Increase Private Sector Participation in Passenger Rail Service” again focused on ways to privatize
