Historic agreement on RRB
For the first time in 25 years, there is promise the Railroad Retirement System will provide major new benefits to retirees and will fix some old wrongs.

This historic agreement took a powerful coalition of 10 unions working with the carriers in a new economic climate to achieve.

However, the job isn't over yet. Congress must pass the legislation we will be proposing, and it will take the efforts of all of us to make sure it happens. When the time comes, we will call on all of you to let your voices be heard in the halls of Congress.

Notably absent from this coalition, however, are the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees. With all of the rhetoric they have espoused about solidarity, it is more than ironic that it is the UTU that stands with the rest of rail-transportation labor while they stand on the outside looking in.

Thanks go to the leadership of all of our coalition partners who understand that it takes cooperation between labor and the carriers for legislation to pass in Congress. We want to give special thanks to Robert Scardelletti, international president of the Transportation Communications Union, and Daniel Pickett, international president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, for their noble efforts.

We also wish to thank Robert Allen, president of the National Railway Labor Conference, for his leadership.

CN/BNSF merger: No thanks
Everyone but the kitchen sink (and we're still waiting for its press release) is opposed to the proposed merger between the Canadian National and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads.

Never before in the history of railroading have so many groups, including the UTU, rallied forces so quickly to oppose any merger. In fact, the UTU was the first union to publicly oppose this proposed deal.

North America does not need another rail merger that promises the sky but can't deliver the goods. North America's rail workers don't need more disruption in their lives.

Column by Charles L. Little
One powerful union
...This union continues to believe that the future of railroading demands that one powerful union represent all of the historical operating crafts equally and fairly in the 21st Century. -- Full text.

Column by James M. Brunkenhoefer
An open letter
to all railroad
chief executives
...You should park the corporate jet and the chauffeur-driven limos and take the elevator down from the top floor penthouse offices and sit down with the representatives of the government, your shippers, and railroad labor, and figure out how to make this industry work. -- Full text.

What's your opinion?
We'd like to hear your thoughts on these topics, and others. Include your name, address, phone number, and (if applicable), your UTU Local number and an e-mail address with items submitted to:

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