Category: Yardmasters
OSHA's guide for winter weather
Winter weather creates a variety of hazards that can significantly impact everyday tasks and work activities. These hazards include slippery roads and surfaces, strong winds and environmental cold. Learning how to prepare for work during the winter, protect workers from the c [...]Are rail ‘special duty’ jobs really that special?
What should union members know before accepting an offer from the railroad to work on a “special duty” assignment? For starters, “special duty” assignments are generally not positions covered by the agreement with your union. If “special duty” assignments are not covered unde [...]SMART presents its first constitution and ritual
We are pleased, as your general president and transportation division president, to present the first SMART Constitution and ritual to our membership. This is a milestone for both the former Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and the United Transportation Union, t [...]AAR issues rail safety alert
The Association of American Railroads has issued a safety alert for all railroads in North America. The safety alert is to advise of the recent discovery of barbed wire found on safety appliances of a multilevel car. This photograph was taken in the Quebec City, Quebec, area [...]FRA issues new report on fatigue
The Federal Railroad Administration has issued a new report on the status of fatigue among railroad industry employees. In 2001, the FRA began examining the fatigue status of safety-critical railroad employees by using logbooks to collect work and sleep data over a period of [...]Agreements ratified on Gary Railway
Wier UTU-represented yardmen, hostlers and yardmasters employed by Gary Railway and members of UTU Local 1383 have ratified separate six-year agreements. The contracts provide for annual wage increases, lump-sum percentage back-pay, improved bereavement leave, sickness/disabi [...]EJ&E yardmasters, hostlers ratify new agreements
Wier UTU-represented yardmasters and hostlers employed by the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway have ratified separate new six-year agreements by overwhelming majorities. The new agreements provide for annual wage increases and back-pay; establish 401-k retirement plans, disa [...]IC yardmasters have tentative pact
UTU-represented yardmasters employed by Canadian National Railway’s Illinois Central Railroad have reached a new tentative agreement following mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board. A March tentative agreement was rejected by the membership, which will now vo [...]