The Wyoming Legislature has long wrestled with the question of whether to mandate two-person crews on the freight trains that traverse Wyoming’s more than 1,800 miles of track. Now, the federal government may take action that resolves the issue — if the infrastructure package currently stalled in Congress passes. The two-person crew mandate was adopted […]
Each year, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) prepares a Form BA-6, “Certificate of Service Months and Compensation,” for every railroad employee with creditable railroad compensation in the previous calendar year. The RRB will mail the forms to employees during the first half of June. Anyone with compensation reported in 2020 who has not received […]
The Senate approved the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package Saturday, over 24 hours after opening debate on the bill. The bill is expected to be signed into law by President Biden. “For over a year the American people were told they were on their own,” said President Biden “This nation has suffered too much for much […]
The RRB announces that the $1,200 per 2-week registration benefit period as provided under the CARES Act began issuing payments to members who filed unemployment claims on April 1 or later. The RRB does advise that these benefits will be subject to income taxation and garnishment for tax and other legally established debt. The next […]
A message from John Bragg, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) labor member, released on May 21st, stated that the increased $1,200 in unemployment benefits from the CARES Act will begin to be deposited next week. From RRB Labor Member John Bragg: In my last update, I explained that Phase 2 of the RRB’s CARES Act […]
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, recently signed into law by President Trump, authorized extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for railroad workers sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. After making necessary programming changes to agency systems, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began processing and paying extended benefits on May 11. […]
After making necessary programming changes to agency systems, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began processing and paying extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for railroad workers sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act authorized extended UI benefits to rail workers who received UI benefits from July 1, 2019, to […]
In a recent release from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Labor Member John Bragg: The RRB’s General Counsel has been advised by the DOL that nothing in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provisions prohibit railroaders from being eligible for benefits if they qualify. The RRB’s General Counsel has also found that there is nothing in […]
Based on the current environment surrounding the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, issues are arising that railroad employees need to be aware of. Members need to understand the current implications of all the requirements and the impact on their Railroad Retirement benefits and medical coverage. The latest update of the questions and answers from the U.S. Railroad […]
Based on the recent environment surrounding the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, issues are arising where railroad employees are being encouraged or requested to “voluntarily quarantine,” and/or “self-furlough.” Members need to understand the implications of doing so and the impact on their Railroad Retirement benefits and medical coverage. The U. S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has developed […]