Union Plus Programs for TCU Members
TCU fully supports the programs available for active and retired TCU members and their families. With the money savings programs available, in some situations, the benefits can offset paid union dues.
Senate Backs Big Pharma – Rejects Cheaper Canadian Drug Imports
Late last Wednesday, the Senate voted down an amendment from Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) geared towards allowing pharmacies to import identical drugs from Canada, where prices are often much cheaper. In a boon to Big Pharma and their lobbyists, 13 Democrats and 39 Republicans voted against the amendment and it failed
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life, Work and Legacy
Edward Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member, issued a statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “At a time when the middle class is shrinking and economic upward mobility is becoming increasingly difficult for working families to achieve, we must turn to Dr. Martin
National Negotiations as Viewed by BNSF
In a recent letter released to employees, BNSF states the issues they will use in the recent bargaining of national negotiations. The letter states: The railroads seek to negotiate compensation and health benefits that reflect current economic conditions and to reform labor agreement rules to improve safety, customer service and employee utilization. As an update
AFL-CIO President Trumka Writes Congress on Healthcare Repeal
In a letter to Congressional Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Ryan, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka urges Congress to abandon the planned rollbacks of the nations health care programs: “On behalf of the 12.5 million working people represented by the AFL-CIO, I write to you as the congressional leaders of the Republican party. I
Action Alert: Kentucky Legislature Ramming Through Anti-Worker Laws
Kentucky Republicans have changed legislative rules to speed through anti-worker legislation, without public hearings or comments, under the guise of “emergency legislation.” In addition to repealing prevailing wage laws and eliminating paycheck deduction, Kentucky is now poised to become the 27th ‘Right-to-Work’ state in the nation. Of course, we know what these bills are really about:
Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) released a booklet on how Medicare effects railroad workers. The booklet is issued for general information and does not cover certain limitations, exceptions and special cases. The Medicare program covers railroad workers just like workers under social security. Railroad retirement payroll taxes include a Medicare hospital insurance tax just like
Dues Will Increase by $1.12 – Effective Jan 1
In accordance with the IAM Constitution and as noted in the attached letter, their monthly per capita tax is increased by using the average of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and the
TCU SPECIAL ALERT – NATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
National negotiations between the freight railroads in national negotiations and the TCU Coalition remain stalled, hostage to the carriers’ unremitting demands for major concessionary changes to the plan design of GA-23000. Negotiations began in January of 2015. TCU invoked mediation in October 2015. The parties have met regularly since then under the auspices of the
Transportation Unions Ready for New Congress, Trump Administration
In a recent release from the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member: Transportation union leaders across all sectors gathered for their post-election meeting to assess the landscape in Washington and lay the groundwork for a unified effort under a Trump Administration. “Our discussion was focused on boosting investment in transportation
RRB Releases – Railroad Retirement and Unemployment Insurance Taxes in 2017
In a recent release from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): The amounts of compensation subject to railroad retirement tier I and tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2017, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will continue to include