BLET News
CSX 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 MoreRailroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits will see slight decrease in new sequestration reduction rate
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, September 30, 2020) CHICAGO — Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and a subsequent sequestration order to implement mandated cuts, railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits are reduced by a set percentage that is subject to revision at the beginning of each fiscal year. Starting October 1, 2020, the…
Read MoreAmtrak warns of 2,400 additional job losses without new bailout
(Source: Reuters, October 8, 2020) WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. government-supported passenger railroad Amtrak said on Thursday that without a new government bailout it could be forced to cut more spending and train services which could lead to the loss of another 2,400 jobs. Full story: Reuters Monday, October 12, 2020
Read MoreCargill urging regulators to keep track of Precision Scheduled Railroading performance
(Source: Freight Waves, October 8, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Responding to pressure to be more transparent about their service performance following the major railroad mergers of the 1990s, the freight railroads began providing shippers and regulators weekly data on metrics such as rail car velocity and terminal dwell times. Full story: Freight Waves Monday, October 12,…
Read MoreU.S. freight railroads meeting harvest season needs, say shippers on STB advisory panel
(Source: Freight Waves, October 7, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Despite having locomotives in storage and personnel furloughed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. freight railroads have been able to bring back resources and meet the needs for rail service so far this harvest season, shippers said at a biennial meeting of the…
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