2003 Archives
12/24/2003
Chicago rail improvements will attract industry, grow jobs, study shows
12/21/2003
UTU members in Illinois provide vital data for nationwide survey showing passenger rudeness a growing problem in travel industry
12/18/2003
Bogus patriotism or the real thing? Wal-Mart vs. Sears
12/09/2003
Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly to honor UTU’s Lloyd Holman for union and civic work
12/03/2003
Update: Commerce Commission affirms judge’s Proposed Order-- Iowa Interstate must fix Rock Island crew facilities, provide drinking water on locomotives
11/19/2003
Senate unanimously affirms Governor’s amendatory veto language for crew-van safety law—out-of-state vans to be subject to Illinois safety inspection
11/18/2003
FRA finds UP violated Hours of Service Law, will fine carrier for keeping crew at Proviso during accident investigation while recording them as “off duty”
11/13/2003
Sen. Durbin works late into night to assure adequate Amtrak funding--FY 2004 budget will keep all trains running, catch up with some deferred maintenance, but leave much essential track work unfunded
11/10/2003
Speaker Madigan introduces resolution favoring full FY 2004 Amtrak budget plus federal funds for passenger-rail infrastructure buildup
11/04/2003
House unanimously passes governor's revision of law regulating out-of-state crew vans--Senate expected to follow up shortly
10/02/2003
Update: Administrative Law Judge holds hearing on UTU’s petition for walkway standards
10/02/2003
Norfolk Southern crew building must be fixed or replaced, UTU leaders tell Commerce Commission judge
10/02/2003
Durbin and Fitzgerald ask Senate to recognize RR Hall of Fame in Galesburg
09/30/2003
Municipal Officials ask Gov. Blagojevich for statewide passenger-rail buildup—119 elected officials sign letter of support as Illinois Municipal League meets in Chicago
09/30/2003
Szabo calls rail “the forgotten mode,” tells Governor’s Economic Summit to invest in rail infrastructure for faster growth of Illinois economy
09/30/2003
UTU members win as Commerce Commission judge orders Iowa Interstate to comply with law; Judge Tate tells carrier to fix up Rock Island crew base, put drinking water on locomotives
09/04/2003
UTU wins "Round One" as Commerce Commission judge rejects Norfolk Southern bid to dismiss complaint on dilapidated crew building--judge sets Oct. 1 for new hearing
09/04/2003
Gov. Blagojevich signs law protecting whistleblower employees—“could have significant benefits for railroad workers,” Szabo says
08/06/2003
Gov. Blagojevich goes "extra mile" to make sure out-of-state crew vans will be subject to safety regulation--Additional language to be inserted in Contract Carrier Act to re-assure feds
07/24/2003
Illinois Legislative Board creates member "Rapid Response System" to alert UTU members and reach out to public officials--REgister your ZIP code and e-mail address now and give legislators "a piece of your mind"
07/17/2003
UP, BNSF, CSX approve UTU walkway-safety proposal, but NS and CN will mount legal challenge--"We look forward to our day in court," Szabo says.
07/07/2003
Illinois Commerce Commission administrative-law judge sets July 17 deadline for UTU petition on walkway-safety standards
07/07/2003
Commerce Commission schedules Aug. 20 hearing on UTU charges of inadequate conditions at NS Chicago locker room--Carrier could fined, ordered to rehab building
06/13/2003
UTU alleges "culture of harassment and concealment" as FRA catches Indiana Harbor Belt in multiple coverups of employee injuries
06/13/2003
UTU takes action against Norfolk Southern after railroad fails to repair leaking, unsanitary crew locker room at Chicago yard
06/03/2003
Illinois FIRST a success! State fund push passenger-rail projects forward toward 2005 service buildup
05/30/2003
Membership Alert: Ask your congressman to “sign the Quinn letter” in support of Amtrak CEO’s $1.8-billion Amtrak budget request
05/29/2003
UTU joins Illinois high-speed-rail advocates to tell state's congressmen and senators: "Let's use federal matching funds to showcase high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis now!"
05/15/2003
House passes compromise bill to continue state rail safety program
05/09/2003
Crew-van safety loophole closed as Senate passes House Bill 313; governor's signature awaited
05/08/2003
Durbin accuses Bush administration of "playing chicken with Amtrak," urges Sec. Mineta not to mimic "failed" British privatization model
05/08/2003
State Senate passes Joint Resolution urging Congress to build passenger rail system, keep Amtrak funded
04/28/2003
Resolution to adopt American Passenger Rail Agreement introduced in Illinois House--UTU helped draft language, now pushes for adoption
04/28/2003
Szabo calls Chicago region’s transportation system “unbalanced,” tells mayors publicly funded rail infrastructure improvements are best way to unplug congested highways
04/28/2003
Commerce Commission initiates rulemaking process on UTU's Petition for walkway standards
04/03/2003
Rail safety inspection bill passes State Senate 58-0, moves on to House
03/24/2003
UTU initiates legal proceeding against Iowa Interstate--Union seeks carrier compliance with laws regarding drinking water on locos, locker room at Rock Island
03/20/2003
FRA's Rail Safety Advisory Committee reviews Positive Train Control projects--Review includes BNSF's Quantum Train Sentinel
03/07/2003
After battle, measure to preserve state’s rail-safety inspection program approved in State Senate Revenue Committee
03/03/2003
UTU hosts "meet-and-greet" for state Senate Transportation Committee chairman
02/21/2003
UTU petitions Illinois Commerce Commission for regulation to ensure safe employee walkways on rail property
02/21/2003
Bill to regulate out-of-state crew vans passes House 106-0. Bill moves on to Senate
02/18/2003
Sen. Fitzgerald’s letter hands Amtrak strong endorsement, joins with Sen. Durbin in call for full funding in FY 2002
02/14/2003
UTU complaints and followups win locker-room upgrades at TP&W and CSX; Union may file Formal Complaint to force IAIS and NS to remedy unsanitary conditions
02/12/2003
Rep. Lipinski named top Democrat on key house transportation panel
02/11/2003
Sen. Fitzgerald responds to UTU request for Amtrak funding support, asks Senate colleagues to back $1.2 billion
02/05/2003
Crew-van safety bill loophole is closing as House Transportation Committee votes to widen enforcement to include out-of-state vehicles
02/03/2003
Membership Alert! Call Sen. Fitzgerald now and ask him to sign Sen. Hutchinson's appeal for full Amtrak funding!
01/28/2003
Membership Alert: Call Speaker Hastert and ask for full funding for Amtrak--$1.2 billion!
01/17/2003
Bush Tax Policy Favors Walton Family, Heirs to a Fortune Built on Sweatshop Toys
01/17/2003
Durbin Saves Amtrak Budget in Senate; Fight Now Moves on to House
01/14/2003
FRA CITES CARRIER AFTER ALERT UTU MEMBER SPOTS BAD-ORDER CARS MOVING IN MAIN-LINE SERVICE WITHOUT NOTICE TO CREWS
01/13/2003
Membership Alert!!! Call Sen. Peter Fitzgerald and request full funding for Amtrak, no directed service!!
01/08/2003
Caught again! UTU Illinois complaint bring dual FRA citations against BNSF for interfering with employee's medical treatment
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