Job Insurance for TCU Members
With LECMPA job insurance, TCU members protect themselves from wage loss due to discipline.
RRB Releases Redesigned Website
In their continuing effort to expand the resources available, on June 10 the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) launched a redesigned, more easily navigated website. While website visitors will experience more streamlined access to essential information, all relevant content and functionality will remain the same. Members may view the updated website features at www.rrb.gov. The
New Campaign to Defend Amtrak Long-Distance Trains – #Rally4Trains
The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) launched a new campaign – Towns Without Trains – in an effort to organize against President Trump’s plans to eliminate Amtrak’s long-distance service. On the weekend of June 23rd, the campaign aims to spur local rallies all across the country to tell Congress to keep and support Amtrak’s long-distance service. Over 220
OneRail Coalition Asks Congress For Infrastructure Spending
The OneRail coalition sent a letter to the heads of the House and Senate Budget Committees asking them to boost infrastructure spending. The letter acknowledges the difficult choices facing budget writers and appropriators, but reminds elected officials of the great return-on-investment that infrastructure spending provides to the general public. OneRail Coalition Letter to Budget Committees
Trump Budget Will Cost Jobs
President Trump released his budget proposal for FY18, and it’s devastating for TCU members. Some highlights include: Eliminates Amtrak Long-Distance service – Trump’s budget cuts Amtrak’s overall funding in half, from $1.404 billion annually to $774 million. Trump’s budget states that “long distance trains do not serve a vital transportation purpose, and are a
Video: Why ‘Right-to-Work’ Is Wrong
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich put together a video explaining why ‘Right-to-Work’ laws are bad for workers, and bad for America. TCU/IAM will be posting more information and materials on why ‘Right-to-Work’ is bad for railroad workers, but until then, please give this informative video a watch!
TCU Leaders attend Legislative Conference & Lobby Congress
Last week (May 8-10), TCU/IAM leaders from across the country came to Washington, DC, to attend the 2017 Machinists Legislative Conference. Attendees heard from various congressional speakers including Senators Angus King (I – ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). They also heard from Congressmen Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin
BNSF Rail Facts: What happens if mediation fails in national bargaining
BNSF and the other large U.S. railroads began the latest bargaining round with three labor union coalitions (representing about 145,000 railroad employees) in early 2015. Now in the third year of labor negotiations, the parties have been in mediation since at least the beginning of this year. Click here to read the full release from
Edward Wytkind on Medium: As Public Transit Goes, So Goes the Nation
In a release on Medium website, Ed Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department AFL-CIO (TTD) of which TCU is a member stated: While public transit continues to be a lifeline for millions of Americans, too many transit agencies nationwide are failing with upkeep and modernization efforts and thus experiencing system failures. That isn’t just
Railroad Retirement Survivor Benefits
Monthly benefits may be payable under the Railroad Retirement Act to the surviving widow(er), children, and certain other dependents of a railroad employee if the employee was “insured” under that Act at the time of death. Lump-sum death benefits may also be payable to qualified survivors in some cases. Click here to view the questions
TTD’s Ed Wytkind Pens Amtrak Op-Ed in Wall Street Journal
On Sunday, Ed Wytkind, the President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, wrote a letter-to-the-editor of the Wall Street Journal in response to their previous editorial that largely bashed Amtrak. The article is behind a paywall so we’ve pasted the text of the letter below. Give Amtrak the Resources It Needs to Be Great We need