General Information
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 MoreClass I employment grew a bit in February
(Source: Progressive Railroading 03/30/2021) U.S. Class Is employed 114,068 people in mid-February, up 0.53% from mid-January but down 10.63% compared with employment during the same period a year ago, according to Surface Transportation Board data. Four of six employment categories registered employment increases in February compared with January’s level. They were: maintenance of way and structures, up…
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 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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