Cleanup efforts continue from Sunday’s derailment of UP train near Alton, Iowa
(Source: Sioux City Journal, September 24, 2018) ALTON, Iowa — Cleanup efforts are continuing following a Sunday train derailment around Third and River streets in this Sioux County town. A bridge beneath a 95-car Union Pacific train collapsed, derailing 37 cars at 4:30 a.m. Sunday. Twenty of those cars carrying soybean oil and sand went into…
Read MoreBipartisan group of 27 U.S. legislators urge DOT’s Chao to block KCS safety waiver that allows Mexican train crews to operate in U.S.
(BLET Editor’s Note: The following press release was issued by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.)WASHINGTON, D.C., September 18 — On September 17, House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Ranking Member Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a bipartisan letter, signed by 27…
Read MoreTrump officials roll back Obama-era ECP brake rule
(Source: The Hill, September 24, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration on Monday repealed a mandate that would have required trains carrying crude oil to use special brakes with new technology. The Department of Transportation’s Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said it undertook a congressionally mandated analysis of the provision in a 2015…
Read MoreTTD: Freight rail safety, jobs must not be jeopardized in pursuit of profits
(Source: Column by AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) President Larry I Willis, September 20, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — There is little disagreement among lawmakers, frontline workers, government agencies, and even rail carriers themselves that freight rail in this country must be held to the highest safety standards and oversight rules. Yet, as we speak, the Federal Railroad Administration…
Read MoreAFL-CIO TTD: Building pro-worker momentum
(Source: AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD) press release, September 12, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Executive Committee of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), gathered today to set an aggressive agenda focused on creating and sustaining the kind of good jobs working families want and need by strengthening America’s transportation network and improving workplace safety.This meeting comes…
Read MoreAAR reports rail traffic for week ending September 8, 2018
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, September 12, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending September 8, 2018. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 502,208 carloads and intermodal units, up 4.1 percent compared with the same week last year. Total…
Read MoreRRB Q&A: The importance of a current connection for Railroad Retirement Benefits
(Source: Railroad Retirement Board press release, August 27, 2018) CHICAGO — Under the Railroad Retirement Act, a “current connection with the railroad industry” is one of the eligibility requirements for occupational disability annuities, and is one of the factors that determine whether the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) or the Social Security Administration has jurisdiction over the…
Read MoreUnions seek to block new anti-union law in Missouri
(Source: Associated Press, August 27, 2018) JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Unions representing teachers and other public employees sued on Monday to try to block a new Missouri law that they claim imposes “a raft of harsh restrictions” that “effectively eviscerates” their right to organize and bargain on behalf of employees. A Missouri law set to…
Read MoreHoffa: U.S.-Mexico agreement is first step towards better North American trade
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 27, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The following is a statement from Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa about the bilateral agreement-in-principle announced today between the U.S. and Mexico to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “The Teamsters Union has long been a leader in demanding real reforms…
Read MoreTeamsters triumph in bid to reverse Executive Orders that targeted federal public employees
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 17, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia, Ketanji Brown Jackson has delivered a significant victory to the Teamsters and several other unions that filed suit challenging three Executive Orders issued by the president on May 25, 2018. Brown determined that…
Read MoreOpen enrollment for the BLET Short Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) coverage
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, August 29 — Open Enrollment for the BLET’s Short Term Disability On-The-Job (Part B) insurance will end on August 31, 2018. Those who enroll will have their coverage take effect on September 1, 2018. If you are a locomotive engineer working on a participating railroad your Off-The-Job (Part A) coverage of the BLET…
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AAR weekly traffic data: U.S., Canadian roads remain on the uptick
(Source: Progressive Railroading 08/23/2018) Thirty-three weeks into the year, U.S railroads’ traffic continued to mount. During the week ending Aug. 18, they moved 567,477 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.7 percent year over year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data. U.S carloads increased 2.9 percent to 278,701 units and intermodal volume rose 4.4 percent…
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Washington, Ohio agencies OK grade crossing projects
(Source: Progressive Railroading 08/27/2018) Agencies in Washington and Ohio have approved upgrades to railroad crossings. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved a $19,084 grant from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund to improve a grade crossing on Walnut Street in Bingen, Washington. BNSF Railway Co., which owns the track, has agreed to the request and will complete…
Read MoreFRA publishes railroads’ second quarter 2018 PTC data
(Source: Federal Railroad Administration press release, August 24, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released the 2018 Quarter 2 status update on railroads’ self-reported progress toward implementing positive train control (PTC) systems. The latest data, current as of June 30, 2018, shows that 15 railroads have installed…
Read MoreAAR reports rail traffic for week ending August 18, 2018
(Source: Association of American Railroads press release, August 22, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association of American Railroads (AAR) today reported U.S. rail traffic for the week ending August 18, 2018. For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 567,477 carloads and intermodal units, up 3.7 percent compared with the same week last year. Total…
Read MoreCEOs see pay soar while workers gain little
(Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters press release, August 22, 2018) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Workers’ salaries may be stuck in limbo, but that isn’t stopping top company executives from being rewarded financially. A new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) shows that compensation for chief executive officers at the top 350 publicly traded companies in the…
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Do not let the title of this article fool you. I do not mean eating your way through the menu at McDonald’s or polishing off an entire pumpkin pie at an upcoming holiday dinner (but if wishing made it so). I’m talking about foods that help boost your mood.
Health care and health insurance is confusing and constantly changing. It seems cliche to say that, but it’s true. Which is exactly why you need to understand your health plan in order to maximize the benefits. We’ve got some tips on how to do just that.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), only 17 percent of adults in the U.S. are in “optimal mental health.” In fact, it is estimated that one in five people deal with some kind of mental health issue—anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc—that impacts our daily life.
No one can argue that social media—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc—has changed the way we interact. And now enter the iGen (short for iGeneration), the post-millennials who will be born never knowing a world without an iPhone or Facebook. (Note: I still remember my first phone, affectionately called ‘The Brick’ which I carried to and from my car like a purse.)
What does a box of cereal, a bag of pretzels and a jar of salsa have in common? The answer is a nutrition facts label. Most all food and/or food packaging requires a nutrition facts label, although there are exceptions for things like fresh fruits, vegetables and fish or edible products that have little to zero nutritional value (food coloring or tea, as an example). While most people look at the nutrition facts label, the real question is, do they understand it?
Type 2 Diabetes is a serious disease and is a growing health crisis in the U.S. But in most cases, Type 2 Diabetes is preventable—or reversible. By taking simple, common sense steps, you can manage your disease and prevent more serious complications.
Ever wonder what all the information means on your health insurance card? What phone number do you call? Why is there a BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) logo? Who is OptumRx? We’ve got a complete explanation of what it all means.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month so all month long, we’ll be providing you with resources and information on screening, treatment, risk factors and symptoms.
As of Monday, August 27, 2018, UPREHS members should start ordering prescriptions and refills directly on the Depot Drug website, www.depotdrug.com. Here is some important information about this pharmacy ordering change.
Sunday, August 26th is National Dog Day—the four-legged kind not the one that goes in a bun. In honor of that, and being a dog-lover myself, I thought I’d explore the health benefits of man’s best friend.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen - UP Western Region GCA represents locomotive engineers working in the Western Region of the Union Pacific Railroad, which encompasses Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and portions of Nevada. We also represent members on the Portland & Western Railroad as well as the Portland Terminal Railroad.
Disclaimer: This website is not affiliated with Union Pacific Railroad, and the information contained within these web pages may not reflect the views or opinions of the Union Pacific Railroad.