11,062 signatures of railroad workers of all crafts, and management, and spouses from all railroad in the United States that are willing, to date,  to stand up and say that now is the time to reform railroad retirement.  If anybody should ask, or wonder, yes we are still accepting signatures either on a paper petition, or online at Railroad Workers United.  http://railroadworkersunited.org/    Quite a few folks have asked what they can do to help.

 How can we move this issue forward?  I glad you asked and here is what I am asking everyone to do.  Attached to this email are two letters.  They are both the same except in different formats.  I am asking everyone to print off copies of that letter, then make copies of it.  Next, if you do not have a copy of the Railroad Workers United resolution to reform railroad retirement please go to http://railroadworkersunited.org/ and print off copies.  If at all possible provide copies to other railroad workers of both the resolution and the letter and ask them to make copies and do the same,  but save some for yourself and your spouse/significant other. 

Send a copy of the resolution and a copy of the letter ( or write a letter yourself) and put them in envelopes and mail them to your Congressmen, Senators, Vice-President Biden, President Obama, and a few other legislators:  

United States Congressman Hon.  James Oberstar 2365 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C.  20515-2308

  United States Congressman Hon.  George Miller 2205 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C.  20515  

United States Senator John D. Rockefeller IV 311 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C.  20510  

United States Senator Robert C. Byrd 311 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C.  20510  

 

A useful site to find your representatives addresses as well as the President and the Vice-President is  http://www.congress.org/   After you have put your letters in the envelopes along with a copy of the resolution please write on the envelope somewhere "create jobs-reform railroad retirement"  and ask all of your coworkers to do the same. 

  I am sending a letter to each of those representatives listed as well as President Obama, Vice-President Biden, and my own representatives which is more detailed about each point of proposed changes.  With the action going on in Washington in regards to the economy, jobs, affordable health care to name a few I believe that now is the time for the voice of the rank and file to be heard.  I firmly believe they will listen.  This also can lead to a full actuarial study of the financial feasibility of these proposed changes.  With the figures that were provided by a complete actuarial study in 1999, and the partial study provided earlier this year, it appears that not only will the proposed changes NOT bankrupt our retirement system, it could actually cover the cost of the proposed changes and add revenue to the Railroad Retirement Fund.  It can happen.  In order for it to happen, though, will take the efforts of everyone.  

Additionally, this effort to reform railroad retirement has been ongoing for nearly one year.  The cost of this effort is provided by the annual dues of members of Railroad Workers United and volunteers.  The annual dues are fifty dollars.  For the many issues, as well as this effort, that is more than reasonable.  Go to the Railroad Workers United site and read the various efforts that are being acted on for the benefit of all rail labor.  Check out the various links.  This is not an organization of malcontents that are undermining a labor organization but rather a group of working railroaders that are trying to help.  And while your there consider joining the Railroad Workers United.  (it can be done online and paid through PayPal.  With over 11,000 petition signatures to date, if one fourth joined that would more than cover the cost of this effort as well as the others.  
 
email:  changerrretirement@railroadworkersunited.org