The coalition of unions on Metro-North Railroad, the Metro-North Labor Council, recently met with the top administrators and whistleblower investigators from OSHA’s Regions 1 and Region 2. Every craft on the Railroad was represented by at least one rail labor official. The spokesman for OSHA was Region 2 Supervisory Investigator Michael Mabee. It was
January 2009
A Heart Breaking Railroad Accident
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in FELA Injuries, Railroad Safety
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Metro-North Railroad worker Kevin McGrath, whose life came to an end on the tracks just west of Rye Station while he was on duty January 9th. Just as every human life is unique, each fatal railroad accident like this is uniquely tragic.
As Kenny’s…
One Man’s Coalition Is Another Man’s Conspiracy
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Rail Labor
You know the old saying, "One man’s meat is another man’s poison"? Well, one of the highlights for me at the last National Mediation Board’s "Conference on Labor/Management Relations at the Passenger Railroads" in Washington DC was the comment of William Murphy, Deputy General Manager Labor Relations on New Jersey Transit. Speaking on behalf…
Don’t Be Tripped Up By The New FMLA Regulations
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Family Medical Leave Act, Rail Labor
On January 16, 2009, several changes to the FMLA regulations will go into effect.
The biggest change from a worker point of view concerns how and when employee give notice of taking FMLA leave. Before, employees had up to two days after an absence to notify employers they actually were taking FMLA leave. Now–absent…
Don’t Be Afraid To Fight For Your FMLA Rights
By Charlie Goetsch on
Posted in Family Medical Leave Act, Rail Labor
You wouldn’t know it by how railroads treat it, but the FMLA is a remedial statute that must be broadly construed to effectuate its humanitarian purpose. And the purpose of the FMLA is "to entitle employees to take reasonable leave for medical reasons," and to help working men and women "balance the demands of the…