TCU National President Maratea, National Secretary-Treasurer Stan Boyd, and BRC General President Rich Johnson visited members working on the job in Boston, Somerville and Houston. They met with members working at Amtrak, Keolis, Koppers and Union Pacific.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic TCU members have been working on the front lines, keeping the traveling public safe and the freight moving all across the country. Despite all of the challenges facing our industry’s our members continue to rise to the occasion every single day.

President Maratea said: “I am pleased to meet the members working on the job, I am so proud of the work they do every day. It is critical for me to see for myself what our members do and what they deal with on the property.”

President Maratea plans to continue to meet with members across the country.

Click here to see all the pictures on the TCU Instagram page.

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September 22, 2021 — The Rail Unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC), negotiating together in the current round of National Negotiations, have issued the following statement:

As we advised in January of 2021, the CBC and the nation’s rail carriers have been at the bargaining table since the beginning of 2020. Since January, CBC has continued to meet with the Rail Carriers, returning to in-person meetings in August. At that meeting, CBC made it clear to the Rail Carriers that neither our Bargaining Coalition, nor our collective memberships, would accept a concessionary agreement on a voluntary basis. The Carriers were told that our members have been asked to work as essential workers throughout the Pandemic, while being treated more like expendable workers. Our members are infuriated that they have worked through these conditions without a wage increase in over two (2) years and it is unacceptable that the Nation’s Rail Carriers continue to stonewall CBC Unions in our effort to settle our contract negotiations on a voluntary basis.

“In January, we said that ‘the Rail Carriers have not made any proposals worthy of consideration by the membership of the CBC Unions.’ No Carrier proposals have been received since our January 2021 update that would change the veracity of that statement. We will continue to negotiate in good faith, fully recognizing that it is our members who must ratify any voluntary agreement.”

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The unions comprising the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition are: the American Train Dis-patchers Association (ATDA); the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / Teamsters Rail Conference (BLET); the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS); the International Association of Machinists (IAM); the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB); the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/SEIU (NCFO); the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU); the Transportation Communications Union / IAM (TCU), including TCU’s Brotherhood Railway Carmen Division (BRC); and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART–TD).

Collectively, the CBC unions represent more than 105,000 railroad workers covered by the various organizations’ national agreements, and comprise over 80% of the workforce who will be impacted by this round of negotiations.

Click here for a PDF copy of the statement.

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This Labor Day weekend TCU is proudly joining the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD), and the U.S. Department of Transportation to recognize and thank frontline transportation workers for their service and sacrifice, and remind Americans that railroad workers are #EssentialAlways.

During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, TCU members were instrumental in keeping the American economy open and functioning by keeping the traveling public safe and making sure goods and services were delivered safe and on-time. While their efforts during the pandemic undoubtedly saved lives, transportation labor unions want to remind America that their members, and the duties they perform, are essential always.

TCU President Artie Maratea said, “TCU members are working hard all across this country. This pandemic has shown us how much we need to support each other. A strong, vibrant labor movement — one that gets in front of change, supports its members and stands in solidarity with everyone is the only way to create the kind of future we all want and deserve.

The #EssentialAlways campaign comes at a historic crossroads for this dedicated workforce. As the United States continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic — which millions of frontline transportation workers have disproportionately shouldered — Congress and the Biden administration are pursuing transformational investments in infrastructure as part of the president’s build back better agenda. Highly skilled transportation workers, including TCU members will be vital in achieving these goals and rebuilding our country.

“Frontline transportation workers power the most advanced economy in the world by operating, maintaining, and building the most complex transportation network on earth,” said TTD President Greg Regan. “Whether they’re helping people get to home, work, or school, moving the goods and raw materials we all rely on, delivering our mail, seeing us through a crisis, or building transportation projects of the future, these dedicated professionals have always been essential to the fabric of America, and they always will be.”

Transportation unions are encouraging the general public, elected leaders, and members of transportation and infrastructure community to join the campaign by following and engaging with the hashtag #EssentialAlways on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and to watch and share this video explaining the important role transportation workers played before and during the pandemic, and the role they will play for years to come.

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96 years ago today, A. Philip Randolph organized the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters became the first African-American Union to win a national contract in the United States and receive a charter with the American Federation of Labor (AFL). In an epic struggle, the Porters fought the bitterly antiunion Pullman Company for 12 years before the Union was recognized and a contract signed. Achieving this contract from the Pullman company was a pivotal historical moment not only for labor but for civil rights.

In a 1973 interview, Randolph said that “I knew from the history of the Labor movement and especially black people that it was an undertaking of great trial…that live or die, I had to stick with it and we had to win!” When the Porters merged with BRAC (now TCU) in 1978, they formed the Sleeping Car Porters System Division. This merger is the reason that TCU is a member of Amtrak’s On-Board Service Workers Council.

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Pictured above: The newly elected officers of the New Jersey State Council of Machinists are sworn in.

Anthony Stevens a 30 year TCU member and New Jersey Transit (NJT) worker, Division Chairman of Unit 167 and six time Local Chairman of Lodge 626 was elected to the New Jersey State Council of Machinists (NJSCM) as Director of the Legislative Department.

Unit 167 Local Lodge Officers (Left to Right) Dean Harris, John Boe-Siclari, Anthony Stevens, Keith Gilbert and Jeff Pacini congratulate Anthony on his election as vice-President of the NJSCM

Anthony has tirelessly fought for the rights of his members on NJT for 18 years.

His institutional knowledge of NJT history, beginning when it formed from Conrail thru today, has made him the go to guy for answers for TCU as well as the other Unions on the property.

He has been politically active for 30 years in New Jersey making the selection of him as Director of the Legislative Department of the NJSCM a perfect fit.

TCU President Maratea said, “We are proud of Anthony for his dedication to our Union and our TCU brothers and sisters.”

“We congratulate Brother Stevens in his new role, we know he will be a valuable asset to our union members in his role as Director of the Legislative Department of New Jersey State Council.”

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This focus on organizing will move TCU forward in addressing our future needs and will lay the groundwork for the increase in membership which is vital for the long term growth of our union.

“Technology, Precision Scheduled Railroad and the pandemic are just a few of the challenges that continue to impact our membership. We must continue to be vigilant in enforcing our current agreements but we also must be aggressive in Organizing new members. Organizing is vital to the long term success of our Union.” – TCU National President Maratea

The post Sal Rodriguez Named Executive Director of the New TCU/IAM Organizing Department appeared first on IAMAW.

TCU President Maratea visited members working on the job in the Chicago area. President Maratea met members working on Amtrak, METRA and TTX.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic TCU members have been working on the front lines, keeping the traveling public safe and the freight moving all across the country. Members in Chicago on Amtrak, Metra and TTX have continued to perform their jobs under tough conditions.

President Maratea said: “I am pleased to meet the members working on the job, I am so proud of the work they do every day. It is critical for me to see for myself what our members do and what they deal with on the property.”

President Maratea plans to meet next with lodge officers and members in New York and Boston.

Click here to see the pictures on the TCU Instagram feed.

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Last week, TCU rolled out a new program specifically developed for Local Lodge Presidents. National President Maratea, several TCU and Carmen Officers and Chicago area National Representatives were in attendance.

The training, part of President Maratea’s inaugural initiative to expand internal education for Local Lodge Officers, was created and taught by TCU’s Constitution & Law Department.  The class provided Lodge Presidents with the skills and resources needed to both manage lodge business and to run effective union meetings in accordance with TCU’s Constitution and Bylaws. A mock union meeting component demonstrated how to handle a variety of routine issues that come up during union meetings.   

“TCU has always prioritized training and education and I will continue to make sure our Lodge Officers are the are the best trained reps in the Labor Movement,” said President Maratea.  “I am very proud of the officers that participated in the training and I was grateful for this opportunity to meet with them face to face. Their dedication to our membership is palpable.”

17 Local Lodge Presidents from the Chicago area attended the class, with more attending virtually via Zoom. This program will be offered in other areas of the country in the near future.  Invitations and details will be sent to Local Lodge Presidents in those respective regions as they are scheduled.

Attendees participate in mock union meeting.

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