SMART Union
If you think the man has lost his touch, think again.
Warren Buffett’s ‘elephant-gun’ purchase of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC, railroad for $34 billion in 2010 was impeccably timed (coming as it did a year off the 2008-2009 financial crisis) and a huge bet on the revival of the US economy.
However, just four years later, this investment is worth at least $65 billion, according to analysts.
Read the complete story at Value Walk.
CALGARY – The CEO of Canadian Pacific Railway says he’d like to see Canada and the United States work together on rail regulations – though he admits it may be difficult to pull off.
The company is trying to talk to regulators in Washington and Ottawa about how the lack of consistency is hurting business, Hunter Harrison said Thursday (May 1).
Read the complete story at the Global Post.
WASHINGTON – A great friend of organized labor and a leader of transportation infrastructure reformation, former U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, died Saturday, May 3.
Oberstar, 79, was the former chairperson of the House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and was Minnesota’s longest-serving congressman.
He was instrumental in securing the commuter rail system in the Twin Cities and had a reputation as an expert in public works and transportation issues.
“He was the leading infrastructure expert of our time,” said former Republican congressman from Minnesota, Vin Weber.
“Jim Oberstar was not only a champion of workers in his district and all over Minnesota, he was a true advocate for all transportation employees in this country and cared about their safety on the job. We lost a real giant among men,” SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich said.
“His impacts are almost indescribable,” said former Minnesota State House Majority Leader Tony Sertich of the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party. “You can’t travel down a road, or a bridge, or an airport or a trail in northeastern Minnesota without his fingerprint on it.”
“Workers everywhere lost a true friend. Mr. Oberstar not only took the time and energy to learn about worker issues, he really cared about their health and safety. We also cannot ever forget that our Railroad Retirement Reform Act would not have become law without his strong advocacy,” SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director James Stem said.
U.S. Senator Al Franken made the following statement upon learning of the death of Oberstar:
“By the time Jim rose to Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, he knew more about transportation than anyone in this country. The first time I saw Jim in action as Chairman, he was presiding over a hearing on high speed rail with witnesses from Japan and France, and several other countries, all of which – to our shame – are far ahead of us in high speed rail.
“When it came time for the Chairman to ask his questions, I learned that Jim had piloted every one of these high speed trains, and Jim questioned the French witness in his own language in startlingly fluent French. It was a tour de force. I think that’s French.
“If Jim were asked to write this himself, he’d somehow segue to the history of infrastructure in this country, from the Erie Canal to rural broadband, then circle back to the Roman aqueducts and the use of slaves to build them and then move into a history of the labor movement, of which he was a fierce champion.
“Franni and I will miss Jim. We know all of you will as well. And we all are better people for having known him. And the Eighth District is a much, much better place for his service.”
Read Oberstar’s complete obituary here.
WASHINGTON – Amtrak invites America to celebrate the many benefits trains bring to the nation at the seventh annual National Train Day on May 10, 2014. Trains are an integral part of daily American life and connect communities, provide jobs and economic development, support local businesses and attract funds for infrastructure improvement. From big cities to small towns, coast to coast and border to border, trains matter.
In addition to events in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles, Amtrak is supporting events in many local markets across the country served by America’s Railroad. Event offerings will vary to include train equipment displays, family-friendly activities and local dignitaries.
“Trains have long been important to the growth and prosperity of our nation and today Amtrak supports our national economy and connectivity by moving America where it wants to go,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.
“Amtrak is America’s Railroad. Trains came first, long before the interstate and the airport,” said Mayor Todd Barton of Crawfordsville, Ind. “From a presidential candidate campaigning across the country to a young scholar leaving home for school, trains take us where we need to go. They are important and should be celebrated.”
Boardman added that rail travel is a vital transportation alternative that is cost-efficient, environmentally friendly and in high public demand. In addition, intercity passenger trains matter because they connect rural communities with major metropolitan areas and afford passengers more than 500 destinations – an option that has become increasingly important as airline and bus companies reduce service to significant regions of America.
Details on National Train Day events and information on how to host a National Train Day event are available at NationalTrainDay.com.
The head of the MTA Wednesday abruptly fired Long Island Rail Road president Helena Williams and named her successor in the midst of intense labor negotiations.
Williams, the first woman to run the nation’s busiest commuter railroad, said that after a board meeting, she was summoned to the office of her boss, Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Thomas F. Prendergast, where he broke the news.
Read the complete story at Newsday.
Swift and crucial response offered by a SMART Transportation Division member to a woman in distress on a passenger platform in South Florida Feb. 15 likely resulted in life-saving action by the Tri-Rail conductor.
Thomas E. Baker, a member of Local 30 at Jacksonville, Fla., and an employee of Veolia Transportation, noticed a 65-year old woman collapsed and lying on the transfer station platform.
He scrambled to reach her and discovered that she had no pulse and was not breathing. Without hesitation, he began performing CPR for more than 15 minutes until emergency medical service personnel arrived. The EMS personnel indicated that, because of his actions, Baker was able to successfully revive the woman and maintain her weak pulse, ultimately saving her life.
“This was a call to duty and I can only hope that someone would do the same for me or my family members if the situation ever arises,” Baker said.
Baker learned his CPR skills in the U.S. Air Force, where he served five years and nine months. He is a Gulf War veteran and participated in Operation Desert Storm. He then worked in Southern Florida law enforcement for more than 15 years. In 2010, he joined Veolia Transportation as an operations supervisor and was promoted to conductor two years later.
He said that this incident is proof that CPR training really does save lives.
On March 28, in recognition of his heroic deed, the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) presented Baker and two custom protection officers with its first ever “distinguished service awards” at a meeting of the authority’s governing board. The agency said the awards are inspired by transit heroes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect and aid Tri-Rail passengers.
In presenting the award, SFRTA Chair Commissioner Steven L. Abrams praised Baker and the two CPO officers saying, “These three heroes are indicative of the quality and caliber of the men and women who serve our Tri-Rail passengers every day. We are honored to have them as part of the SFRTA team.”
Congratulations, and well done, Brother Baker.
SMART?Transportation Division Local 30 conductor Thomas E. Baker, second from right, is presented a crystal “distinguished service award” by South Florida Regional Transportation Authority Commissioner Steven L. Abrams, far right, for his life-saving action in performing CPR on a passenger in distress. Also honored at the ceremony were G4S Custom Protection Officers James Errante and Lester Anderson, who removed a gunman from a Tri-Rail train. In the process, Errante was shot twice and Anderson was severly bitten by the suspect.
By Joe Nigro,
SMART General President –
The SMART General Executive Council met in Maryland the week of March 31 to April 4 to identify opportunities and challenges in developing a five-year plan to move SMART forward. Representatives from the Sheet Metal and Transportation Divisions participated in the strategic planning sessions facilitated by FMI consultants, who have worked with SMART in the past.
Officers and staff members delved into the challenges facing the organization and how it could combine its resources to advance the merger process. While SMART members in construction have suffered from the acute effects of the Great Recession on construction industry activity, members on the transportation side have been faced with the challenges posed by rival unions using cutthroat tactics to offer substandard services to our members.
One of the takeaways from our planning session was the need to re-examine the way we communicate within and outside SMART. I understand that the goal of jam-packed union meetings has become unrealistic in some cases, due to the pace of day-to-day schedules and the demands placed on all of us through work and family obligations.
That is why more and more people are connecting with each other online or through mobile communications. These avenues of communication are useful, but don’t forget the value of face-to-face relationships offered through union meetings.
Seventy years ago, during the New Deal, there were more than 2,000 labor-related newspapers published in local communities throughout the United States. That number dwindled during the post-war era to a low today of just a few dozen that are regularly published.
In order to fill that gaping hole, numerous online and social media websites have risen to fill that gap. Several years ago, SMART expanded its online infrastructure to not only inform members of what is going on in their union and their industries, but also enabled members to talk to and communicate with one another and with their leadership.
As one union, we are only as strong as we make it by working together. Every idea and every contribution is valued, and an idea that may seem outlandish today might be the spark that ignites a fellow member somewhere else. I strongly encourage you to follow our social media sites on Twitter and Facebook (both listed on our homepage at smart-union.org) and subscribe to updates from the SMART Action Team (www.smartaction.org) in order to remain informed about the issues we need to address together in advancing our cause. I want you to say something if you know something that makes us stronger and smarter.
The key to the success of our efforts is having members fully informed and involved. As we prepare for the upcoming conventions of the SMART Transportation Division and SMART’s General Convention, I want you to make sure you understand the provisions and proposed changes to the constitution.
I want you to be involved in selecting your delegates, who will be representing your interests in amending and adopting SMART’s Constitution, which will guide our operations for the next five years. To help keep you up to date, please visit our website at smart-union.org for breaking news and other vital information for our members and their family.
Non-union employees at a commuter rail operation in the state of New Mexico expressed interest in union representation and now they have it.
Engineers, conductors and ticket agents working for New Mexico Rail Runner Express voted April 28-29 for representation by the SMART Transportation Division, Director of Organizing Rich Ross reports.
The Rail Runner Express operates over approximately 100 miles of right-of-way, serving the metropolitan areas of Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to SMART Transportation Division’s assistant state legislative director in New Mexico, Donald A. Gallegos, for his efforts. He went above and beyond the call of duty during this campaign,” Ross said.
“I also thank the members of SMART Sheet Metal Division Local 49 and Business Manager Vince Alvarado for the use of their facility in Albuquerque as our base of operation.”
“Hopefully, we can reach an agreement soon for our 38 new members.”
The commuter rail service is administered by the New Mexico Department of Transportation over right-of-way purchased from BNSF Railway. Operation and maintenance of the line and equipment is currently under contract to Herzog Transit Services, Inc.
According to NMDOT, Rail Runner Express carried 1,219,461 passengers in fiscal year 2011.
WASHINGTON – The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) presented U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R) of North Dakota with the prestigious Golden Spike Award yesterday (April 30) for his strong support of passenger trains and transit, both locally and across the U.S.
Although Cramer has only been in office since January 2013, he’s already played an outsized role in keeping America’s trains on track. The North Dakota native, along with other members of the state’s delegation, shined a spotlight on the oil-by-rail freight train congestion that was causing serious delays to Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which serves as a critical transportation connection to tens of thousands of North Dakotans. The congestion was also causing delays in the shipping of agricultural products by rail, hurting a vital part of North Dakota’s economy.
“I am honored to receive such a prestigious award,” said Representative Cramer. “The Golden Spike carries a rich history in our nation and state. North Dakota is in the eye of the storm as growing demand for rail to move industrial products, commodities and the most precious cargo, people, is highlighting safety concerns like never before. I join my colleagues in insisting on transparency as industry and the government work together to ensure safety is the highest priority on the tracks.”
Cramer’s work helped lead host railroad Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to add 5,000 crewmembers system wide. BNSF also sent 250 temporary workers, 5,000 rail cars, and 125 locomotives to North Dakota to ease congestion.
“The Empire Builder connects 8.8 million Americans who live within 25 miles of one of the stations. Given the rural profile of many of the 46 towns along the route, this train provides the only transportation alternative to highways, and can be the only way to travel during harsh winter storms. As we documented in a recent survey, the Empire Builder provides a vital connection to hospitals in larger cites, serving as a literal lifeline for passengers,” said NARP Chairman Robert Stewart. “Our members, and all of America’s passengers, thank Representative Cramer for his work to keep the trains moving across the national network.”
NARP is the only national organization speaking for the users of passenger trains and rail transit. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 28,000 individual members.
Going back to the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, golden spikes were used by railroads in ceremonies to mark the completion of important projects. In the 1960s, magazine publishes George Falcon, an active early member of NARP, got the idea for the Golden Spike Award from actress Debbie Reynolds, a train lover whose father worked as a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Since 1984, the NARP Board of Directors Executive Committee has approved all choices for recipients. Past recipients include Ms. Reynolds, Walt Disney, Johnny Cash, and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Next week, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 4486, the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. Amendments may be offered to this bill that seek to either weaken or repeal the Davis-Bacon Act, as well as to prohibit Project Labor Agreements for federal construction projects.
Click here for a detailed primer about Prevailing Wages and Project Labor Agreements.
Please contact your Representative and urge a vote against any amendment that seeks to weaken or repeal Davis-Bacon, or to prohibit PLAs.