Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) writes Amtrak’s President and CEO Boardman regarding the lack of physical security measures on the Amtrak property, citing specific Rail Security Infrastructure deficiencies at “Dock”, “Sunnyside Queens”, and a stretch of Corridor running through Islen, New Jersey, between “Union” interlocking and the passenger station at “Metropark”. View a printable version of Congressman Holt’s letter to President Boardman here.

Visit Congressman Holt's web site

Rail Labor (with the exception of UTU) Issued a Statement on the Amtrak Board of Directors unanimous selection of John Boardman for interim President and CEO of Amtrak. View printable version of statement here

The State of U.S. Labor and Building Union Power
by Elaine Bernard
November 18, 2008

It is sobering to note that U.S. unions have been in decline for the entire work life of the vast majority of today's workers. It was long ago, in 1955, when unions reached their highest density (that is, the proportion of the total workforce which are union members). Back then, one out of every three workers was a union member.  Leaders of the autoworkers, steelworkers and other industrial unions were nationally recognized spokespersons for the majority of working people. At this level of representation, unions set the standard for wages and working conditions not only for their members but also for the non-union sector as well. ...read more

KUMMANT OUT AS AMTRAK CEO
WASHINGTON -- Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant, age 47, with a history of job  changes that rival the number of Amtrak station stops, resigned Nov. 14th after barely two years on the job.

There were indications Kummant ran afoul of the Amtrak board of  directors, which names the Amtrak CEO without need of Senate  confirmation, even though Amtrak is owned by the federal government  and receives a nearly $1 billion annual taxpayer subsidy. No further  details were provided regarding Kummant's sudden departure, which had  been rumored for the past three weeks.

....read more of article

In a contest that shattered racial barriers, Democrat Barack Obama has been elected the first African-American president of the United States.

With polls now closed, the 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois has captured the key states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and California. Those wins, combined with a slew of other states, have given him 338 electoral votes so far, more than enough to defeat Republican rival John McCain by a 52% to 47% margin.

Sen. Ted Kennedy said Americans "spoke loud and clear" in electing Obama. "They understood his vision of a fairer and more just America and embraced it. They heard his call for a new generation of Americans to participate in government and were inspired. They believed that change is possible and voted to be part of America's future," the Massachusetts senator said in a statement.

The Obama administration also will be pushed by passenger rail advocates and freight railroads to fund expansion. Union Pacific and other carriers will renew their push for a federal tax credit they say would allow them to add freight rail infrastructure, rail executives have said. Vice President-Elect Joseph Biden is a commuter on Amtrak, the U.S. passenger railroad, and has pushed for more money for the Washington-based rail service during his Senate career.

View President-elect Obama's acceptance speech.

DOT Urine Specimen Collection Guidelines for the U.S. Department of Transportation Workplace Drug Testing Programs (49 CFR Part 40)

The procedures for collection of urine under these rules are very specific and must be followed whenever a DOT-required urine specimen collection is performed. (The only exception is the Federal Railroad Administration's Post-Accident Toxicological Testing Program in which a railroad representative will provide the collector specific instructions and a testing kit.) These procedures, including use of the Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF), apply only to DOT-required testing. While employers may use these collection and testing procedures for testing under employer or state authority, they must not use a Federal CCF nor can they imply that company tests are conducted using DOT authority.

View the DOT Urine Collection Guidelines

General Chairman Dodd writes to Amtrak's Chief Engineer Vacca in reference to the Current Roadway Worker Safety Emergency

In a short five month period we have suffered two horrible roadway worker accidents.  On March 13, 2008, a former Amtrak manager, Gary Graves, working as a consultant for Amtrak was struck and killed by a passing train outside of Providence, RI. Track Foreman Richard Mollette was mutilated in the same accident.  Last week, on August 20, 2008, Signal Inspector Steven Rychwalski was struck and killed while working in New Carrolton, MD.

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