Year: 2014

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FRA_logo_wordsThe fatal derailment of a Metro-North train at the southern tip of the Bronx last month has spurred Capitol Hill lawmakers to boost the federal government’s “woefully underfunded” rail inspection program.

The bipartisan spending deal reached Monday night by Republican and Democratic members of Congress allocated $15 million to allow the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to hire at least 45 additional inspectors to scrutinize conditions on commuter and freight rail lines, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced Jan. 14.

Read the complete story at New York Daily News.

railyard1-150pxU.S. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) on Jan. 9 reintroduced the Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act, which would provide funding for freight transportation and infrastructure improvements.

The Freight Infrastructure Reinvestment Act of 2014 (H.R. 3825) would establish the National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Improvement Program through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The program would provide competitive grants to states and designated entities to improve the efficiency and capacity of freight networks.

Read the complete story at Progressive Railroading.

DSCN0965The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers announces support for California Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal to authorize funding for the state’s high-speed rail program, utilizing $300 million of cap and trade revenue.
This investment includes upgrades to commuter and intercity rail systems that improve connectivity and modernize transportation between regions throughout the state.  Without high-speed rail, California’s existing transportation network cannot meet the demands of the projected population growth of 20 million new residents in the coming decades. Studies find that adding more highways and airports to what already exists would cost up to three times as much as high-speed rail.
According to SMART General President Joseph Nigro, “California’s leadership in this effort will serve as a trailblazer for other states as the nation moves toward high-speed rail as a solution to solving present and future transportation challenges.”
SMART, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, is one of North America’s most dynamic and diverse unions with 216,000 members. SMART’s members produce and provide the vital services that move products to market, passengers to their destinations and ensure the quality of the air we breathe. We are sheet metal workers, service technicians, bus operators, engineers, conductors, sign workers, welders, production employees and more. With members in scores of different occupations, we advocate for fairness in the workplace, excellence at work and opportunity for all working families.
 
 

NTSB_logoWASHINGTON – The National Transportation Board today released its preliminary report in the Dec. 30, 2013, derailment, collision, fire and explosion that occurred near Fargo, N.D. A BNSF train carrying crude oil struck a derailed BNSF train on a parallel track that was carrying grain.

The full report can be found here.

 

Nigro
Nigro
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Previsich

We are pleased, as your general president and transportation division president, to present the first SMART Constitution and ritual to our membership. This is a milestone for both the former Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and the United Transportation Union, that have merged to become the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. While our merger has been complete for some time, this document solidifies this great union and its membership under a single constitution. It is impossible to speak to the success in completing this constitution without acknowledging both the hard work and the frustration of those who participated in the creation of the document and the membership who have waited patiently throughout this long and difficult process. The path has led both of us to take positions on interpretation of our separate constitutions and the merger agreement. In getting there, as would be expected of your leadership, we examined and debated every constitutional section thoroughly before agreement. At times, it required the help of an outside arbitrator to clarify a particular issue. While this slowed the process, it must be remembered the parties were tasked with blending 100 years of separate cultural and operational methods into a single constitution that would govern our organization. Throughout this process, both of us have recognized that, in the end, what matters is the importance of having a document that serves the best interests of all the membership of SMART. So, we are jointly resolved to move forward as an organization under one constitution and ritual, with a single focus. We, as your leadership, are dedicated to working collectively to provide a transparent and accountable organization that will strive to provide fair and reasoned representation to our membership and the efficiency of operation necessary to expand work opportunities for our members. To view the SMART Constitution, click here. To view a letter to all delegates attending the 2014 SMART Transportation Division Convention and First SMART International Convention, click here (This corrects and replaces the original posting from 1/14/2014.). To view questions and answers regarding the SMART Convention/Constitution, click here (03/18/14) Fraternally and in solidarity, nigro_signature     Joseph J. Nigro, General President previsich_sig_web John Previsich, President, Transportation Division  

Constitution and RitualWe are pleased, as your General President and Transportation Division President, to present the first SMART Constitution and Ritual to our membership.
This is a milestone for both the former Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association and the United Transportation Union that have merged to become the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers. While our merger has been complete for some time, this document solidifies this great union and its members under a single Constitution.
It is impossible to speak to the success in completing this Constitution without acknowledging both the hard work and the frustration of those who participated in the creation of the document and the membership who have waited patiently throughout this long and difficult process. The path has led both of us to take positions on interpretation of our separate constitutions and the merger agreement. In getting there, as would be expected of your leadership, we examined and debated every constitutional section thoroughly before agreement. At times, it required the help of an outside arbitrator to clarify a particular issue. While this slowed the process, it must be remembered the parties were tasked with blending 100 years of separate cultural and operational methods into a single Constitution that would govern our organization.
Throughout this process both of us have recognized that in the end what matters is the importance of having a document that serves the best interests of all the membership of SMART.
So, we are jointly resolved to move forward as an organization under one Constitution and Ritual and a single focus. We, as your leadership, are dedicated to working collectively to provide a transparent and accountable organization that will strive to provide fair and reasoned representation to our membership and the efficiency of operation necessary to expand work opportunities for our members.
Fraternally and in solidarity,
 
Joseph J. Nigro, General President
John Previsich, President Transportation Division
Cover Page and Index
Text of SMART Constitution
Information for Delegates Attending the 2014 SMART Convention (This corrects and replaces the original posting from 1/14/2014)
 
 
 

TotalTrack_K_Stacked_TaglineTotalTrack, the database system that puts all apprentice and training journeymen information in one place, has been installed in all U.S. training centers. Developed by the International Training Institute, TotalTrack simplifies the work of instructors and training coordinators, allowing them to spend more time with students and less time doing paperwork.
The training center in Cheyenne, Wyo. was the last center to be converted in December 2013. The first centers began using the system in 2011.
“[TotalTrack] is a going to dramatically change how the apprenticeship program runs,” said Larry Lawrence, ITI field representative and instructional developmental specialist. “Once everyone gets used to using this great tool, they will see the value and potential.”
Because TotalTrack is Internet-based, it doesn’t need to be installed on a computer network or require upgrades usually associated with an implementation of this size. Instructors, coordinators and students can access TotalTrack from anywhere they have Internet capabilities. Instructors can work on lesson plans, students can receive messages and homework assignments, and coordinators and administrators can check hours from anywhere, which frees instructors to do work at home.

Red Wing Shoes has recalled 42 styles of steel toe safety footwear. 

A defect in the steel toe cap may result in the cap failing to meet voluntary industry safety standards and may not withstand impact.

The footwear was sold between December 2012 and November 2013. There are 42 styles of Red Wing branded products that are covered under this notice. However, only certain sizes within each style are affected. Only those styles, sizes and widths with a manufacture date code between December 2012 and November 2013 are affected.

The affected style number, size, width and manufacture date can be found on the product label on the inside of the boot. Please see the instructions in the press release and/or product posters below to find the product label.

View Red Wing’s press release here.

View a poster of affected styles here. 

cameraTwo U.S. senators say a federal rail safety agency plans to propose a rule regarding the installation of video cameras aboard trains to monitor drivers and record accidents.

Sen. Charles Schumer, of New York, and Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said Sunday that they had been informed by the Federal Railroad Administration that it would begin the process of establishing the rule sometime this year.

Read the complete story at NBC Connecticut.

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) Jan. 10 announced that it is extending by one year, until Jan. 30, 2015, a requirement that interstate commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders retain paper copies of their medical examiner’s certificate and continue to make the document available for review upon request at the roadside by federal and state commercial motor vehicle inspectors.

In December 2008, FMCSA issued a Final Rule modernizing, streamlining, and simplifying recordkeeping obligations for drivers, carriers and state governments by requiring that a driver’s medical certification record be merged with state-issued CDLs.

States received support from FMCSA to implement the necessary IT system upgrades and merge the records into one, online database – the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS).

FMCSA announced the one-year extension today to protect commercial drivers from being cited for violations because some states are not yet in full compliance with the new system. For a copy of the Federal Register announcement, see: www.FMCSA.DOT.gov.