General Information
Competing countries, strong dollar influence U.S. grain exports
(Source: Freight Waves, April 14, 2020) CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — U.S. rail volumes for grain are facing ongoing headwinds in both the international and domestic markets, with factors such as a strong U.S. dollar and competition from other grain-producing countries weighing on export-bound volumes, while the coronavirus pandemic is putting pressure on domestic volumes, according to…
Read MorePresident Pierce coronavirus interview to air on Teamster Nation podcast
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 14 — BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce will discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Rail Labor and the railroad industry in an interview on the Teamster Nation podcast, which will be aired on Wednesday, April 15. In his role as President of the Teamsters Rail Conference, President Pierce will talk…
Read MoreReport: U.S. railroads push against rising demand for crude-oil storage in rail cars
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/14/2020) U.S. railroads are pushing against oil companies’ increasing demand to store crude oil in rail cars, according to Reuters. Globally, storage space for crude oil could run out by mid-2020, according to IHS Markit, and most U.S. onshore storage is expected to fill by May, the news service reported. However, railroads including Union Pacific…
Read MoreUnions to FRA: Railroads must recall furloughed workers before seeking safety waivers
(Source: Progressive Railroading 04/14/2020) A coalition of rail labor organizations is asking the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to ensure freight railroads are recalling furloughed workers before seeking waivers from federal safety regulations. In an April 9 letter to Federal Railroad Administrator Ronald Batory, the unions said there “must be a strong burden of proof for rail carriers to demonstrate…
Read More4 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…
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