General Information
U.S. freight-rail volumes rose in February
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/03/2022) Less severe winter weather last month helped boost U.S. freight-rail volumes compared with February 2021 levels, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced yesterday. U.S. railroads logged 1,945,646 carloads and intermodal units last month, a 5.7% increase compared with February 2021 volumes, according to AAR data. Carload volume climbed 11% to 915,329 units,…
Read MorePetition drive launched to compel action on carrier attendance policies
CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 7, 2022) — In conjunction with the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) urge all members to engage in a petition drive to bring attention to the draconian and punitive attendance policies that have forced rail workers to live…
Read MoreU.S. freight-rail volumes rose in February
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/03/2022) Less severe winter weather last month helped boost U.S. freight-rail volumes compared with February 2021 levels, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced yesterday. U.S. railroads logged 1,945,646 carloads and intermodal units last month, a 5.7% increase compared with February 2021 volumes, according to AAR data. Carload volume climbed 11% to 915,329 units,…
Read MoreQ&A: Longevity of Railroad Retirement beneficiaries
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, February 17, 2022) CHICAGO — Every three years, the Railroad Retirement Board’s Chief Actuary conducts a study of the longevity of its annuitants, as part of a valuation of future revenues and benefit payments. These studies consider male and female age and service annuitants, disability annuitants, and spouse and survivor…
Read MoreJudge rules “Hi-Viz” attendance policy court case as a “minor” dispute
The following is a joint statement from Dennis Pierce, National President, BLET and Jeremy Ferguson, President, SMART Transportation Division: Today the judge considering the case between BNSF and the SMART-TD and BLET unions over the carrier’s new “Hi-Viz” attendance policy ruled that the dispute was “minor” under the provisions of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). What does this mean? It…
Read More