General Information

(Source: Trains.com, December 29, 2023) Martin J. Oberman isn’t ready to retire just yet. That much was clear from his impassioned talk at a recent Northwestern University Transportation Center gathering. Full story: Trains.com

The lifetime maximum benefit for the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit Plan (also known as ERMA or GA-46000) will increase from $188,000 to $195,100 on January 1, 2024. At the end of 2001, Labor and Management agreed on various procedures to administer the annual changes in the amount of the lifetime maximum…

In a November 21 letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, urged the Senate to “expeditiously” schedule a floor vote on the reappointment of National Mediation Board (NMB) Members Linda Puchala and Deirdre Hamilton, and the confirmation of Loren Sweatt to be a Member of the Board. The appointment has been delayed…

The California High-Speed Rail Authority and 13 rail labor unions, including BLET, announced on November 17 that they have entered an agreement that ensures the hard-earned gains in federal labor laws will be applicable to the operations of the nation’s first high-speed rail project. This agreement will cover an estimated 3,000 workers. More information is available…

(Source: Trains.com, November 20, 2023) CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs dished out some tough love for the industry last week while reflecting on his nearly 14 months at the helm of the railroad. The former Ford Motor Co. executive has learned a lot about railroading in his travels around the CSX system but is puzzled by…