BLE-T National Legislative News
New federal law requires RR employees to provide dependent Social Security Numbers
Written by United Healthcare Tuesday, 19 May 2009 19:19
CLEVELAND, May 19 — The Medicare Secondary Payer statute and regulations contain a series of rules for determining whether Medicare is the primary payer for a person who has both Medicare and other health coverage. In order to satisfy these regulations, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency responsible for administering health-related programs, has implemented new reporting requirements.Consequently, The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan (The Plan) is participating in an all-out effort to obtain Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for all covered dependents (wives, husbands and children) in order to achieve compliance with these new reporting requirements. In addition, the Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) will also be required for any dependent eligible for Medicare.
Read more: New federal law requires RR employees to provide dependent Social Security Numbers
Court upholds DOT direct observation, strip search regulations
Written by BLE-T.org Tuesday, 19 May 2009 19:17
CLEVELAND, May 18 — On Friday, May 15, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied a petition for review of two Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations that were published last year. The legal challenge had been filed by the BLET and eight other unions, including the Teamsters and the UTU, along with the BNSF Railway.At issue were DOT regulations requiring a strip search and direct observation of urine collection when a transportation worker returns to duty after failing or refusing to submit to a drug test, as well as during follow-up tests after a failure or refusal. The legal challenge asserted that the two regulations violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Read more: Court upholds DOT direct observation, strip search regulations
FRA cracks down on harassment of injured rail workers
Written by BLE-T.org Tuesday, 31 March 2009 09:20
CLEVELAND, March 30 — BLET National President Ed Rodzwicz today hailed action by the Federal Railroad Administration to crack down on the harassment and intimidation of injured rail workers.In today’s Federal Register, the FRA published a worker-friendly interpretation of 49 CFR Part 225-Harassment and Intimidation Prohibition. The FRA now interprets harassment and intimidation of workers to occur when railroad supervisors accompany injured employees into an examination room.
Read more: FRA cracks down on harassment of injured rail workers
FRANCIS P. MULVEY DESIGNATED ACTING CHAIRMAN OF STB
Written by www.bletdc.org Sunday, 22 March 2009 23:32
The Surface Transportation Board announced that Francis P. Mulvey has been designated Acting Chairman of the agency by President Barack Obama, succeeding former Board Chairman Charles D. Nottingham. The announcement follows the Board's receipt of an official order signed by the President on March 12, 2009 and delivered to the Board in the late afternoon on March 13, 2009.Read more: FRANCIS P. MULVEY DESIGNATED ACTING CHAIRMAN OF STB
Obama taps Joe Szabo to head FRA
Written by John D. Boyd - Journal of Commerce website Saturday, 21 March 2009 06:52
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Joseph C. Szabo, state lobbyist in Illinois for train conductors’ union
President Obama said he wants Joseph C. Szabo, the state legislative director in Illinois for the United Transportation Union, to head the Federal Railroad Administration.
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