Eastern Railroad Discussion > RRB Budget Cuts

The folks in Washington (the DC one) who are suposed to represent us are coming after rails again.

RRB has been under funded and running on the edge for years. Now, the proposed House budget cuts another $28 million. The last cut resulted in a hiring freeze and a substantial slowing of response. It sounds like the next step, if this passes, is layoffs at RRB.

This link is a pre-written letter to Congress (goes specifically to your Representative and Senators based on your address). the letter writing campaign is managed by IAM Rail Division.

The letter is pre-written, but you can also modify it ad lib (more effective if it is not 100% the same as others).

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/railroaders-fund-our-retirement-board-tell-the-house-to-give-us-the-budget-we-are-owed?source=email&

TAW

Instead of following the usual beauacratic policy of using acronyms for everything, it would be helpful if you told us what RRB stands for.

pennsypower Wrote:
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> Instead of following the usual beauacratic policy
> of using acronyms for everything, it would be
> helpful if you told us what RRB stands for.

Sorry  - it's universal knowledge among rails because we all pay into and depend on it - Railroad Retirement Board.

TAW

Railroad Retirement Board.  Nice effort on his part to out information relevant to railroaders who could be affected who frequent this site.  

I remember my father being angry about the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, which screwed people who had joint RR and Social Security eligibility. But at the time, Railroad Retirement was said to be on a path to bankruptcy. 

Google Link

pennsypower Wrote:
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> Instead of following the usual beauacratic policy
> of using acronyms for everything, it would be
> helpful if you told us what RRB stands for.

Good reason to join the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees  (NARVRE)

https://www.narvre.us/

NARVRE was organized on September 6, 1937, 
in the same year that the Railroad Retirement Act became law. 
NARVRE is the only Federal Chartered Railroad Association in the industry.
It's purpose is to lobby Congress to support the RRB.

I belong to a chapter in the southwest suburbs of Chicago.  
Anyone interested in attending a meeting there (1130 am on the third Friday of the month in New Lenox) can PM
me for details. Those in other areas can use the "Contact Us" on the NARVRE website for more information.
 

Sent it

ctillnc Wrote:
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> I remember my father being angry about the
> Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, which screwed
> people who had joint RR and Social Security
> eligibility. But at the time, Railroad Retirement
> was said to be on a path to bankruptcy. 
Oh yes,  I  lived through that - working or on call 7 days a week.  We didn't believe the lies back then either.  I watched senior engineers take side jobs in their free time trying to complete their dual vestment in RRB and SS by the deadline of 12-31-74.  Also that Act took away spousal annuities to future married railroader couples, and that was a crock.  Thankfully I was grandfathered for my spousal annuity.  My agent-operator and I are collecting our RRB employee and spousal annuities.

If you have to ask what it stands for then this thread doesn’t concern you.

pennsypower Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Instead of following the usual beauacratic policy
> of using acronyms for everything, it would be
> helpful if you told us what RRB stands for.

Posted from iPhone

splitreduction Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you have to ask what it stands for then this
> thread doesn’t concern you.
>
> pennsypower Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Instead of following the usual beauacratic
> policy
> > of using acronyms for everything, it would be
> > helpful if you told us what RRB stands for.
>
> Posted from iPhone


Bingo.

Regards

Good to hear. My wife and I both put in more than 30 years at the railroad and hired out before 1975 and enjoy the double dip from RRB.

Done. Thank you Tom!