rail labor

Labor unions press Class I railroads on healthcare benefits

A photograph of a freight train travelling in front of tall city buildings.

Twelve rail unions have banded together to sue the Class I railroads over proposed healthcare benefit-related provisions, saying that the railroads have refused to address the provisions during the collective bargaining process that began on November 1, 2019.

The unions say they want the U.S. operations of the Class I railroads to address proposed restrictions to accessing certain medications and proposed reconfigurations of healthcare networks during the collective bargaining process and not...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/labor-unions-press-class-i-railroads-on-healthcare-benefits

Labor union presses railroads on additional coronavirus measures

A photograph of two locomotive engines. Two men are standing in front of the locomotives.

The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), a U.S. rail labor union affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, wants the freight railroads to privately mandate the testing and tracing of the COVID-19 virus among employees after the recent deaths of several members.

“The pandemic is not slowing nationally. Numbers are rising and the death toll is increasing. We understand that train service must continue. We remain willing — as always — to work to that goal,”...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/labor-union-presses-railroads-on-additional-coronavirus-measures

Rail unions seek to protect benefits from spending cuts

A photograph of two train locomotives. There are two men standing in front of each train.

U.S. railroad unions want federal lawmakers to remove the unemployment and sickness benefits of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) from the list of government programs subject to automatic spending cuts.

The unions have pressed the two U.S. Senators from Ohio, Rob Portman (R) and Sherrod Brown (D), to co-sponsor language within the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) that would amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 so that RUIA benefits would be among government...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rail-unions-seek-to-protect-benefits-from-spending-cuts

Rail groups split on Democrats’ infrastructure bill

A photograph on a train with a city landscape behind it.

A number of the railroad-related items listed in the 846-page, $500 billion infrastructure bill introduced by House Democrats this week could face some hot debate as it goes through Congress, judging by the reactions of rail trade groups and rail labor.

The bill, entitled Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America), is a five-year, $494 billion surface reauthorization bill unveiled on June 3 by the U.S. House and Transportation &...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-groups-split-on-democrats-infrastructure-bill

Federal Railroad Administration extends temporary safety waivers

A photograph of two railcars.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is extending the length of time that freight and passenger railroads are waived from complying with certain safety regulations, according to recent filings.

In March,  the agency granted the temporary waivers because of the coronavirus pandemic. Freight and passenger railroad trade groups had argued that social distancing makes it difficult to comply with some of the safety regulations, such as those for drug and alcohol testing, training and crew...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/federal-railroad-administration-extends-temporary-safety-waivers

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