BLET News
NTSB investigates death of conductor at BNSF facility in Louisiana, Mo.
(Source: Associated Press, April 12, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death of a BNSF employee in northeast Missouri. BNSF officials say 56-year-old Buddy Strieker, of Hannibal, died Wednesday while working at a customer facility in Louisiana, Mo. The railroad said Strieker was a conductor who worked BNSF for…
Read MoreU.S. DOT lists transportation projects in $3 trillion plan to woo Congress
(Source: CQ-Roll Call, April 9, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Transportation Department is engaging with lawmakers by sending out a spreadsheet filled with specifics as an opening salvo in what promises to be a pitched debate over President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan. Full story: www.masstransitmag.com Monday, April 12, 2021
Read MoreComparison of benefits under Railroad Retirement and Social Security
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, March 30, 2021) CHICAGO — Employers and employees covered by the Railroad Retirement Act pay higher retirement taxes than those covered by the Social Security Act. As a result, railroad retirement benefits are higher than social security benefits, especially for “career” employees (those employees who have 30 or more years…
Read MoreFactbox: What’s in Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan?
(Source: Reuters, March 31, 2021) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The infrastructure plan U.S. President Joe Biden will roll out in Pittsburgh on Wednesday includes $2.3 trillion in investments aimed at everything from fixing 10,000 bridges to tearing lead pipes of out millions of homes in the United States. Full story: Reuters Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Read MoreUpdate from Railroad Retirement Board’s Labor Member regarding American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
(BLET Editor’s Note: The following is a message to Rail Labor from John Bragg, Labor Member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board.) CHICAGO, March 30 — As you may have heard, Congress recently enacted legislation to provide some financial relief to railroaders. In the legislation entitled the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Congress…
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