Patience, persistence will ensure HSR
In 2008, California voters authorized a $9.95 billion bond measure as a down-payment for a high-speed rail project linking the Sacramento (in northern California), the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles. The projected $98 billion route subsequently won $3.3 billion in federal grants. But with California in the midst of a severe budget shortfall, voter opinion has turned negative. A recent public opinion poll found that 64 percent of registered California voters (73 percent of Republicans and 49 percent of Democrats) would reject the project if given a second chance to vote on it -- most citing the escalating costs and long-term completion date. But don’t assume the California … Read More
FRA seeks new passenger train safety rules
Improvements to existing passenger train emergency systems regulations have been proposed by the Federal Railroad Administration. The improvements are aimed at helping passengers and passenger-train crew members better locate and operate emergency exits during evacuations, and to assist first responders in reaching trapped passengers more quickly. U.S. passenger railroads, including Amtrak and commuter carriers already have the most advanced passenger safety regulations on the globe. The Congressional Budget Office reported in 2003 that European and Asian nations impose lower crashworthiness standards than are imposed in the United States. Specifically, the proposed new rules affect … Read More
Great Lakes crews spreading wings over N.D.
JAMESTOWN, N.D. -- Great Lakes Airlines crews represented by the UTU will soon be flying in and out of Jamestown. The Department of Transportation selected Great Lakes Airlines to provide air service to Jamestown Regional Airport through the Essential Air Service program, which partially subsidizes flights to small communities with federal funds. The airport reported record passenger boardings in 2011. Great Lakes is tentatively scheduled to take over from Delta Air Lines, the previous EAS provider, March 12. Great Lakes will offer 18 round-trip flights per week between Jamestown and Minneapolis, using 19-seat Beech 1900 planes. The UTU represents pilots and flight attendants at the … Read More
Notice to UTU local treasurers
UTU local treasurers must file Internal Revenue Service forms W-2 and W-3 forms for all employees receiving wages in 2011. The W-2 form reports wages paid to employees, and the Social Security or Railroad Retirement taxes and Medicare taxes withheld, and must be filed with the Social Security Administration by Feb. 29, and provided to employees on or before Jan. 31. The Social Security Administration reports relevant amounts on the W-2 to the Internal Revenue Service. The W-3 form is sent to the Social Security Administration (even for employees under Railroad Retirement) no later than Feb. 29, and shows total earnings, Social Security wages or Railroad Retirement wages, Medicare wages and withholding for all employees in tax year 2011. Copy A of the W-2 form must also be sent with the … (Read More)
UTUIA now accepting scholarship applications
The UTUIA is now accepting scholarship applications for the UTU/UTUIA Scholarship Program. Information regarding the scholarship and the application process is below. The application form printed in the January edition of the UTU News is the official scholarship application form and is the only one that will be accepted. If you need an application form, write to the address below, and include your UTU local or UTUIA local unit number. Deadline Applications must be received each year by the last business day in March. Applications Only one application may be submitted per student. Incomplete, photocopied or duplicate applications will not be accepted. The application form printed in the traditional print version of the January edition of the UTU News is the official scholarship … (Read More)
Conductor certification now a reality
WASHINGTON – It's now official. Conductor certification, mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, became effective Jan. 1. In a final rule, published by the Federal Railroad Administration Nov. 9, railroads were ordered to implement, by Jan. 1, a formal training program for certifying conductors and a formal process for training prospective conductors, thus ensuring job competency. The FRA's final rule on conductor certification follows many of the provisions of locomotive engineer certification, with a number of improvements the UTU, joined by the BLET, was able to obtain. Following are highlights of the final rule, which ran almost 300 pages in the Nov. 9 Federal Register. * While the railroad and its employees must comply with the final rule, there is no limitation … Read More
‘Tis the season for sweets — and restraint
By Dr. Norman K. BrownUTU Medical Consultant When I want to get started on a job that I have been putting off, I eat a few chocolate chip cookies (think sugar), and my enthusiasm picks right up and I am on my way. Unfortunately, there is a downside to our easy access to energy-packed food – sugars. If we eat more sugars (think calories) than we burn up in a day, our bodies, being good stewards, turn this spare energy into fat. When we continue this, day-after-day, excess fat can make us vulnerable to many medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks and liver ailments. Please note that I say sugars, not just sugar, since there are many sugars, and newer information indicates which ones we eat may make a difference. Table sugar contains both … [Read More...]
UTU Collective Bargaining Defense Fund
Updates: Walking papers for Wis. Gov. Walker (01/18/12) Indiana commencing new assault on labor unions (01/03/12) Back to Wisconsin (11/30/11) Ohio voters restore collective bargaining rights (11/09/11) Against odds, labor sends loud message in Wisconsin (08/10/11) Fund fuels another win (07/15/11) Wisconsin decision will embolden extremists (06/15/11) At 97, former UTU president still leads fight (05/24/11) Working families are under attack (04/12/11) Labor rallies produce the votes we want (04/07/11) Our strength is in our PAC and numbers (03/11/11) Martin: We must fight attacks on collective bargaining (03/09/11) Donations to the Collective Bargaining Defense Fund By International President Mike Futhey In state after state, anti-union right-wing extremists are … [Read More...]
