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Two members rescue victim of kidnapping, sexual assault

Two members of UTU Local 867 recently stopped their train in Des Moines, Iowa, to rescue an 83-year-old woman who had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted.

The victim had been walking from her car to Iowa Lutheran Hospital around 1:15 a.m. when she was abducted and forced back into her car by her assailant, who drove the vehicle about a mile east of the hospital and stopped near some railroad tracks, according to a report carried in the Des Moines Register.

Unfortunately for the assailant, Union Pacific conductor Michael D. Chapman and engineer Bill R. O’Hara noticed what they thought was suspicious activity around the stopped car and decided to investigate.

The two stopped their train about 250 feet down the tracks, and Chapman ran to help the woman, who was without shoes or a jacket, as a man sped away in her car.

"We see suspicious things from time to time," said O’Hara. "There was some kind of commotion, and then the guy gets in the driver’s seat and took off."

The alert UTU members called their dispatcher, who relayed the information to police.

Authorities made an arrest about 40 minutes later after a high-speed chase, which ended when the driver of the victim’s car crashed into a fence and tried to flee on foot.

The driver was charged with kidnapping (a first-degree charge in Des Moines because of the sexual assault), first-degree theft, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

Sweeney replaces federation’s organizing director

WASHINGTON – AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has replaced the federation’s organizing director reflecting concerns about recruiting new members.

Sweeney replaced the man he brought to Washington, Richard Bensinger, and replaced him with Kirk Adams, the federation’s southern regional director.

Adams, 47, has broad experience in union organizing and in political campaigns.

Philly mayor tells TWU to take SEPTA’s deal

PHILADELPHIA – The Mayor of Philadelphia told the leadership of the striking Transport Workers Union that they should take the deal SEPTA was offering and he could not buy their proposal to take the dispute to binding arbitration.

Mayor Ed Rendell said SEPTA is the victim of federal cuts and "mistakes" made by its past management "that created all these work rules . . . but the board will not back away and I’m not going to change."

TWU Local 234 President Steve Brookens said after the meeting, "We will turn up the heat. The gloves are off. We’re going to do whatever it takes, but we’re not going to come out a loser. I guarantee you that."

Brookens met with Rendell after about 100 union leaders and supporters crowded into City Hall chambers to watch a Council committee approve a bill that would put the city’s $59 million SEPTA subsidy in an account controlled by Council. But this action is likely to have no immediate impact.

As the strike concludes in its second week, the Philadelphia area is still without city trains, buses and trolleys because an impasse continues between Transportation Workers Union Local 234 and SEPTA. Last week SEPTA refused to accept binding arbitration to help settle the strike. No new talks have been scheduled.

CPR says it tired of taking the blame

CALGARY – Canadian Pacific Railway said this week it is tired of being the scapegoat for Canada’s grain-handling problems and wants a system that is more accountable.

Because of grain-handling problems, the Canadian government decided to conduct a thorough review of grain transportation. A report released this week followed months of meeting with grain growers, grain companies, railways, the Canadian Wheat Board and others.

Shippers are demanding measures to ensure there’s competition between railways in Western Canada.

Skeptics doubt viability of high-speed rail between Toronto, Quebec City

MONTREAL – The latest proposal for high-speed rail between Toronto and Quebec City is being greeted with a big dose of skepticism.

The response indicates that the $11 billion Lynx train project submitted to the government last month might not even leave the station.

Supporters admit that the project is creeping along at a snail’s pace as the government struggles to balance its budget.

Pioneer Railcorp acquires another railroad

PEORIA, Ill. – Pioneer Railcorp acquired its 5^th railroad in the last 2 years and its 15^th in the freight shortline holding company’s 12-year history.

Pioneer Industrial Railway joins the shortline company and operates in the Peoria area primarily hauling steel, lumber, plastic and food products. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.