Category: Washington
Rail labor seeks federal mediation in national negotiations
On December 5, 2016, Rail Labor’s Coordinated Bargaining Group (CBG) released the following statement, requesting that a federal mediator assist in negotiations: “Despite our best efforts, collective bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads completely stalled la [...]
FMCSA establishes national drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a final rule, Friday, Dec. 2, that establishes a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck and bus drivers. The clearinghouse database will serve as [...]
TTD statement re: Chao nomination for Transportation Secretary
Ed Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), issued a statement regarding Trump’s recent nomination of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation. Read the complete statement here.NYC commuter rail lags behind in PTC technology
ABCNews.go.com reported that federal regulators are concerned about the lack of progress from NYC commuter rail in implementing potentially lifesaving Positive Train Control (PTC) technology. “The nation’s three busiest commuter railroads — which together serve n [...]
FRA proposes safety updates for high-speed rail
Provides new path for passenger safety to be evaluated and achieved; Agency invites comments on proposal WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposed updates for the passenger train safety standards used in the United States as the country looks to add hig [...]
Risch op-ed: Use rail, not Dakota Pipeline
In an op-ed piece recently published in thedickinsonpress.com, John Risch, native North Dakotan and freight rail operator for more than thirty years, makes the case that the Dakota Access Pipeline is not needed to transport crude oil, as freight rail infrastructure is alread [...]
Know the facts before you vote
By John Previsich, President, SMART Transportation Division It is said that two things to never discuss at a family gathering are religion and politics and for the most part that is very good advice. But I’m going to break that rule here–I view my brothers and sisters in the [...]
NLRB: Trump violating federal labor laws
The National Labor Relation Board just ruled that Trump’s refusal to bargain with the 500+ unionized employees at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is in violation of federal labor laws. Read the complete article here.