http://www.bmwe.org Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Latest News mirabyte Feed Writer 1.0 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:19:03 -0500 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:19:43 -0500 Federal Law now requires the reporting of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for covered dependents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This includes participants of all medical plans, including the Railroad Plans listed above. In addition, if a covered dependent is eligible for Medicare, then the Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) is also required. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/SSNArticleSEPT2010.pdf Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:19:41 -0500 The National Mediation Board (NMB) voted 2-1 to correct the existing rules for union organizing to make it more fair for workers to organize (Docket C-6964). The rule came into effect June 30th changing the language regarding union elections to require a simple majority vote of those who participated in the election in order to ratify the union. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/August2010_Legislative.pdf Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:28:30 -0500 According to the latest information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2009 the median weekly earnings for a union member, 25 years and older, was $922.00 as compared to $749.00 for non-union workers. And, as workers get older the difference is generally greater, meaning the benefit derived from being a union member increases as the worker ages. However, according to the most recent data, union membership declined from 20.1% in 1983 to 12.3% in 2009. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/August2010_VP_Speaks.pdf Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:27:54 -0500 In 2000, President Clinton’s last year in office, the federal budget surplus amounted to $236 billion, with the ten year budget surplus forecasted to be approximately $5.6 trillion. Well, here we are ten years later, with a new projection from the Congressional Budget Office forecasting the federal government’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2010 will total $1.34 trillion. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/August2010_Secretary_Treasurer.pdf Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:27:20 -0500 Random drug and alcohol testing for maintenance of way employees will soon become a reality for BMWED members and contractors/subcontractors performing maintenance of way activities. A law mandating random drug and alcohol testing for those who perform maintenance of way activities was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 2008 as part of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). http://www.bmwed.org/journal/August2010_President.pdf Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:26:44 -0500 On August 10, 2010 the BMWED entered into an agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad that allows the carrier to operate the TRT909 Concrete Production Crew over the MP Illinois Division while providing certain protections and opportunities for both the UP North and South BMWED employees. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/August2010Journal.pdf Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:26:14 -0500 Union Pacific Railroad will spend more than $11.5 million to improve a rail line from Topeka, Kan., to Herrington, Kan., UP officials said in a prepared statement. Work on two projects covering more than 80-mile stretch of track began Aug. 19 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/09032010_News.pdf Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:07:59 -0500 The U.S. Class I railroad workforce grew to 153,046 in July, up 1.76% from July 2009 and 1% from June 2010. But those figures do not reflect the extent of railroad traffic growth, which on a revenue ton-mile basis was up 6.4% in this year’s first six months. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/08272010_News.pdf Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:21:06 -0500 Union Pacific Railroad plans to spend about $9 million to upgrade an 85-mile stretch of track between Ogallala, Neb., and Cheyenne, Wyo. To be completed by mid-September, work is divided into two projects on track sections between Ogallala and Julesburg, Neb.; and between Sidney, Neb., and Cheyenne. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/08202010_NEWS.pdf Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:42:09 -0500 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is soliciting research proposals to foster rapid development of high-speed and intercity passenger rail service technologies in the United States. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/08132010_News.pdf Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:05:47 -0500 Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) is a major Federal motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve the effectiveness of the Agency's compliance and enforcement program. http://www.teamster.org/sites/teamster.org/files/CSA_2010_Fact_Sheet.pdf Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:02:07 -0500 Dennis J. Duffy, vice chairman-Operations of Union Pacific and the longest-serving head of the operating department in company history, has decided to retire this fall, UP announced Friday. UP has named Lance M. Fritz executive vice president-Operations, effective Sept.1, with responsibility for all aspects of Union Pacific’s railroad operations. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/08062010_News.pdf Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:46:45 -0500 Brothers and Sisters, Honored Spouses, and Guests: Good morning again, and welcome to the Second Regular Convention of the BMWED. It has been my honor to serve you as Secretary-Treasurer over the past 4 years, and I thank all of you for being here and thank you for the work you will conduct here this week while in convention. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/MayJuly2010SecTrea.pdf Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:56:44 -0500 Brothers and Sisters, honored spouses and distinguished guests: Welcome to the Second Regular Convention of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the Teamster Rail Conference. It has been 123 years since the founding of our Brotherhood on a warm spring day in 1887. On that fateful Sunday morning a small group of brave men, fully exposed to the threat of severe retribution for their actions, gathered under the shade of a large oak tree along a river bank near Demopolis, Alabama to discuss their mutual problems of low wages, the hazards of their work, and the financial insecurity of their families. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/MayJuly2010PresPer.pdf Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:55:03 -0500 The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters held its Second Regular National Division Convention in Las Vegas, NV the week of June 21, 2010. Delegates representing nearly 500 BMWED Local Lodges attended the Convention and represented the interest of their lodges on each issue that came before the body. http://www.bmwed.org/journal/07262010Journal.pdf Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:49:45 -0500 Yesterday, the third-largest U.S. Class I reported first-rate financial results for the second quarter — strong enough to best Wall Street expectations and set a few records. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/07162010_News.pdf Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:27:58 -0500 A U.S. District Court judge in Los Angeles on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit, brought by Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainment, claiming that Metrolink violated train engineers' rights by installing cameras to monitor their activities. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/07092010_News.pdf Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:29:20 -0500 While U.S. Class I railroad employment continues its slow recovery from the depths of the economic downturn last year, the numbers remain significantly below pre-recession levels, a study of Surface Transportation Board reports for the last three years reveals. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/07022010_NEWS.pdf Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:22:15 -0500 Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the appointment of Rick Inclima, Director of Safety for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED), to a two-year term on the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/062910JPHInclimaDOT.pdf Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:12:37 -0500 Las Vegas, NV – BMWED National Division President Freddie N. Simpson, who also serves as a Teamster International Vice President, was reelected by acclamation today during the union’s Quadrennial Convention. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/06222010_convention.pdf Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:17:18 -0500 Las Vegas, NV – Delegates to the BMWED Second Regular Convention arrived in Las Vegas this weekend in time to register their credentials. Delegates representing nearly 500 BMWED Local Lodges will be attending the Convention. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/Convention_1.pdf Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:18:13 -0500 On Friday, the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) announced that more than 94 percent of its members voted in favor of a proposed strike at VIA Rail Canada Inc. The union set a strike deadline of midnight on June 27. http://www.bmwed.org/news/2010/06182010_NEWS.PDF Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:21:18 -0500 Later this month, CSX Intermodal (CSXI) will merge with CSX Transportation. The companies, both of which are headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., will combine on or about June 26. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/06152010_NEWS.PDF Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:21:21 -0500 Teamsters Canada Maintenance of Way Employees Division members recently ratified a tentative three-year agreement the union reached with Canadian Pacific in April. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/06042010_NEWS.pdf Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:26:13 -0500 A bill regulating pesticide spraying by railroads has been signed into law by the governor of Wisconsin, local media report. The new law requires railroads operating in Wisconsin to inform railroad employees of their use of pesticides, and prohibits a railroad from requiring an employee to work in an area to which a pesticide has been applied within 24 hours of the application of the pesticide. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/05282010_News.pdf Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:37:52 -0500 Domestic freight capacity is tightening, constraining intermodal and truckload capacity, while strong seasonal demand is driving rail volumes, according to Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.’s “Domestic Truck, Intermodal and Rail Trends” report for May. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/05212010_News.pdf Tue, 25 May 2010 01:52:06 -0500 Metra Executive Director Philip A. Pagano, who has been under investigation for financial misconduct, was struck and killed by a Metra train in Crystal Lake, Ill., Friday morning. The Crystal Lake police are conducting an investigation into Pagano’s death, which at this point has not officially been ruled either an accident or a suicide. However, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said the death “appears to be a suicide.” http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/05142010_News.pdf Sat, 15 May 2010 05:13:07 -0500 Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today applauded the National Mediation Board for changing a federal rule that now makes it fairer for airline and railway employees to form unions. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/051010_union.pdf Wed, 12 May 2010 00:41:12 -0500 A growing number of Americans think the economy is improving and three-quarters of them approve of President Obama’s handling of the economy, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/05072010_News.pdf Tue, 11 May 2010 01:39:30 -0500 After declining from September to February, crosstie purchases rebounded in a big way in March. Purchases skyrocketed 85 percent to nearly 2 million units vs. February’s total, according to the Railway Tie Association’s (RTA) monthly tie market report. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04302010_News.pdf Sat, 01 May 2010 11:06:35 -0500 The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division - International Brotherhood of Teamsters scored a major victory on April 27, 2010, when the employees of Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad chose to be represented by the BMWED. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04282010_dm&e.pdf Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:32:36 -0500 FedEx Corp. and the Teamsters union are battling over whether wide-ranging aviation legislation will contain provisions to make it easier for unions to organize airline employees and harder for carriers to cut costs by allying with rivals or outsourcing maintenance. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04232010_news.pdf Sat, 24 Apr 2010 08:50:03 -0500 Congress is poised for another partisan showdown over extending unemployment insurance, as concerns about the growing budget deficit have complicated the path forward for an otherwise popular program. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04162010_news.pdf Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:11:31 -0500 With a client list that reads like a roster of Fortune 500 firms, a little-known company with an odd name, the Talx Corporation, has come to dominate a thriving industry: helping employers process — and fight — unemployment claims. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04092010_news.pdf Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:59:09 -0500 The Party of “No” gets ready to strike once more against working families. As Congress considers much-needed relief for America’s jobless workers and debates proposals to jump-start the economy, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) blocked a stopgap bill to extend jobless benefits, saying its $9 billion cost should not be added to the national debt. Coburn’s block means the Senate, which goes on a twoweek recess today, won’t consider helping jobless workers until at least April 12 http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/04022010_news.pdf Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:46:40 -0500 http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/03262010_newsclips.pdf Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:30:02 -0500 Lyman, WY – The Executive Boards of the Unified System Division and the Pacific Federation, both divisions of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, announced a merger today between the two federations that will take affect April 1, 2010. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Unified_press_release%5B2%5D.pdf Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:12:11 -0500 Democratic leaders scrambled Sunday to pull together enough support in the House for a make-or-break decision on health-care reform later this week, expressing optimism that a package will soon be signed into law by President Obama despite a lack of firm votes for passage. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Newsclips_March_19_2010.pdf Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:27:11 -0500 For a quarter-century, American economic policy has assumed that the keys to durable national prosperity are deregulation, free trade and a swift transition to a post-industrial, services-dominated future. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Newsclips_March_12_2010[1].pdf Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:49:46 -0500 On behalf of Change To Win, a partnership of labor unions representing more than 5 million workers, I am writing to urge you to sign the "Dear Colleague" letter being circulated by Congressman Jerrold Nadler in support of an important legislative proposal that would simultaneously clean up pollution at America's public seaports and stop the exploitation of hard-working port truck drivers. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010/03042010_1.pdf Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:09:53 -0500 In my last column, I outlined the results of our membership survey on bargaining issues for the current round of national contract negotiations. In this column, I want to introduce the preliminary results of the recently completed Track Inspection Survey conducted by BMWED. http://www.bmwe.org/journal/010210JournalSecretary.pdf Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:34:54 -0500 On January 28, 2010, President Obama announced the awarding of $8 billion in high speed and inter-city passenger rail grants to 31different states. The grants have been awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to fund the development of 13 targeted high-speed rail corridors. http://www.bmwe.org/journal/010210JournalPresident.pdf 63906C97-5B59-4C3E-8853-CE9ED7FC0C7F Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:19:03 -0500 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhDCecBVXeQ E188A160-5961-4646-B2DC-98DDDA297843 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:25:18 -0500 After months of engagement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Department of Labor (OSHA), BMWED's substantial efforts have paved the way for strong whistleblower protection for BMWED members and all railroad workers nationwide. http://www.bmwe.org/news/20109_News_Release,_2-27-10.pdf DC787AC7-CA36-47C9-B6A7-B72F5AB50B5D Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:02 -0500 The Allied Federation, headquartered in Hendersonville, TN, scored a major victory on February 17, 2010, when employees of the Huron & Eastern Railway Company voted in favor of union representation. http://www.bmwe.org/news/HuronEastern_release.pdf 62547281-A025-45FC-A768-512D61835A37 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:26 -0500 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued regulatory guidance, pursuant to 49 CFR Part 390.17, "Additional equipment and accessories", that effectively prohibits commercial drivers from using electronic devices to prepare or review text messages while operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. http://www.bmwe.org/news/S&Hregulatorymemo.pdf 53D04383-9E6D-4655-91E2-75FAFCAA2539 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:27:54 -0500 The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is set to begin national bargaining with the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC) next month. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Section%206_pressrelease.pdf 29D3BC32-A00A-4C10-B3E0-B68F3FF4CFC5 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:28:28 -0500 As you were advised by my letter of November 10, 2009, the six organizations participating in the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBC) intend to bargain on a coordinated national basis with respect to employees they represent on the rail freight carriers represented by the NCCC in this bargaining round. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Section6_notice.pdf B453B16D-870D-4CC0-B8EE-A876AB6C464E Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:28:51 -0500 As you know the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has taken great interest in efforts by Union Pacific to improve security as well as workforce training and awareness.... http://www.bmwe.org/news/CEOLettersfinal.pdf B38056CB-3317-4FFA-B84B-DD6C060BDEF5 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:29:15 -0500 Maximize the power of your contribution by visiting UnionPlus/Haiti and Union Plus will automatically double your contribution to the Solidarity Center. http://www.bmwe.org/news/HaitiReliefFund.pdf 94C626B9-1E9F-49F3-9E34-DDF1E7E45F38 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:29:26 -0500 Preliminary data indicates that 2009 may have been the safest year on record by many measures. http://www.bmwe.org/news/szabo_letter_to_industry.pdf 5C70B246-AAB0-48D5-8F8B-FB58C0177327 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:30:01 -0500 Due to the recent earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, the IBT Disaster Relief Fund is asking for your help. The IBT Disaster Relief Fund joins other Unions who have mobilized to support an international response and is committed to raising funds to support relief efforts. http://www.bmwe.org/news/2010%20Earthquake%20in%20Haiti.pdf 3BAC9D42-A3DB-4893-BF5F-621809C3AC57 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:30:42 -0500 Labor unions frustrated as top goals hit roadblocks despite union friendly Obama White House. http://www.bmwe.org/news/Newsclips_March_5_2010.pdf 9D9F1F5F-1D03-4786-8C0C-8DA0CEF2C32E Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:31:06 -0500 Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement regarding President Obama's announcement about the distribution of $8 billion for high speed rail projects in the United States. http://www.bmwe.org/news/012910highspeedrail.pdf C2C3B142-FAC8-42D3-98AC-1A95BD43E750 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:30:23 -0500 The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters began national bargaining with the National Carrier's Conference Committee (NCCC) on January 13, 2010. The BMWED is bargaining on a coordinated national basis as part of the Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition (RLBS). http://www.bmwe.org/journal/010210Journal.pdf 1812D44B-D525-4212-ACBF-1F0A29AFF42E Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:31:40 -0500