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SEPTA board approves UTU local contract

PHILADELPHIA – The SEPTA board of directors late last week approved its new three-year contract with UTU Local 1594, which represents about 280 bus and trolley operators.

However, SEPTA is still without a contract from its largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234 which represents about 5,300 workers. The board’s vote on the UTU contract came shortly after negotiations with the TCU ended.

SEPTA and TCU will resume talks this week. The old TCU-SEPTA contract expired six weeks ago and many major issues remain to be resolved.

VIA Rail President resigns

MONTREAL – The president of VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger rail service, resigned on Friday.

Terry Ivany called it quits just one month before the end of his five-year appointment. During his tenure, VIA Rail reduced its government subsidy for more than 50%.

Ivany also helped negotiate a secret contract with another rail union that hurt representation for operating employees on VIA Rail and damaged the craft of conductor.

House Committee to resume rail hearings

WASHINGTON – House hearings on rail competition and the troubled state of the industry, with an eye toward redrafting the Surface Transportation Board’s legislative mandate, will continue on May 6.

The subject will be rail mergers, line sales and intercarrier deals. A third hearing is scheduled on May 13 to discuss the captive shipper rate issue and STB regulation.

The hearings are significant because they are the first to look into the condition of the railroad industry since the House held hearings in the late 1980s. They are also newsworthy because some shippers re pressing for legislative changes. It is estimated that 75% of all shippers are held captive by one railroad.

MTA honors Rosa Parks

LOS ANGELES – The MTA board of directors voted to rename the Imperial/Wilmington Metro Rail Station to honor Rosa Parks.

The station, which stands at the intersection of the Metro Blue and Green lines, will now be called Rosa Parks Station.

"No one is more deserving of this honor," said MTA Board member Yvonne Burke.