The SMART Transportation Division has been asking for help and advocacy from our members this week to reach out to Congress and let them know that it is not OK to gut the federal spending for Amtrak. Late Thursday, it appears that your voices have been heard loud and clear and have had an impact!
The House of Representatives prepared its budget bill for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD), and it called for an apocalyptic cut to AMTRAK’s budget. The version of the budget that came out of committee and was slated for a floor vote Nov. 2 featured a 64% cut to Amtrak.
This proposed funding cut would have been devastating to thousands of SMART-TD members who work in passenger rail. Fallout from the job cuts that would inevitably come from this short-sighted effort to slash and burn Amtrak would have also impacted the solvency of the Railroad Retirement Board, which would be a significant problem for everyone in railroad industry on both the freight and passenger sides.
Through the hard work of rail labor and the advocacy of our members and passenger railroad advocates reaching out to their members of Congress, the vote on this budget bill has been halted this week. Several Republican reps have expressed that this “halting” of the vote is directly related to concerns raised about Amtrak cuts.
In short, YOUR VOICE IS BEING HEARD!
While this is very welcome news, the threat is not over. This THUD budget bill is scheduled to come back to the House floor next week. We need all our members to contact their congressional representatives and express in no uncertain terms that cuts to Amtrak funding and subsequently the Railroad Retirement Board is not a responsible way to patch the holes in this nation’s budget.
SMART-TD announces that there will be no increase to the monthly health & welfare contributions for eligible railroad members for all of 2024. On November 1, 2023, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson emailed notification to all affected members with email addresses on file. The text of the letter appears below:
All National Health & Welfare Plan Members
SMART Transportation Division
RE: 2024 Monthly Health & Welfare Cost-Sharing Contributions
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Last week, representatives from SMART-TD, along with representatives from 11 other participating railway labor organizations and members of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee, held their annual meeting to review and set the current and projected costs for health and welfare coverage under our nationally negotiated agreements.
I am pleased to announce that for 2024, the parties have agreed to maintain the current monthly employee cost-sharing contribution of $309.21. This is made possible due to more favorable medical claim costs than were projected at this time last year, and several other measures that have been taken by both labor and management to control healthcare costs.
With that being said, it is reasonable to expect modest increases in future years, which is typical with all group health and welfare plans. Nonetheless, SMART-TD remains committed to responsibly co-managing our healthcare plans and exploring methods to limit future costs, without negatively impacting our members’ benefits.
This issue will also undoubtedly come up in our next round of national bargaining, which will begin on January 1, 2025. In mid-2024, we will begin reaching out to our members and seeking your input on any proposed changes to our healthcare plans (as well as any other issues) that should be brought to the table. We look forward to receiving your feedback at that time.
Meanwhile, the retention of our current $309.21 monthly contribution in 2024, which is more than $30.00 lower than our 2022 estimates, serves as a testament to our members’ responsible utilization of our benefits, as well as our leadership’s determination to responsibly manage our health and welfare plans.
With best wishes for a rewarding and healthy 2024, and with sincere gratitude for your continued interest and support for our great Union, I remain
The SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) is thrilled to announce that one of its own, New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol, was honored at the 35th Annual Knights of Labor award ceremony on Oct. 28. This event is hosted annually by the AFL-CIO Central Labor Council of Mercer County, N.J. This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement and unwavering dedication to the labor movement, and SLD Sabol’s exceptional commitment to the cause made him a clear honoree.
From left, N.J. Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, CWA Local 33 President Gaye Palmer and SMART Transportation Division New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol are honored at the Mercer County Knights of Labor dinner. (Photo courtesy Adam Bierman).
Sabol, of Local 1447 (Newark, N.J.) and an active member of SMART-TD since 1999, has tirelessly served the organization and its members for over two decades. He became state legislative director in December 2016, where he has continued to be a relentless advocate for the rights and welfare of workers in both bus and rail sectors in New Jersey.
The Knights of Labor Award was presented to Brother Sabol in a special ceremony held by the Mercer County Central Labor Council. Michael Maloney, president of the Mercer County Central Labor Council and a representative of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 9, gave Sabol the award.
“Choosing Brother Ron Sabol for this award was a very easy pick,” Maloney said. “Ronnie is very committed to New Jersey’s labor movement. He’s one of the most dedicated representatives of organized labor I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
In addition to the AFL-CIO Knights of Labor Award, SLD Sabol was also surprised with commendations from various legislative bodies and organizations. Both chambers of the New Jersey State Legislature, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s office, and the clerk’s office and commissioners in Mercer County all recognized his remarkable contributions and dedication to advocating for the rights and well-being of workers in New Jersey.
A view of the award SLD Sabol received from the AFL-CIO on Oct. 28.
SMART-TD National Legislative Director Greg Hynes also congratulated Sabol, saying, “Congratulations to Ron Sabol on his well-deserved award! Ron does an outstanding job of representing our members in both bus and rail in New Jersey.”
SLD Sabol’s tenacity and commitment in advancing the interests of workers in New Jersey have not only been a source of pride for the union but have also earned him the respect and recognition of the broader labor community — we thank for him for the example he sets and for his amazing advocacy on behalf of our members and the organization as a whole.
As SMART-TD continues its mission to protect and advance the interests of transportation workers, SLD Sabol’s recognition as an outstanding labor leader is a testament to the organization’s commitment to fostering dedicated individuals who tirelessly fight for the rights of working people.
Congratulations to Ron Sabol for this well-deserved honor, and SMART-TD looks forward to your continued advocacy and leadership in the years to come!
The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, of which the SMART Transportation and Mechanical Divisions are members, issued the following letter today, Oct. 31, on the Transportation Housing and Urban Development bill under consideration in the U.S. House.
Dear Representative,
The undersigned labor organizations, representing the totality of rail labor, write to urge you to vote against the proposed Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) fiscal year 2024 spending bill when it comes to a vote in the full House of Representatives.
The entirety of rail labor stands in opposition to the proposed draconian funding cuts in the legislation that would devastate U.S. passenger and freight rail networks and the dedicated rail workers that run them.
The bill’s proposed $1 billion decrease in Amtrak funding would devastate existing operations and jeopardize more than 10,000 jobs. Yearly funding from the federal government is critical to the day-to-day operations of Amtrak, including rail service and basic maintenance. Yet, this bill would enact the lowest annual funding level that Amtrak has received in more than two decades and 64% less than the previous fiscal year. Congress prohibited Amtrak from using any Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to backfill any service or maintenance funding gaps and therefore these proposed cuts would decimate Amtrak’s service.
In addition, the bill strips $560 million from key programs that support state investments in rail projects. These cuts would prevent nationally significant projects like the new Gateway Tunnel or the Gulf Coast Passenger Rail Project from receiving the necessary federal funding to move forward in a timely manner.
Altogether, these proposed funding cuts undermine the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic expansion of our national passenger rail network and jeopardize good middle-class construction and maintenance sector jobs.
We urge you to oppose this legislation that would reverse the strong progress we have made by investing in our rail and infrastructure systems. Instead, we ask Congress to stand with workers and communities and provide adequate funding for reliable freight and passenger rail service.
Sincerely,
American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET)-IBT Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division (BMWED)-IBT Brotherhood of Railway Carmen (BRC) Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers (IBB) International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Mechanical Division (SMART-MD) International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Transportation Division (SMART-TD) National Conference of Firemen & Oilers, SEIU (NCFO) Transportation Communications International Union (TCU) Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
SMART Army members from Local 278 (Jackson, Mich.) and Local 1438 (Lincoln Park, Mich.) delivered two cords of firewood to our United Auto Workers (UAW) brothers and sisters in UAW Local 1248 in front of the Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Romulus, Mich. SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson purchased the wood for the UAW strike lines last week while Locals 278 and 1438 took it from there and got it where it needed to go.
SMART Army members from TD Locals 278 and Local 1438 unload two cords of wood donated by SMART-TD President Ferguson. UAW Local 1248 Strike Captain John Baker, in red shirt close to trailer, said they were in dire need of the wood donation given how quickly the temperatures were dropping.
The union’s donation was well-timed for the men and women on the Stellantis picket line. When SMART-TD’s Nick Greficz spoke to UAW 1248 Strike Captain John Baker, he told Brother Greficz they were in dire need of fuel for their fires. He told Greficz how quickly the temperatures has been dropping with each passing day in late October and that colder weather was taking its toll on morale on the line.
President Ferguson got the idea to donate firewood to the effort while walking the line in Toledo, Ohio, at a Stellantis plant that produces Jeep Gladiators. The UAW reps in Toledo told them that keeping the burn barrels stocked was a challenge.
So with cold weather on the horizon, Ferguson committed resources to fulfill a need in solidarity with the UAW prior to the union’s announcement that tentative agreements had been reached with the nation’s Big Three automakers.
SMART-TD Local 1438 and Local 278 members walk with UAW Local 1248 members in front of Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Romulus, Mich.
Pictured, from left, Local 278 Vice President Jacob Howell; GO 687 Associate Chairperson Nick Greficz, Bill Maue of Local 278, GO687 Vice General Chairperson Jim Reid, LCA Secretary Mike Trondson, Local 1438 Chairperson Ryan West and Local 1438 Legislative Representative Walt Grein.
SMART Transportation Division Michigan State Legislative Director Don Roach reports that two bills supported by the union have taken a step forward in the state Legislature after receiving a key committee endorsement.
HB 4917 and HB 4918 seek to enhance protections for transportation workers by establishing more severe punishments for people who assault Amtrak employees, transit workers and bus operators.
The bills raise punishments for the assault of a transportation operator to a maximum of eight years, depending on the severity of the offense. They also make the punishments for repeat offenses more severe and adjust the state’s sentencing guidelines accordingly.
Fines for assault on transportation workers also would be increased — set at $1,000 or $8,000.
The bills, introduced July 18, were passed through the House’s Criminal Justice Committee with a recommendation from the committee for passage by the full House. A date for the legislation to be considered has not yet been set.
The bills’ primary sponsor is state Rep. Samantha Steckloff of Michigan’s 19th District.
This column was submitted by Dan Lough, who worked for the TD Public Relations Department and as a meeting planner for the union for more than four decades prior to his retirement in 2018. His father was an auto worker and a member of the UAW.
I don’t pretend to be an expert in the auto industry or labor relations. But I did work for the largest freight railroad/bus union in the country for 42 years. And I helped negotiate the first employee union contract (and several more after that) for my fellow employees to protect our rights, our seniority and our pensions over the years. With that being said, I’d like to share some information so people can see the UAW employees’ side of the equation and their reasoning in their negotiations with the Big 3 auto makers.
As of September 1, 2023, the average hourly pay for a UAW worker was $18.54 an hour. A large portion of UAW workers are temporary workers who start at $17 an hour on average and do not get the healthcare and pension that the full-time workers get. The average hourly wage for an assembly line worker is between $19-$24. Top-scale assembly workers make $32.32 an hour. The average assembly line worker in Michigan makes between $41,000 to $52,000 a year.
Dan Lough shows solidarity for workers in Strongsville, Ohio, in 2011.
When the economic disaster of 2008-09 happened, the Big 3 and the UAW came together and worked together to help the Big 3 survive the economic disaster. Both sides needed to do this to help the Big 3 car companies survive and to help workers save their jobs as well. For years, the UAW gave up general pay raises and cost-of-living wage increases to help the Big 3 control costs and stay competitive with foreign car markets.
UAW workers hired after 2007 do not receive defined benefit pensions. And their health benefits are less generous, too.
The average UAW pension is $1,590 a month for an auto worker with 30 years of service.
It’s important to note that companies with union workers tend to eliminate the higher salaries from the high seniority workers as they retire and then replace those salaries with much lower-tiered salary levels. This is very common in the steel industry, the railroad industry, auto industry, electrical industry, etc. That way they can bring in the new (much younger) workers at a much lower pay rate.
Consider this:
In the last decade, the Big 3 made a quarter TRILLION dollars in profits.
In the last six months, the Big 3 made $21 BILLION in profits.
In the last four years, the price of cars went up 30%.
In the last four years, the Big 3 pay for CEOs went up 40%
In the last four years, the UAW workers pay went up 6%.
AND NO ONE SAID A WORD.
Over the last decade, UAW workers have given up concessions such as full pension, hourly pay reductions, guaranteed wage increases and healthcare reductions.
A lot of UAW workers cannot afford to buy the vehicles they build because the cost of living has gone way above the wages UAW workers make.
But now that the UAW workers are asking for their fair share and repayment for all the concessions they gave up during the economic crisis of 2008-09, people are looking at them and accusing them of being greedy and driving up the cost of cars and trucks.
Corporate greed is at the top of this food chain plain and simple, not the workers who build the vehicles.
GM made more than $22 billion last year. If all 50,000 UAW members received an $80,000-per-year raise, the car makers would still make $18 billion — more than any year prior to 2020.
In October, Local 933’s Jorge Moralez had a hand in two “rebirths” — one public and one personal.
First is that of a Missouri Pacific caboose that had been out of service for decades. Sitting neglected in the middle of the town of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, its destiny seemed to be a slow, gradual rot as oxidation and moisture both took their toll following years of neglect.
Yet Moralez, a Union Pacific conductor who formerly served as a trustee at Local 1409 in Kansas City, found himself at his new local in Jefferson City, Missouri, saw potential there and acted to do something about it.
“It sat there for 20 years,” said Moralez, who’s been a railroader for 16 years. “People didn’t want to see it fade away – we had the community and the support.”
So while still working as a conductor, Moralez spent his own time coordinating dozens of volunteers, getting supplies, spreading the word to a national audience, getting the project rolling and maintaining the momentum so that, in time, the caboose would be fixed.
At times it seemed like a difficult thing to accomplish, but the restoration attracted a level of support that surprised even Moralez. At the beginning of October, a planned flurry of activity involving former and current railroaders, members of the community, including Cub and Boy Scouts, and even top union officers, turned back time and preserved a piece of the town’s and rail history.
“At the end of the day, I was just looking for support,” he said. “We had an amazing turnout. Twelve volunteers a day – the city came out in force. The union came out, and so did Union Pacific. Nothing says community more than the fact that UP, SMART-TD and the city of Pleasant Hill could pull together to accomplish this. Everything got done in six days.”
While balancing the amount of food needed to keep volunteers happy was admittedly a challenge on a daily basis during the work session, Moralez said the resulting job well done and a collective experience shared by many people who might never have been united in such a common purpose was a special thing.
“Everything worked out perfectly,” he said.
The exterior of the Missouri Pacific caboose project in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, was completed on Oct. 23 after a whirlwind effort by a number of volunteers led by Local 933’s Jorge Moralez.
A particular highlight was the engagement of the scouts, ranging from 10 to 12 years old, who peppered the railroaders, both active and retired, with questions about the industry in an impromptu Q&A while chowing down on pizza on a Saturday afternoon.
One particularly memorable moment came when a scout expressed his disappointment that the caboose wasn’t going to make a triumphant return to active service, Moralez recalled with a laugh.
And while the bright red caboose will not be returning to the rails, Moralez himself has experienced a rebirth of sorts himself.
After going through a very difficult period in his life where he struggled with addiction, he had been dismissed from his job. However, the union, in particular General Chairperson Terry Dixon, who retired early this year, had Brother Moralez’s back.
“It’s come full circle – I was not always the best member,” Moralez said. “I went through a dark time – the union didn’t give up on me.”
George Moralez of Local 933 smiles for the camera as he works on the caboose restoration project.
Moralez was reinstated to service thanks in part to GC Dixon and the union’s intervention and has now been clean for five years.
And the efforts by his union family got Moralez back on track as a freight conductor, it also put him on a path where he felt empowered enough to lead and take responsibility for a Herculean task such as the caboose restoration.
“I wanted to show other members the ownership. That caboose is on our territory, and I wanted to make sure everyone knew that,” Moralez said. “I wanted to make sure that Local 933 is the frontrunner.”
SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy R. Ferguson helps clean the interior of a Missouri Pacific caboose.
Surrounding locals and even national officers including SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson and Vice President Brent Leonard recognized the energy and drive he was putting in the project, so they headed to Pleasant Hill to assist.
“I did want all of SMART-TD involved,” Moralez said.
Moralez’s own personal circle came around on Oct. 4 — seven years after he had last been an officer, he once again stepped up to lead. At a Local 933 meeting held at the caboose, he was nominated and then elected by acclamation to serve as his local’s vice president.
“All the stars aligned,” he said. “Everything just fell into place.”
Some of the volunteers, as well as SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson and Vice President Brent Leonard, gather for a group photo during a work session in early October.
Moralez says that he’ll continue to mobilize and motivate members and the public alike in his new position, but first, there’s a touch of unfinished business with the caboose.
While the final emblems placed on the caboose’s exterior were done Oct. 23, there are a couple of areas of the interior that need wrapped up — namely painting, getting the chairs reupholstered, and running electricity to it.
To pitch in, contact Moralez directly at jorgemoralez@gmail.com or follow the QR code in the flyer below to donate to the cause.
“It does take some effort,” Moralez said. “We are not done. It’s just the beginning – there’s other things we fight for,” Moralez said. “I want it to be better for all of us – but I can’t do it all by myself.”
“Our General Chairperson for the SEPTA property, Ray Boyer, served Section 6 Notices on SEPTA well over a year ago. SEPTA management knows full well that SMART-TD’s members are the backbone of the greater Philadelphia area. Our members operate heavy rail, buses, light rail, and trolleys that keep this city moving. They do so in all kinds of weather and through the pandemic, all while assault rates on transit workers are going through the roof. At minimum, SEPTA management should show labor the respect it deserves and negotiate in good faith. Instead, SEPTA refuses to adjust its initial proposals or acknowledge the various packages proposed by SMART-TD. With that, I have authorized a strike vote for our SEPTA passenger service members.”
This morning, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson authorized a strike vote on the Southeastern Philadelphia Transportation Authority (SEPTA). For SMART-TD, this announcement comes after 18 months of contentious negotiations and mediation led by the National Mediation Board.
General Chairperson Ray Boyer, expressed his disappointment with SEPTA’s bad-faith negotiating:
“We have proposed several packages to settle this round of bargaining, and SEPTA has not moved one inch from their initial position. Even through mediation, SEPTA refuses to bargain by completely ignoring inflation and labor’s part in keeping the service fluid during the pandemic. CEO Leslie Richards was provided with a four-year contract in May 2023 that included a $75,000 wage increase, bringing her total compensation to $425,000. SEPTA’s board approved her raise after a comprehensive review of compensation for leaders in comparable transit systems. In other words, the board applied a prevailing-wage concept to determine her compensation. SEPTA is completely ignoring the same prevailing-wage concept when it comes to labor, which is hypocrisy. It’s a clear picture of management’s value of its labor force, and SMART-TD is not going to tolerate our voices being ignored any longer. A strike vote must be presented to the members to prepare for further action.”
TD Vice President Jamie Modesitt stated that SEPTA wages need to be increased to reflect the prevailing wage of the industry and that SEPTA is conveying a “take it, or else” attitude during the bargaining round.
“SEPTA’s passenger rail wages have been deteriorated over the years by SEPTA’s success in convincing Presidential Emergency Boards to withhold general wage increases during the bargaining period and eliminate retroactive wages. This is significant because it has permitted SEPTA to avoid labor wage increases for almost two years during certain bargaining cycles,” Modesitt said. “A 0% wage increase, logically, does not compound, and that has caused SEPTA wages over the past years to drop below the prevailing wage for the passenger rail industry. It is obvious to me that SEPTA hopes to repeat its attack on wages because they have made it clear to us that the PEB is their goal.
“Anyone can review the list of Presidential Emergency Boards and see SEPTA seems to end up there almost every round of bargaining. In short, SEPTA has presented a ‘take it, or else,’ attitude. Even so, SEPTA’s attitude towards labor will eventually cost them greatly when employee wages fall so far below the prevailing wage that employee retention and hiring will come to a standstill. What’s more, the taxpayer will ultimately bear the consequence of SEPTA’s greed when the wages have to be significantly increased to keep commuter trains fully staffed. That’s why this issue has to be corrected in this bargaining round. Make no mistake, SMART TD will utilize every legal resource to aggressively fight this injustice for our members who have sacrificed so much for SEPTA and their communities. This strike vote is the first step of action for our members.”
As of 10 a.m. local time Oct. 23, voting will be open for SMART-TD members to voice their opinion on whether or not to authorize President Ferguson to call for a work action. This vote will be conducted online through a secure survey service. General Chairperson Ray Boyer of GCA-STA, SMART-TD Local 61 (Philadelphia), will be disseminating information on how to access the voting portal to membership today.
SMART-TD represents 481 members on SEPTA properties. Results of the strike vote will be announced Nov. 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. local time.
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If you are interested in speaking more about the union’s stance on this issue and its negotiations with management on the SEPTA property, we’d be happy to connect you with:
SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson
President Jeremy Ferguson, a member of Local 313 in Grand Rapids, Mich., was elected president of SMART’s Transportation Division in 2019.
President Ferguson, an Army veteran, started railroading in 1994 as a conductor on CSX at Grand Rapids, Mich., and was promoted to engineer in 1995. Ferguson headed the recent national rail negotiations for the Union with the nation’s rail carriers.
SMART Transportation Division Vice President Jamie Modesitt
Modesitt has served as general chairperson on one of the largest rail general committees in the country representing thousands of members consisting of conductors, trainmen, yardmen, passenger conductors, passenger assistant conductors, hostlers, engineer trainees, engineers, trackmen, signalmen, carmen, machinists and locomotive electricians. Modesitt is considered an expert when it comes to Railway Labor Act (RLA) arbitration with experience in well over a thousand cases consisting of discipline cases and agreement rules and was elected vice president in 2019.
It is with heavy hearts that the members of the SMART Transportation Division and Local 857 mourn the passing of colleague and friend, Michael Moilanen. Michael served as a conductor for Amtrak and was a valued member of Local 857 out of San Antonio, Texas. Michael’s untimely departure has left a profound void in our union family and his tight-knit crew base.
Amtrak conductor Michael Moilanen passed away, leaving behind a wife and two children. An online fundraiser has been established to assist his family.
Michael, who was just 43 years old, was known for his high railroad IQ and all-around intelligence. He worked as a conductor and an assistant conductor and had a decade on the rail with Amtrak. His dedication to his work and his willingness to share his knowledge was a testament to his character.
In the words of another Local 857 conductor — “Michael was a great guy to work with. He was the kind of guy you looked forward to getting called with. Conversations with Michael were always interesting. He was a very smart guy and had a great way of explaining things in a way that was relatable. Michael was a good railroader too. He didn’t just know the rules, he understood the reasoning behind them. He was the guy you wanted to have on the train with you. Michael was one of those guys you knew you could trust. He will be very missed around here.”
Beyond his dedication to his railroad family, Michael was a loving husband to his wife, Kayla, and a devoted father to their two children, Audrey and Ethan. Audrey, now a college freshman in New Mexico, and Ethan, who is turning 7 this month, were the light of Michael’s life. He cherished every moment he spent with his family and his love for them was immeasurable.
Michael Moilanen’s journey was cut short far too soon as he passed away at the away-from-home terminal in the hotel in Fort Worth, Texas, while working Amtrak 22, better known as the Texas Eagle.
Michael’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him, working alongside him and riding his train. He was a remarkable colleague, a loving father, and a devoted husband, and his loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.
