2006 Archives
12/12/2006
Ridership breakthrough! Chicago-St. Louis passenger traffic virtually doubles in first month after new trains added—Carbondale, Quincy corridors also see strong growth
12/01/2006
Add some history to your holiday: Historic Pullman Candlelight House Walk set for Sat., Dec. 10, in “perfect town” that became cradle of American rail labor movement
11/30/2006
State Senate approves Midwest Passenger Rail Compact—Szabo says Illinois will be “the keystone of the arch”
11/15/2006
Midwest Passenger Rail Compact passes Illinois House—Illinois on way to central role in winning federal funds for region-wide rail buildup
11/10/2006
Railroad workers win big as Dem Senate victory elevates Durbin to Majority Whip—Chamber will be guided by Senate vet with Illinois rail-labor roots
11/08/2006
UTU-IL slate near-victorious as 90 per cent of union’s candidates win in 2006 election—Szabo sees stronger support for rail labor in new General Assembly
10/28/2006
108 years later, Virden miners killed in 1898 lockout get their monument—“My great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were there,” Szabo proudly proclaims at site of struggle that legitimized U.S. labor movement
10/18/2006
Membership Alert: Use Early Voting to cast your vote now. You don’t know where you’ll be on Election Day
10/04/2006
"Preview" of 4 new state-sponsored Amtrak trains to run Oct. 17, 18 and 19--greet the trains when they stop in your town
10/02/2006
Szabo named VP of Illinois AFL-CIO, becomes first rail rep in 30 years to serve on state’s top labor council, says “Now we can fight our battles together.”
10/01/2006
See one of rail labor’s most sacred shrines—and visit proud homeowners in their vintage town houses—at the Historic Pullman Annual House Tour this weekend Oct. 7 and 8
09/22/2006
Illinois Legislative Board’s 2006 election endorsements are up—Register now and vote early for UTU-endorsed candidates!
08/31/2006
Membership Alert: Time is running out, so register to vote NOW, before the Oct. 10 deadline!
08/07/2006
Use your vote to protect your job, your benefits and your family: Organize Now!
08/07/2006
Gov. Blagojevich champions new passenger service to Rockford, asks Amtrak to study possible routes
08/04/2006
Membership Alert: Comply with ALL operating rules and regulations even if supervisor pressures you to expedite a move. FRA is holding employees “personally” liable.
07/21/2006
Illinois Amtrak expansion to add 45 new jobs as Amtrak seeks engineers, conductors and mechanical trainees
07/03/2006
Durbin tells Rockford Amtrak advocates: “Let’s bring service to Northwestern Illinois”
06/14/2006
U.S. House restores Amtrak funding with strong support from Illinois delegation; Congresswoman Biggert is only Illinois ‘no' vote
06/12/2006
Gov. Blagojevich signs amendments to Railroad Police Act; RR special agents now must have same training as civil police, rail employees get additional protection
06/10/2006
Sen. Durbin, IDOT Secretary Martin attack Bush administration efforts to slash Amtrak budget, allege “drastic underfunding” could lead to route cuts in Illinois if Congress approves cuts
06/09/2006
Membership Alert: Protect and enhance your Railroad Retirement disability benefits: Call your congressman and ask him to co-sponsor H.R. 5483
05/17/2006
Durbin urges Amtrak to restore service to Rockford as city fathers clamor for passenger rail service—General Assembly’s decision to fund more Amtrak trains set’s off “me-too” epidemic
05/12/2006
UTU a winner in Springfield as Illinois General Assembly adjourns – initiates big passenger-train build-up, professionalizes railroad police, and opposes industry’s attempt to derail Medical Treatment Act
05/04/2006
Illinois Senate slaps rail industry for filing suit to overturn the Rail Employees Medical Treatment Act; passes unanimous resolution charging “breach of faith”
05/03/2006
Illinois House approves budget for four more Amtrak frequencies—state could more than double its passenger-rail service at one stroke if Senate, governor follow up
03/31/2006
State Senate passes bill allowing state to buy or lease passenger rolling stock--H.B. 5220 now goes to governor for signature
03/30/2006
Amtrak CEO comes to Springfield, tells governor and legislature: “We’ll gear up to deliver four more frequencies in October”—Durbin, news media add to clamor for more trains
03/30/2006
UTU Illinois Legislative Board rejoins Illinois AFL-CIO—Szabo says, “It will make both of us stronger”
03/16/2006
Amendments to Railroad Police Act pass House 108-0, moves to governor for signature
03/16/2006
Illinois House, Senate appropriators “look favorably” on budget boost for four more passenger-train frequencies
03/13/2006
UTU Illinois Legislative Board endorses Blagojevich for governor, Mangieri for treasure—Primary Election slated for March 21 but busy members can vote early
03/03/2006
Norfolk Southern files suit against Illinois Commerce Commission to overturn Walkway Regulation – UTU intervenes in Federal Court to protect standard
03/01/2006
Amendment to the Railroad Police Act clears Senate and moves to House—Measure mandates training and professional standards for railroad special agents and abuse protections for employees
02/28/2006
House Mass Transit Committee gets an earful about need for more passenger trains—and likes what it hears
02/24/2006
Illinois House votes unanimously to allow state to buy its own passenger equipment-could set stage for planned state rail buildup
02/10/2006
Push for state passenger trains gains steam as all-out effort gathers 50 co-sponsors for bills to fund four more frequencies; your support now needed
01/20/2006
New Senate bill introduced to add two more Chicago-St. Louis trains, add second frequencies to Quincy and Carbondale
01/05/2006
“Battle of Virden” at last gets its monument—Downstate site of one of organized labor’s bloodiest victories credited for “Illinois being best organized labor state in America”
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