Archive for October 2020
Metra sues UP for breach of contract
(Source: Metra press release, October 14, 2020) CHICAGO — Metra today sued Union Pacific Railroad for breach of contract, accusing the freight railroad of severely damaging Metra’s bottom line, reputation and customer experience by an “arbitrary and capricious” refusal to deploy its conductors on the three lines that UP owns and operates in the Metra system.…
Read MoreRail industry marks 40 years of transformation under Staggers Act
(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/14/2020) Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, which partially deregulated the U.S. freight-rail industry so that railroads could operate in a competitive market place. Signed by President Jimmy Carter on Oct. 14, 1980, the act and its implementation by the Interstate Commerce Commission — now the Surface…
Read MoreFord Mexico CEO asks Mexican government to quell railroad blockades
(Source: Freight Waves, October 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Héctor Pérez, CEO of Ford’s Mexico unit, said Monday the Mexican government should do more to stop ongoing railway blockades across the country. Full story: Freight Waves Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Read MoreCSX pays $95,000 in back wages to whistleblower
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) press release, October 13, 2020) ATLANTA, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered CSX Transportation Inc. – headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida – to reinstate and pay more than $95,000 in back wages to an employee terminated…
Read MoreTriMet declares impasse on union contract negotiations
(Source: Progressive Railroading 10/13/2020) The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) last week declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 (ATU), which represents more than 2,700 TriMet employees. Since October 2019, TriMet and ATU have completed 15 negotiation sessions and four mediation sessions with no headway on major issues, TriMet…
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