NAVASOTA, Texas – Fredzania Thompson, a mother-to-be and an aspiring model, was tragically killed during a photo shoot on train tracks. Read the complete article here.
According to John Risch, SMART TD national legislative director, there is a dangerous and growing trend of photographers using railroad tracks as the setting for photo shoots, especially graduation and modeling shoots, and these shoots can be catastrophic.
If you’re made aware of photo shoots occurring on a railroad’s tracks – either by receiving a graduation card in the mail, or by seeing photos like this somewhere, report the photo to a rail management office and ask them contact the photographer.
Author: amyr
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On March 17, the Maryland House of Representatives voted in favor of HB 381, a measure that would require at least two crew members on all freight trains operating in the state of Maryland. The bi-partisan bill has moved to the Senate finance committee.
SMART TD members residing in Maryland: Click here to visit the SMART TD Legislative Action Center to send a message to your federal and state reps in Maryland to support two-person crews on all freight trains.
All SMART TD Members: Click here to visit the SMART TD Legislative Action Center to send a message in support of HR 233 – The Safe Freight Act – which would mandate a minimum crew of two-persons for all freight trains operating in the U.S.
SMART TD Bus Vice President Calvin Studivant reports that Roshonda McIntosh, 41, died March 16, and Ira Fitzgerald, 53, died March 17. Both members had been ill.
McIntosh and Fitzgerald were both members of Local 1704 in Kansas City, Mo., and had been long-time bus operators for First Student, Inc.
SMART TD wishes to express our condolences to the families, friends and members of Local 1704 during this difficult time.
Ira Fitzgerald
Ira Joe Fitzgerald enjoyed working on cars, fishing and interacting with his family. He attended Vatterrott College in Kansas City, Mo., where he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering. When he was driving buses for First Student, Fitzgerald worked with different contractors as an electrical engineer.
He is survived by his children, Joseph Terrell Henderson, Treneka Robinson, LaStarza Thomas, Donte Ridgeway and Illisha Fitzgerald; step mother Rose Dianne Fane; brothers James Martin, Johnny Fitzgerald, Lovell Martin, Anthony Fame, Michael Tate, Ira Carthell Hickman, Darrell Fane, Corey Fane and Edward Monte Shelby; sisters Patricia Hixon, Diane Stevens, Ileasia Handy, Tameka Fane, Lisa Jones, Margie Fane and Danea Fane; and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 25, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at New Greater Love Church, 1249 N. 12th St., Paducah, KY 42001.
Click here to view the official obituary or to leave condolences for the family.
Roshonda McIntosh
Visitation for Roshonda Monique McIntosh will be held Friday, March 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Highland Park Funeral Home and Crematory, 4101 State Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102. Funeral services will immediately follow visitation at 12:00 p.m.
Click here to view the official obituary and to leave condolences.
This week, President Donald Trump released his 2018 budget proposal, which includes severe funding cuts to Amtrak along with the elimination of federal support for Amtrak’s long distance train services.
Despite criticisms by some in Congress, Amtrak served approximately 31.3 million customers last year with many of its services performing at record years in both ridership and revenues. The elimination of long distance Amtrak routes would terminate passenger rail service in 23 states, resulting in fewer railroad jobs, which means less money in the Railroad Retirement Fund.
Please take a moment to contact your elected representatives in Congress to urge them to OPPOSE any federal budget cuts to Amtrak by clicking the link below and sending a pre-drafted message via the SMART TD Legislative Action Center.
Click HERE to urge your Representative to OPPOSE the President’s budget cuts to Amtrak!
SMART TD and BLET submitted joint comments to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Thursday, March 16, on their proposal to require security training for employees of higher-risk freight railroad carriers, transportation agencies, passenger railroad carriers and over-the-road bus companies.
TSA’s proposed rule will require companies to train employees performing security-sensitive functions on how to observe, assess and respond to terrorist-related threats or incidents.
SMART TD and BLET said in their comments:
“We support stronger security training requirements for surface transportation employees who serve a critical role in the movement of passengers and commercial goods nationwide. Train operators in particular are responsible for the movement of hazardous materials, which can be a high-risk target for terrorist attacks.
“In 2014, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a final rule which established minimum training standards for all safety-related railroad employees, as required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. We urge TSA to engage with the FRA to implement improvements to those training standards and make sure that both sets of standards don’t conflict with one another.”
Click here to read TSA’s proposed rule.
Click here to read SMART TD and BLET’s joint comments in their entirety.
Click here to read all comments submitted to the TSA on this proposed rule.
DENVER, Colo. – On Wednesday, March 16, the Colorado State Senate shot down SB 55 that called for Colorado to become a Right-to-Work (for less) state. The packed chambers included union members from all crafts. Click here to read the entire article from the Denver Business Journal.
Click here to send a quick message to your Congressional reps in opposition of the National Right-to-Work Act, HR 785.
SMART TD is sharing a recent study released by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which highlights the economic impact of declining unionization over the past decades across states in the Midwest.
The study found that as unionization declines, wealth inequality between workers and businesses continues to widen particularly in states that have passed so-called “right-to-work” laws (i.e. Michigan, Wisconsin, etc.).
The real goal of “Right-to-Work” is to lower wages for workers and divert that money to the owners and upper management of the company.
Click HERE for more information about the study.
Strength in numbers is what sustains our union and is the only thing that can turn the tide.
Your voice matters, so please take a minute to send a message to your representatives in Congress.
Click here to send your message in opposition of HR 785, the National Right to Work (FOR LESS) act; and in support of HR 233, The Safe Freight Act, that calls for two-person crews on all freight trains.
Right to Work (RTW) legislative measures, designed to weaken unions, are supported by Trump and his administration, so it is imperative that we make our opposition known and heard.
SMART Transportation Division will be hosting a free event for all union members of all crafts, and for the public, to discuss how RTW was designed to weaken unions, decrease pay and decrease benefits.
Toledo, Ohio Meeting:
Date & time: Saturday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Sheet Metal Workers Local 33; 27430 Crossroads Pkwy. Rossford, OH 43460
Refreshments will be served
Click here to download Toledo Meeting Flyer to pass out to members, friends and family.
Cincinnati, Ohio Meeting:
Date & time: Saturday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Sheet Metal Workers Local 24; 1579 Summit Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237
Coffee & donuts will be served
Click here to download Cincinnati meeting flyer to pass out to members, friends and family.
Take two minutes and TAKE ACTION against Right-to-Work measures:
Click here to send a message to Ohio legislators against HB 113
Click here to send a message to U.S. Congress against HR 785
RUGBY, N.D. – A 25-foot wall of snow stopped an eastbound Amtrak train in its tracks for twelve hours. Fortunately, no one was injured. Passenger services aboard the train remained operational, making the long wait more bearable. Read more from Bismarcktribune.com here.
BILOXI, Miss. – An eastbound CSX train hit a packed charter bus that was stuck on the tracks at approx. 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 7. Four fatalities have been reported and several people were airlifted from the scene. Nearly all of the 50 people aboard the bus were injured, several critically.
Click here to see video and read more from CNN.com.