Posts by William Wallace
RRB advises rail workers impacted by Hurricane Harvey
(From a Railroad Retirement Board press release.) INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, September 1 — The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is reminding rail employees out of work due to Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath that they may qualify for unemployment benefits. To determine eligibility or file claims for benefits, affected railroaders should call the RRB’s toll-free telephone…
Read MoreLabor Day 2017
By Dennis R. Pierce BLET National President INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 31 — With the Labor Day holiday upon us, it is an appropriate time to recognize unions for all they do for American workers and the nation’s economy. The American economy benefits more Americans when unions are strong. It’s no coincidence that our middle class…
Read MoreHurricane Harvey: UP uses drones to survey damage; KCS, BLET donate to relief funds
(source: Progressive Railroading 08/31/2017) Union Pacific Railroad is using helicopters and drones to inspect by air its track, bridges and signals in areas east and west of Houston where road access is unavailable due to flooding and storm damage from Hurricane Harvey. As weather and access to storm-damaged areas allow, UP is inspecting and repairing track,…
Read MoreUP eyes Houston clean-up, inspecting damaged track
(Source: Reuters, August 30, 2017) DETROIT — Union Pacific Corp said on Wednesday it should begin cleanup operations at two rail freight yards in Houston on Wednesday or Thursday but warned that areas east of the city are “still inaccessible at this time.” Full story: Reuters Thursday, August 31, 2017
Read MoreBLET relaunches Perrien Fund to assist members with Hurricane Harvey relief
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 30 — The BLET’s National Division Advisory Board approved a recommendation from BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce today to re-activate and expand its Gary Perrien Fund to provide financial assistance to members living in Texas and Louisiana who have been the hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey. The Gary Perrien Fund was…
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