By Assistant President Arty Martin

While we go about our daily lives, political extremists are gaining strength and working non-stop to undermine and eliminate much of what we cherish on the job and look forward to in retirement.

It's not just Wisconsin and Ohio where right-wing majorities voted to eliminate public-employee collective bargaining rights.

In 20 states, bills have been introduced to restrict or eliminate collective bargaining rights.

A tentative new five-year national rail agreement covering wages, benefits and working conditions has been reached between the UTU and the National Carriers' Conference Committee (NCCC).

The tentative agreement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010, and extends through Dec. 31, 2014.