Brotherhood

TEAMSTERS SUPPORT THE REEF ACT

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 8, 2024

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are commending the Senate Budget Committee for unanimously voting to pass the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters are commending the Senate Budget Committee for unanimously voting to pass the Railroad Employee Equity and Fairness (REEF) Act.
  • Congress needs to pass the REEF Act immediately."
  • Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
  • Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters .

Norfolk Southern, BLET, and SMART-TD partner with FRA to launch groundbreaking C3RS pilot program

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 29, 2024

ATLANTA and INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), announced Monday their joint participation in an FRA Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS) pilot program designed to enhance railroad safety.

Key Points: 
  • "NS is proud to partner with our labor leaders and FRA to make another industry-leading advancement in safety," said Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO.
  • Under the one-year C3RS pilot, covered NS employees can report safety concerns with the certainty that such reports will not result in discipline.
  • Participation in this C3RS pilot underscores NS, BLET, and SMART-TD's shared belief that collaboration and transparency are foundational pillars of an effective safety program.
  • "We appreciate BLET, NS, and SMART-TD's collaboration on this important partnership, and FRA remains committed to further expanding participation in the C3RS program to advance safety."

World's Most Prominent Food Truck Designer and Builder, Premier Food Trucks, Leverages Success to Give Back to Charity

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 20, 2023

BUNNELL, Fla., Dec. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Food Trucks (PFT) is thrilled to announce its decision to donate a custom-built food truck to support those in need and promote its desire to give back. Brotherhood for the Fallen, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chicago that honors fallen officers killed in the line of duty since 2010, will receive the generous gift.

Key Points: 
  • Premier Food Trucks donates custom-built food truck to support Chicago-based charity Brotherhood for the Fallen, valued at $200,000.
  • BUNNELL, Fla., Dec. 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Food Trucks (PFT) is thrilled to announce its decision to donate a custom-built food truck to support those in need and promote its desire to give back.
  • "This Christmas, our first-ever food truck donation symbolizes the spirit of giving and the joy of making a meaningful impact.
  • At Premier Food Trucks, we believe that every act of kindness, big or small, can light up someone's world.

Vision Films Sets Release Date for Veteran Suicide Awareness Documentary 'TRIBAL'

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films, Inc. has scheduled the Transactional VOD release of TRIBAL, the 85-minute narrative-driven documentary by Army infantry veteran Mark Kershaw and directed by the Borrego Brothers, on December 19, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Films, Inc. has scheduled the Transactional VOD release of TRIBAL, the 85-minute narrative-driven documentary by Army infantry veteran Mark Kershaw and directed by the Borrego Brothers, on December 19, 2023.
  • Firsthand accounts by enlisted Army veterans John "Michael" Gomez, Omar Hernandez, and Marine veteran Wade Spann, are bolstered by short reenactments.
  • "I think I'm averaging losing one person from my unit to suicide per year," Kershaw shared in a recent interview with Military Times.
  • Lise Romanoff, CEO & Managing Director of Vision Films says, "Films like TRIBAL are so important to keep our veterans' voices heard.

HIATUS TEQUILA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICAN MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST MICHAEL CHANDLER, MARKING FIRST CELEBRITY INVESTOR FOR THE BRAND

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023

NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hiatus Tequila ( www.hiatustequila.com ), an award-winning, ultra-premium tequila is announcing its first brand partnership.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hiatus Tequila ( www.hiatustequila.com ), an award-winning, ultra-premium tequila is announcing its first brand partnership.
  • They are thrilled to have American Mixed Martial Artist, Michael Chandler join the team.
  • Chandler's career success as an American Mixed Martial Artist stems from hard work and dedication over the past 15 years.
  • "Hiatus Tequila partnered with Michael Chandler because Hiatus' brand values are reflected in Michael's personal and professional life; authenticity, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of perfection", said Desoto.

Egypt's strongman president faces election amid economic slump and popular anger over inaction on Gaza

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former military strongman who seized power in 2013 amid the turbulent fallout of the Arab Spring, faces a general election in December.

Key Points: 
  • Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former military strongman who seized power in 2013 amid the turbulent fallout of the Arab Spring, faces a general election in December.
  • Beset by economic woes and with a political and humanitarian catastrophe unfolding on his country’s border, it will be an election fraught with risks.
  • In July 2013, Sisi removed Morsi from power and won 96% of the vote the following year in an election which drew widespread international criticism.
  • Compounding this economic crisis have been several rounds of currency devaluation and an incoming mandated International Monetary Fund bailout.
  • Sisi has dealt so badly with Egypt’s economic problems in recent years it has left him vulnerable.

War on the doorstep

  • With the war in Gaza on Sisi’s doorstep, the regime faces a difficult balancing act.
  • The image of thousands of Gazans dying while Egypt’s Rafah border stays closed could be very harmful for the regime.
  • Egypt has been party to the 16-year-long Israeli blockade of Gaza, enforcing tight controls on the border crossing at Rafah.
  • He has attracted widespread criticism from opponents who say his administration has been organising staged protests to piggyback on public sympathy for Palestinians as the death toll from Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip rises.


Dr Gillian Kennedy received previously funding from the Leverhulme Foundation.

CSX and BRS Reach Second Agreement on Paid Sick Leave

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 25, 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) is announcing the ratification of a paid sick leave agreement covering approximately 200 employees represented by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on the company’s L&N property.

Key Points: 
  • JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX Corp. (NASDAQ: CSX) is announcing the ratification of a paid sick leave agreement covering approximately 200 employees represented by the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on the company’s L&N property.
  • The ratification follows another recent agreement with the BRS covering nearly 400 employees on the SCL property.
  • CSX continues to build on series of successful negotiations with various railroad unions to provide paid sick leave.
  • This includes agreements reached earlier this year with the BMWED, BRC, SMART-TD, IAM, NCFO and IBEW unions, providing paid sick leave for thousands of railroad workers.

CSX and BRS Reach Agreement on Paid Sick Leave

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) is pleased to announce the ratification of a paid sick leave agreement with the SCL property for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen covering nearly 400 employees.

Key Points: 
  • JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CSX Corporation (NASDAQ: CSX) is pleased to announce the ratification of a paid sick leave agreement with the SCL property for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen covering nearly 400 employees.
  • The agreement underscores CSX's commitment to the welfare and well-being of its workforce.
  • It provides a sick leave package that ensures employees can take necessary time off from work to recover from illness without worrying about their financial stability.
  • This includes agreements reached earlier this year with the BMWED, BRC, SMART-TD, IAM, NCFO and IBEW unions, providing paid sick leave for thousands of railroad workers across the country.

Norfolk Southern and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen partner to enhance safety

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023

ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) announced a partnership Thursday to create an innovative new program called the Signal Safety Collaboration.

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) announced a partnership Thursday to create an innovative new program called the Signal Safety Collaboration.
  • The full text of the letter follows below:
    Today marks another big step forward in how labor and management are coming together at Norfolk Southern to strengthen rail safety.
  • The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen will partner with Norfolk Southern to create an innovative new program called the Signal Safety Collaboration.
  • Moving forward, BRS and Norfolk Southern will hold quarterly reviews on safety and issue timely updates on the work of the program.

Hamas and Hezbollah: how they are different and why they might cooperate against Israel

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

The most critical additional threat to Israel is from Hezbollah, the militant group and political party based across Israel’s northern border in Lebanon.

Key Points: 
  • The most critical additional threat to Israel is from Hezbollah, the militant group and political party based across Israel’s northern border in Lebanon.
  • Hamas and Hezbollah are both backed by Iran and see weakening Israel as their primary raison d’etre.
  • Hezbollah has not yet fully entered the current conflict, but the group has exchanged fire with Israel, across the northern border with Lebanon.

What is Hezbollah?

    • Its ideology is focused on expelling western powers from the Middle East and on rejecting Israel’s right to exist.
    • Hezbollah’s military force continued to develop after the Lebanese civil war came to an end in 1990, despite most other factions disarming.
    • In 2021, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the group had 100,000 fighters (though other estimates range between 25,000 and 50,000).
    • Other Lebanese parties accuse Hezbollah of paralysing and undermining the state and of contributing to Lebanon’s persistent instability.

What is Hamas?

    • The group was founded in 1987, in Gaza, as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a prominent Sunni group based in Egypt.
    • Emerging during what’s known as the first intifada or uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation, Hamas quickly adopted the principle of armed resistance and called for the annihilation of Israel.
    • Opposed to the peace process, Hamas’s armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, established itself as the primary force of armed resistance against Israel.

How are Hamas and Hezbollah different?

    • What’s more, as a Sunni organisation, Hamas does not share the Shia religious link to Iran that characterises Hezbollah and most of Iran’s proxies.
    • As a result, while Hamas no doubt benefits from Iran’s patronage, it tends to operate more independently than Hezbollah.
    • In contrast, Hamas has received support in the past from Turkey and Qatar, among others, and operates with relative autonomy.