Washington, DC – Larry I. Willis, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issues this statement in response to the Federal Railroad Administration rejecting a request from Kansas City Southern Railway to conduct safety-sensitive brake tests in Mexico: “We learned yesterday that the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) denied a request by Kansas City Southern
This week saw an extraordinary outcry from California’s congressional delegation demanding that Amtrak keep its Riverside call center open, and 500 TCU/IAM members employed. Combined, the three letters sent this week amount to 40 California members of the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the state’s two U.S. Senators – all with essentially the
TCU/IAM National Vice President Jack Dinsdale leading a rally to protest to closure and outsourcing of 500 jobs at Amtrak’s Riverside, CA call center. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Yesterday, TCU/IAM members from Amtrak’s Riverside call center rallied to save their jobs.
Join Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) and TCU National Vice President Ron Kloos tomorrow for a Facebook Live discussion about Amtrak’s decision to close its Riverside, CA call center, put 500 TCU members out of a job, and send their work to a low-wage, no-benefit outsourcer. Who: Rep. Mark Takano & TCU NVP Ron Kloos
This election is crucial for TCU/IAM members as we have a chance to elect our friends that will write critical legislation next Congress. On the ballot this November are a number of key issues for TCU/IAM members: Railroad Jobs (Clerks, Carmen, Intermodal, and others) Amtrak Jobs (Clerks, On-board Service, Carmen, and Supervisors), Long-Distance Train Service,
The following is an article by Transportation Trades Department (TTD, AFL-CIO) President Larry Willis. TCU/IAM is an affiliate of TTD’s Rail Labor Division. SEP 20, 2018 MOVEAMERICA BLOG, RAIL FREIGHT RAIL SAFETY, JOBS MUST NOT BE JEOPARDIZED IN PURSUIT OF PROFITS By Larry I. Willis There is little disagreement among lawmakers, frontline workers, government agencies, and even
Earlier this summer, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) visited with Amtrak reservations agents at call centers in their respective districts. Their visits came at a crucial time as Amtrak is currently in the process of setting up an outsourcer and could shutter one of the two facilities. Combined, the call centers
On Tuesday, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) sent a letter to leaders of the Congressional committees with trade jurisdiction. The letter urges them to consider the effect of renegotiating NAFTA on the railroad industry. AAR President Ed Hamberger wrote, “approximately 50,000 rail jobs and more than $5.5 billion in annual wages and benefits…depend directly
For the second year in a row, President Trump’s budget calls for Amtrak funding to be cut in half. This year’s budget again asks to cut funding from the current $1.495 billion to $738 million in FY19. And though the math is the same, the Administration’s goals have apparently changed. Last year’s budget simply called
President Trump has nominated former Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) to serve a five-year term on Amtrak’s Board of Directors. This is very concerning to anyone that supports, rides, or works on Amtrak as Mr. Westmoreland has a long history of voting against the nation’s passenger rail carrier: On March 4th, 2015, he voted for the McClintock
