SMART Union
On Monday, January 25, John Previsich, president of SMART Transportation Division, filed a letter with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in strong support of the FRA’s efforts to clarify vision standards and testing for locomotive engineers and conductors. Read the complete article here.
Members now have the opportunity to see their pets featured in the SMART Transportation Division News. Just submit your photo to news_td@smart-union.org to have your pet considered.
The Connecticut Post reported that, through a recently signed agreement, Metro-North employees who see unsafe conditions can now say something about it by reporting them, without fear of retribution, on a confidential close call hotline.
Read the entire article here.
Billy K. Cisneros, of Monte Vista, Colo., age 42, passed away suddenly January 15, 2016. He was a beloved father, son, brother and friend to many. Although he had many interests, including working on cars with his father, riding motorcycles and following the Pittsburgh Steelers, his main life passion was consistently focused on his family, and he especially cherished his role as father to his daughters.
Cisneros was the devoted father of Stephanie and Brooke Cisneros; son of Elaine Skidmore and Bill Cisneros, and stepson of Charlie Skidmore (UTUIA Field Supervisor. & Colo. Asst. SLD); and, brother of Jessica, Jeannie and Jerimy. Cisneros was also cherished by numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues.
Cisneros worked as a conductor for the San Luis Central Railroad Company.
Click here to read the complete memorial notice.
The SMART union extends our heartfelt condolences to Billy’s daughters, mother, father and stepfather, and to his entire family and many friends.
A vigil service with recitation of the Rosary will be held Thursday, January 21 at 6:00 p.m. A memorial mass will be held Friday, January 22 at 11:00 a.m. Both services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 715 4th St., Alamosa, CO 81101.
Donations may be directed to the following memorial fund:
Billy Keith Cisneros Memorial Fund
Security Service Federal Credit Union
310 East Abriendo Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81004
The Seattle Times reported that the five activists who blocked BNSF tracks in Washington during September 2014 were recently convicted of trespassing.
Read the entire article here.
After nearly five years of bargaining, Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 249, formed in November, 2015 to resolve the contract dispute between the Rail Labor Coalition (Coalition) and New Jersey’s mammoth commuter carrier, New Jersey Transit (NJT), sided with unionized workers in recommending the main points of the Coalition’s proposal, including retroactive wage payments and an 18 percent increase in pay, compounded, over a six-year period.
In addition to recommending the wage increases, the PEB soundly rejected the NJT’s proposal of a 10 percent increase in health care premiums, and recommended an increase of 2.5 percent, which is closely aligned with the Coalition’s proposed 2.0 percent premium increase.
The three-member, neutral panel was chosen by President Obama, based on their experience and expertise. PEB 249 is the second on the property and was appointed after NJT rejected the recommendations of PEB 248. In the report that PEB 249 released on Tuesday, January 12, they presented a detailed review of PEB 248’s conclusions, which was the final offer submitted by the Coalition.
The PEB found most main points of the Coalition’s proposal to be more convincing, rational and reasonable than the NJT position.
The Rail Labor Coalition is comprised of more than 15 international unions and more than 4,300 unionized transit rail members, including more than 1,200 SMART Transportation Division union members.
John Previsich, President of SMART Transportation Division, said that the report, “sends the message that our collective voice is heard.”
“The recommendation by PEB 249 is a victory for members of the Rail Labor Coalition, and for union members everywhere. We will continue to fight for fair wages, safe work environments and quality, affordable healthcare for all of our Brothers and Sisters.”
Previsich also stated that the report follows the pattern of settlements that have occurred on similar properties and is a fair and equitable resolution of the issues.
“It’s time for New Jersey Transit to accept the recommendations of PEB 249, which are in line with every other commuter railroad settlement in the area.
“Members of Rail Labor Coalition are skilled, highly trained and experienced workers. We’re hoping that NJT will do right by their workers and the community by moving beyond this lengthy dispute and accept the PEB’s report,” Previsich added.
If an agreement is not reached, any participant may invoke self-help as early as March 13, 2016, leaving 295,000 commuters without the public transportation they depend on.
To read the full report of PEB 249, click here.
SMART TD and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen (BLET) have submitted a petition to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for rulemaking that mandates uniform warning speed signs in advance of a permanent speed restriction.
SMART TD National Legislative Director John Risch said, “Not having speed signs would be like listing all the traffic speeds on your state highway maps, then taking down the signs on the highways. People overlook things and need this physical reminder. Speed signs are vital to operating crews’ safe operation of trains. It’s amazing to me that some railroads don’t have them and others are taking them down.”
Below is the petition submitted to the FRA:
“The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division and The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen hereby petitions FRA for rulemaking that mandates uniform warning speed signs in advance of a permanent speed restriction. The signs should be standardized as to dimensions, conspicuousness, and color.
“Recently, some railroads have begun removal of these safety indicators, which creates a hazard for operating crews and the public. In the interest of safety it is necessary to warn road crews of an upcoming speed restriction which otherwise might not be readily apparent. Just as it is unreasonable for a motorist to know each speed restriction without a warning, the same is true for railroad crews. Unlike automobile travel, where speeds can be reduced promptly, trains are unable to comply with a speed restriction without prior knowledge.”
Dear Member,
How often have you heard the phrase, “this is the most important election in our lifetime?” Plenty, I’m sure. The truth is, every election is 
important, with the stakes being higher in a presidential election year — especially for rail, transit and airline workers and retirees who are directly impacted by administration regulations and Congressional votes.
There is still plenty of time to scrutinize the candidates and determine who will best represent our members, retirees and their families on our issues of concern. But now is the right time to ensure that you and your family are registered to vote at your current address, especially if you moved recently.
One of the simplest ways to verify your voter registration, or register to vote, is to visit the SMART TD Legislative Action Center. The following link will take you directly to the voter information page; just click on your state for complete information: http://www.congressweb.com/smart_transportation/voterinformation
I am proud to say that SMART TD members are more likely to be registered to vote, and more likely to vote, than the general public. Research shows that members consistently have a turnout rate of 10 to 20 percentage points higher than the average American worker or retiree. That means power at the ballot box. Although we are doing better than most, we still have room for improvement.
That is where you come in. If you are registered to vote, make a commitment to get your entire family registered; and if not currently registered to vote, make the commitment to register to vote – the future of working families may depend on it.
In Solidarity,
John Risch
National Legislative Director
SMART Transportation Division
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WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unveiled its 2016 Most Wanted List of transportation safety improvements Wednesday, calling it a “road map from lessons learned to lives saved.” The list focuses on 10 broad safety improvements on which the NTSB has made recommendations that have not yet been implemented.
Several items on the list demonstrate the importance of technology in saving lives, preventing accidents and lessening the number and severity of injuries from accidents. For example, the list calls for promoting both the availability of collision avoidance technology in highway vehicles, and the completion of rail safety initiatives to prevent accidents. The list also calls for strengthening occupant protection in all modes of transportation, including laws mandating primary enforcement of seatbelt use, and age-appropriate child restraints.
Twenty years ago, the NTSB issued its first recommendation on the use of technology to prevent rear-end collisions. Implementation of this technology could significantly reduce motor vehicle crashes – by far the leading cause of death and injuries in transportation. Although federal regulators have made progress toward including such technologies in the 5-star safety rating on new vehicles, the NTSB advocates including such new technologies as standard equipment on all new highway vehicles – including commercial vehicles — just as airbags and seatbelts are now standard equipment.
The NTSB also called for completion of rail safety initiatives, including the implementation of positive train control (PTC). A 2008 law mandated implementation of positive train control by the end of 2015. Congress changed the law and implementation deadline late last year to avoid a possible rail transportation shut-down.
NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart cited the PTC implementation as an example of why a sense of urgency is needed in implementing Most Wanted List improvements. “Every PTC-preventable accident, death, and injury on tracks and trains affected by the law will be a direct result of the missed 2015 deadline and the delayed implementation of this life-saving technology,” Hart said.
The NTSB’s push to improve rail transit safety oversight was in part a result of the agency’s investigation of a deadly smoke event last January near Washington’s L’Enfant Plaza Metro station. The accident exposed many safety issues, some of which resulted from shortcomings in the safety oversight of WMATA. This year, the NTSB will continue to examine the way that the Federal Transit Administration is implementing such oversight – not only in Washington, but nationwide.
Improving rail tank car safety by phasing out the use of DOT-111 rail tank cars to transport flammable liquids such as crude oil and ethanol is another improvement addressed in the 2016 Most Wanted List. The deadline for implementing such tank rules is 2025. Until these tank cars are removed from service, people, their towns, and the environment surrounding the rail system remain at risk.
Distraction (especially from portable electronic devices) and fatigue continue to be serious safety issues in all modes of transportation, and the NTSB’s 2016 Most Wanted List addresses them all. The list also notes that undiagnosed and untreated medical conditions have caused or contributed to accidents and calls for operators and regulators to require medical fitness for duty.
Impairment is also an issue in all modes of transportation. The NTSB has recommended lowering the legal limit on blood alcohol content to .05 to reduce deaths and injuries on highways. However, drugs other than alcohol can also impair drivers and operators of other types of vehicles – whether these drugs are recreational, over-the-counter, or prescription.
Another improvement on the 2016 list is preventing inadvertent spins and stalls within the general aviation community – the worst safety problem facing general aviation. While airlines have become very safe, safety progress has slowed in the less widely understood world of general aviation.
All of these most wanted transportation safety improvements are the result of our accident investigations. Our most powerful tool to learn safety lessons from accidents is data recorders. Thus, the list calls for their increased use in all modes of transportation.
The