Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Max Baucus (D-MT) met with Teamsters Rail Conference members today to discuss the importance of positive train control.

Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) president Rex Beatty is 100% behind the 4,800 CP workers who have been off the job since 0001 a.m. Wednesday.  “The battle these workers are waging is of utmost importance,” said Mr. Beatty.

The strike at Canadian Pacific began at 0:01 this morning. The parties were unable to reach an agreement despite last minute negotiations right to the strike deadline.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Montana Rail Link, Inc. (MRL).

For the second time in 2012, BLET members have unanimously approved a new contract agreement with a short line railroad.

Recently the National Freight Rail Agreement was ratified by a majority of the members of the BMWED who voted in the ratification process.

Canadian Pacific Railway would face a labor disruption in late May if a union representing 5,000 workers exercises a strike mandate it received from members Thursday.

Unionized engineers, conductors, traffic controllers, trainmen and yardmen at Canadian Pacific Railway have voted in favour of a potential strike.

CLEVELAND, April 16 — The U.S. House of Representatives has adopted federal budget legislation sponsored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) that would have devastating effects on the retirement security of both active and retired BLET members, as well as all railroad workers.

The Federal Railroad Administration has published a final rule updating its railroad locomotive safety standards, saying in the rule that the changes incorporate existing industry and engineering best practices related to locomotives and to the electronics in them.