Job Insurance for TCU Members
With LECMPA job insurance, TCU members protect themselves from wage loss due to discipline.
Obama Administration Continues to Show Support for Amtrak and High Speed Rail
Vice President Joe Biden announced a new plan that will help the nation reach President Obama’s goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years. The proposal will place high-speed rail on equal footing with other surface transportation programs by providing $53 billion in funding over six years to continue
NMB RELEASES TCU AND OTHER COALITION UNIONS ON MBCR
On January 26, 2011, the National Mediation Board (NMB) released TCU and all other Coalition unions from further mediated bargaining with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR). The release starts a 30 day clock running; at the end of which self-help by either side would be available commencing February 26, 2011. However, it is extremely
Increased Federal Income Tax Withholding for Many RRB Annuitants
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has adjusted the railroad retirement benefits of over 140,000 beneficiaries to apply new Federal income tax withholding rates. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) revised the income tax withholding rates and tables that are used to calculate Federal income taxes for United States citizens based on provisions of the Tax Relief,
TCU Releases the Legislative Watch for the 111th Congress
The TCU Legislative Watch contains the end of session status of those bills in Congress we have an interest in and/or worked on throughout 2010. The House, on Wednesday December 220d, passed a motion to adjourn the 111th Congress “Sine Die,” bringing to a close Democrats’ four-year majority in the lower chamber. The blitz of
Your Vote Counts – Republican House Conservatives are Trying to Eliminate Amtrak and Commuter Funding
Here we go again. Republican Congressional conservatives have declared war on Amtrak and commuter railroads. The proposed legislation would eliminate funding for Amtrak subsidies, a move that would reduce funding by $1.6 billion. It also would eliminate intercity and high-speed rail grants, $2.5 billion annually, and it would strike the subsidy for the Washington Metropolitan
TCU Sends Letter of Tribute to Former Congressman James Oberstar
TCU sent a letter to be included in the upcoming TTD retirement tribute to former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-MN. TCU and the labor community lost one of its policy making giants in the midterm elections when House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., was defeated by his Republican challenger
FRA Develops Model State Legislation to Improve Safety at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings
The model legislation is intended to help states address obstructions limiting a driver’s view of an oncoming train. Between 2001 and 2005 reports show that 689 collisions resulting in 242 injuries and 87 fatalities occurred at highway-rail grade crossings with sight obstructions. Click here to view the release from the FRA. Click here to read
Meghan O’Connell Daughter of TCU Member Wins Gymnastics Junior World Championship in Synchronized Trampoline
Bob O’Connell, a Supervisor and member of TCU Local 5197, daughter Meghan is 12 years old and has been training in gymnastics since she was 7. She trains 6 days a week 3 hours a day. She recently won the gold medal at the World Championship in France. Meghan
2011 Railroad Tier I Tax Reduced
The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, signed recently by President Obama, also effects railroad workers. The law provides a 1 year reduction in employee payroll taxes and extends unemployment benefits for railroad employees. Click here to read the release from the RRB. Click here to view a listing of
MBCR Responds to TCU’s Request for the Proffer of Arbitration
TCU and the other unions in the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) Labor Coalition are asking the NMB to release them from mediation and proffer arbitration. MBCR has responded as expected and argued that a release would be premature at this time. Two days of talks on November 3 and 4 failed to produce an