Politically, the time is ripe for this petition and we wholeheartedly applaud the initiative of Brothers Futhey and Rodzwicz. We hope this leads to many more such cooperative actions in the future. We also hope that the BLET and UTU are actively seeking the public support of the eleven other unions which represent rail workers in the US.
Railroad Workers United urges all rail union members across the U.S. to join us in a show of SOLIDARITY by wearing a BLACK SHIRT to work on Friday, June 19th, Fathers Day Weekend.(Press Release Here)
A few weeks ago on Mother's Day, Conductor Jared Boehlke was killed in the line of duty while working RCO alone in Selkirk, NY. A few days later, signal maintainer John Pichalski, Jr. was killed in Middletown, Pa., while repairing a damaged railroad crossing. His death brought the total for 2009 to twelve.
Thanks to everyone's efforts we are now at 4,359 signatures on our petition drive to change railroad retirement. That is rank and file signatures from all rail labor organizations and to date it represents responses from 27 states!! .
You can help with the campaign to reform Railroad Retirement. Download, print and circulate the RWU Reform Railroad Retirement RESOLUTION, FLYER and PETITION.
WASHINGTON - A special pension fund for railroad workers that was given permission during the Bush administration to invest its assets in the stock market lost more than a third of its value during a recent 18-month period, a loss that could influence an ongoing debate about how to keep government-affiliated retirement programs solvent.
Video from workshop with Nancy Lessin about Behaviorial Based Safety programs like the TSC and WPO
The Union Pacific has TSC(Total Safety Culture) and The BNSF has WPO(Work Practices Observation) Programs I am not sure about other carriers out there who are under similar programs, but if it is based on your working behavior your company is starting on you. These are Behavior Based Safety Programs, Take a look at this Video, I sincerely believe your Local committees will be more informed about making decisions about these programs if all their members see this Video. The consequences of doing the BBS are long term.
Railroad workers are increasingly being exposed to behavior based safety programs which are not about safety at all. Read this resolution for insights and an alternative!
Demonstrations in more than 20 cities took on the health insurance companies on June 19th, 2008. Read the RWU resolution in favor of Single Payer Health Care as embodied in House Resolution 676, the Conyers "Medicare for All Bill"
Whereas: the rail carriers have succeeded for years in establishing “pattern contracts” by first bargaining with one of the rail unions, and then using provisions of the Railway Labor Act to “force” that pattern on remaining unions;
