Senators line up behind rail retirement bill
More than two-thirds back bill to improve pensions
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With the overwhelming passage of the Railroad Retirement reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives now a chapter in history, the unified 13- member Rail Labor Coalition is focused on quick passage in the Senate. -- Full story.

UTU members strike MTA
LOS ANGELES -- At 12:01 a.m., September 16, thousands of UTU-represented bus and rail operators hit the picket lines, plunging the nation's second-largest city into a strike. As this issue of the UTU NEWS was going to press, more than 4,300 UTU members were still on the picket lines and the MTA's 450,000 daily riders had no public transportation.-- Full story.

Prankster nabbed in member's death
BROOKINGS, S.D. -- Authorities have arrested a man they suspect tampered with a rail switch, causing a train derailment that killed a UTU member and seriously injured another rail worker. -- Full story.

L&DRR workers finally win pact
LAFAYETTE, La. -- The employees of the Louisiana & Delta Railroad (L&DRR) waited seven years for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) to get them a contract. Then they gave up and turned to the UTU. The result was that the UTU got them a contract in eight months, and a good one at that. -- Full story.

UTU members on SEPTA ratify three-year pact
PHILADELPHIA -- Conductors and assistant conductors employed by the rail division of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have ratified a new three-year agreement with the commuter carrier. -- Full story.

News & Notes
* UTU, carriers reach deal
* Norfolk Southern considers trimming rail routes
* Congress eyes rail projects
* Regional Meeting dates, locations for 2001, 2002
* Monthly UTU apparel winner noted
* UTU VISA card helps you save
* Think UTU for your holiday shopping