BLET News
4 union leaders: Coronavirus is a stress test for capitalism, and we are seeing encouraging signs
(Source: USA Today column by Randi Weingarten, Chris Shelton, Mary Kay Henry and James P. Hoffa, April 13, 2020. Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers. Chris Shelton is president of the Communications Workers of America. Mary Kay Henry is international president of the Service Employees International Union. James P. Hoffa is…
Read MoreRail labor groups seek federal oversight on temporary waivers
(Source: Freight Waves, April 13, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO is asking Administrator Ron Batory of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to ensure that the freight railroads are using furloughed workers first before seeking a waiver to be exempt from safety-related regulations. Full story: Freight Waves Tuesday, April 14,…
Read MoreU.S. Department of Labor issues enforcement guidance for recording cases of COVID-19
(Source: U.S. Department of Labor press release, April 10, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued interim guidance for enforcing OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements (29 CFR Part 1904) as it relates to recording cases of COVID-19. Under OSHA’s recordkeeping requirements, COVID-19 is a recordable illness, and employers…
Read MoreRail Labor to FRA: Recalling furloughed employees must come before safety waivers
(Source: AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department press release, April 9, 2020) The Honorable Ronald BatoryAdministratorFederal Railroad AdministrationU.S. Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Avenue, SEWashington, DC 20590 Dear Administrator Batory: On March 13th, the FRA opened the Emergency Relief Docket (FRA-2020-0002) for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), activating the provisions of 49 CFR § 211.45. These provisions grant the FRA…
Read MoreGovernments, transit agencies, railroads respond to COVID-19 impact
(Source: Progressive Railroading April 2020) By Julie Sneider and Vesna Brajkovic Governments, transit-rail agencies and railroads have been spending the past several weeks responding to the coronavirus pandemic. In March, Congress passed a massive federal stimulus package and two other bills to help the nation deal with the coronavirus pandemic. The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security…
Read More