Rail News: Safety
UTU, St. Louis terminal road team up to develop security awareness program

The United Transportation Union (UTU) and Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) are jointly seeking an anti-terrorist security grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a new awareness program.

If the grant is approved — a DHS decision is expected in August — the union and association will collaborate on a three-year project designed to train front-line TRRA employees on enhancing security awareness. UTU and TRRA plan to develop a security awareness manual and develop emergency preparedness classroom training classes, drills and exercises on various terrorist scenarios, and ways to recognize, report and respond to terrorist threats.

Discussions are under way with Class Is regarding joint federal grant applications to develop similar training programs for front-line Class I employees, according to the union.