TCU Blog – Page 31 – TCUNION.ORG

Larry I. Willis, President Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO Testified Before The Senate Committee On Commerce, Science and Transportation

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgJune 4, 2020Legislative Outlook, TCU Blog

Larry Willis, President of the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO (TTD), of which TCU is a member, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, And Transportation in a hearing titled: “THE STATE OF TRANSPORTATION AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC” In the written statement from TTD president Willis: On behalf

RRB Begins Paying CARES Act Recovery Payments for Unemployed Rail Workers

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 29, 2020Railroad Retirement, TCU Blog

The RRB announces that the $1,200 per 2-week registration benefit period as provided under the CARES Act began issuing payments to members who filed unemployment claims on April 1 or later. The RRB does advise that these benefits will be subject to income taxation and garnishment for tax and other legally established debt. The next

TCU Fights for Jobs, Calls out Amtrak over Furloughs and Insufficient Funding Request

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 28, 2020Legislative Events, Legislative Outlook, Politics & Legislation, TCU Blog

Amtrak recently requested nearly $1.5 billion in supplemental funding from the federal government in fiscal 2021 to maintain “minimum service levels,” anticipating ridership will not recover to pre-pandemic levels in fiscal 2021. Amtrak also announced a reduction of up to 20 percent of its staff. The reductions will come to about 3,700 jobs. Amtrak is

TTD Release – Joe Biden is the Best Candidate for Transportation Workers and their Families

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 27, 2020Legislative Outlook, TCU Blog

In a recent release from the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO (TTD), of which TCU is a member: The past three years have shined a spotlight on two vastly different Americas. In one, the richest among us continue to amass wealth and influence, seemingly unaffected by economic and political crises. In the other, working-class people struggle

UPDATE: BNSF Petitions FRA to Expand its Wayside Detector Pilot Program

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 27, 2020Carmen Division, TCU Blog

On April 12, 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) granted the BNSF Railway (BNSF) a test waiver to conduct a pilot program on the carrier’s Southern Transcon trains between Chicago, IL, and California to “demonstrate that the use of wheel temperature detectors to prove brake health effectiveness (BHE) will improve safety, reduce risks to employees,

IAM Postpones 40th Grand Lodge Convention

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 22, 2020Local News, TCU Blog

The IAM released a notice advising that the 40th IAM Grand Lodge Convention has been rescheduled for September 12-17, 2021, in San Diego, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. The notice also outlines certain procedures for the election of delegates and alternate delegates. Most importantly, the letter outlines procedures for the election of delegates

RRB Labor Member: Testing Underway, Enhanced Benefit Payments Expected Before June

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 22, 2020Railroad Retirement, TCU Blog

A message from John Bragg, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) labor member, released on May 21st, stated that the increased $1,200 in unemployment benefits from the CARES Act will begin to be deposited next week. From RRB Labor Member John Bragg: In my last update, I explained that Phase 2 of the RRB’s CARES Act

RRB Labor Member: Enhanced Benefit Payments Expected by End of May

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 13, 2020Railroad Retirement, TCU Blog

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, recently signed into law by President Trump, authorized extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for railroad workers sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. After making necessary programming changes to agency systems, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began processing and paying extended benefits on May 11.

TCU Urges Federal Lawmakers to Increase Relief Funds for Transit Workers

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 12, 2020Legislative Outlook, TCU BlogTCU/IAM

TCU and the IAM joined a group of labor unions and federal lawmakers rallying for additional relief funds to support the nation’s transit workers. TCU and IAM signed onto a letter urging House and Senate leaders to consider an additional $32 billion of relief for transit agencies in the next CARES Act bill. “It has

TCU Joins Rail Labor in Asking Amtrak to Increase Death Benefit for Employees Due to COVID-19

By giffordk@TCUnion.orgMay 8, 2020Member Benefits, TCU Blog

In a recent letter to Amtrak President and CEO William Flynn, Rail Labor asks for Amtrak to increase the death benefits for employees that pass away due to COVID-19. The letter states: Rail transit systems, railroads and bus operation systems in the United States are experiencing a crisis like never before. Transportation employees are facing

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