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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been launched to investigate a 50-car Norfolk Southern derailment that caused an inferno in East Palestine, Ohio, the night of Feb. 3.

According to WKBN, a state of emergency was declared by the mayor of the village with a population of just over 4,700 people on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

No injuries were reported from the fiery accident, which news media said produced plumes of smoke that registered on Pittsburgh weather radar.

As of Saturday morning, residents located within a mile radius of the accident site were evacuated and others were urged to stay indoors while emergency personnel worked to control the fire.

The village’s mayor reported that the crew was unharmed in the accident.

Labor had a lone representative Feb. 1 at the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee discussion of transportation infrastructure and supply chain challenges as it convened under new chairman U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri.

Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, testifies Feb. 1 before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Greg Regan, of the Transportation Trades Department (TTD), AFL-CIO, a coalition that represents 37 transportation labor unions in air, maritime, railroads and trucking sectors, including SMART-TD, spoke about the recent and positive investments made by the federal government in the form of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (formerly the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and the CHIPS and Science Act.

“If we are serious about strengthening our national supply chain, we must also address the fundamental and structural problems that caused the crisis that cannot be solved by investment alone,” Regan said.

Choices made that put profits over workers and consumers played a large role in fueling the supply-chain crisis, with the nation’s large freight railroads and Precision Scheduled Railroading job cuts being prime culprits in the post-pandemic meltdown the nation endured, Regan said.

“Their decisions in the years leading up to the pandemic were not driven by better service, but rather by shareholder concerns,” he said. “Even as the system came crashing down around them, freight companies continue to rake in record profits while your constituents paid the price.”

For more details, see TTD President Regan’s written testimony.

The video of the complete hearing is available here.

Other witnesses participating in this hearing were Chris Spear of the American Trucking Association, Ian Jeffries of the Association of American Railroads, Jeff Firth of the Associated General Contractors of America and Roger Guenther of the Port of Houston.

On February 2, Railway Age magazine released its annual list of young people creating waves within the rail industry known as “Fast Trackers, 25 Under 40.” SMART Transportation Division is proud to say that one of our own has made the list!

Local 1460 member Phil Martin was recognized by Railway Age as a “Fast Tracker” in the industry.

Member Phil Martin of Local 1470 (Edmonston, Md.) works as an Amtrak conductor and represents our union as the only craft employee chosen by the publication on this year’s list. Looking back at previous Railway Age lists, it appears that Brother Martin is the only craft employee who has been recognized on any of the publication’s Fast Trackers lists dating back to 2016.

As the article on Martin lays out, he’s not only a solid conductor — getting commuters and travelers alike to their destinations, but also goes above and beyond to better the experience for Amtrak riders with disabilities.

Brother Martin has served as chairperson of Amtrak’s Employees with Disabilities Resource Group. In this role he has pushed the carrier toward policy changes to improve the riding experience and accessibility for riders with disabilities beyond the federal guidelines put out by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Martin is a shining example of SMART-TD and the wide variety of talents and leadership our members bring to the industry.

SMART-TD would like to thank Railway Age magazine for celebrating the success and activism of Brother Martin. As an organization, we take pride in his accomplishments and look forward to seeing what lies in store for the rest of this young man’s career in railroading.

In a letter to members, Wyoming State Legislative Director April Ford asked members in her state to reach out to state legislators and urge them to support train-length legislation. The text of her message is below:

“Legislators in Wyoming will be hearing a bill in the House Corporations Committee on Friday, February 3, to help keep Wyoming citizens safer and freight rail operations running more efficiently. HB 204 requires a train length to not exceed 8,500 feet in the state for the public safety. 

“Railroads are running longer freight trains than ever before, which means we are seeing more issues and blocked crossings than ever before. These longer trains are preventing emergency vehicles from responding to emergencies in a timely manner.  Minutes waiting at a blocked crossing can be critical to people who need emergency services. These longer trains are also causing issues on the tracks, which impacts Wyoming revenue.

“It can’t be stressed enough that emails to elected officials work; the more they hear from members here in Wyoming (like you), the harder it is for them to say no. Don’t let inaction thwart this opportunity to make train length the law in Wyoming.”

The Legislative Action Center has been set up for Wyoming residents to make their voices heard on this important legislation.

In a letter dated Jan. 25, the general chairperson of SMART Transportation Division’s GO 577 informed Union Pacific’s senior vice president of operations that the union was withdrawing from any participation in the company’s safety program effective Feb. 1, 2023.

GC Roy Davis served UP’s brass notice, saying that he and the union would no longer be part of the hypocritical exercise of hiding behind the existence of the UP’s Safety Program. In his letter, GC Davis said the program is, “nothing but a ruse that enables the Carrier to avoid proper scrutiny by the Federal Railroad Administration by putting ‘lipstick on a pig.’ “

In the letter posted below, Davis states that carrier’s decision to run single-person remote crews on the Houston hub is what forced his hand.

2023.01.25_GCA.577_TSC_cancellationDownload

SMART-TD is unwavering in our commitment to protect the safety of the essential brothers and sisters who delivered the carrier a year of record revenue and profits in 2022, and we stand with GO 577 in its decision to protest this unilateral decision on the part of the Union Pacific Railroad.

SMART Transportation Division members now have the chance to get up to five times the guaranteed coverage in the Union’s new VLTD plan.

Beginning March 1, 2023, Sun Life Financial will administer the VLTD Plan and provide the 24-hour coverage plan participants enjoy now, with up to $5,000 of guaranteed approved tax-free coverage.

In the coming days, members with the current Amalgamated plan will be receiving a detailed summary of benefits & rates, which will outline the new plan design and provide updates on premiums, to be effective March 1, 2023. If you have any questions, please direct them to the SMART VLTD customer service hotline at (224) 770-5328.

As information, disability claims filed prior to March 1, 2023, will continue to be handled and underwritten by Amalgamated. 

Sun Life VLTD Plan Highlights (Current Amalgamated enrollees)
• Guaranteed continuation of coverage at existing amount
• 12-month pre-existing condition clause is being transferred to Sun Life (time on Amalgamated plan will be honored).
• 2-year and 5-year benefit durations will be offered by Sun Life.
– Maximum Monthly Benefit ranges from $1,000 to $5,000.
• 24-hour coverage (members are covered for both on- and off-duty incidents)
• Stackable with other benefits (including RRB sickness benefits) for up to 80% of pre-disability earnings
• Benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of FELA and/or personal injury settlements.
• Benefits paid are tax-free.
• Benefits begin after 238 days (Rail) & 365 days (Bus), matching the duration of the SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability (VSTD) plan, so there is no gap in coverage for members who are enrolled in both plans.
• Premiums will increase as members age.
• Benefits are not portable (SMART-TD members-only benefit).
• Mental illness & substance use benefits are increased to 12 months (previously limited to 3 months for mental illness, and 15 days for substance use).

For members who are not currently enrolled, an Open Enrollment is planned in the coming months. Additional details will be announced once those dates are confirmed. 

Sun Life VLTD Plan Highlights (New enrollees)
• Sun Life will offer two open enrollments per year
– First open enrollment planned for spring 2023 and another in fall.
• 2-year benefit duration
– Guaranteed approved enrollment for up to $2,000 in monthly benefits
– Maximum monthly benefit of $2,000
• 5-year benefit duration
– Guaranteed approved enrollment for up to $5,000 in monthly benefits
– Maximum monthly benefit of $5,000
• 24-hour coverage (members are covered for both on- and off-duty incidents)
• Stackable with other benefits (including RRB sickness benefits) for up to 70% of pre-disability earnings
• Benefits are not subject to repayment upon receipt of FELA and/or personal injury settlements.
• Benefits paid are tax-free.
• Benefits begin after 238 days (Rail) & 365 days (Bus), matching the duration of the SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability (VSTD) plan, so there is no gap in coverage for members who are enrolled in both plans.
• Premiums will increase as members age.
• Benefits are not portable (SMART-TD members-only benefit).
• Mental illness & substance use benefits are increased to 12 months (previously limited to 3 months for mental illness, and 15 days for substance use).
• Pre-existing conditions covered after 12 months of enrollment in the plan.

This announcement is available in PDF form.

Jose F. “Joey” Garcia, local chairperson of Local 168 (Chicago, Ill.), passed away suddenly in December at his home in Chicago.

Jose F. “Joey Garcia

Brother Garcia, 46, actively participated in our union since his railroad career began in 2005. An Amtrak conductor, Brother Garcia served as a legislative representative, trustee, vice local chairperson and finally as local chairperson.

“Joey was a funny and loyal friend,” General Chairperson Rick Pauli of GO 769 said. “He was a great advocate for the members of SMART-TD Local 168 and will be truly missed.”

Along with supporting and representing our fellow union members, he was a loving father of two beautiful children he adored.

Along with representing his fellow union members, he was a loving father of two beautiful children he adored. Brother Garcia is survived by his children, father, three siblings and several family and friends who will miss him dearly.

“On behalf of all the men and women of Local 168, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Brother Garcia,” said Nate Hatton, local chairperson of LCA-769.

Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Dear SMART-TD members and retirees —

Major disasters can occur anytime and anywhere to our union Brothers and Sisters, and the SMART Transportation Division Disaster Relief Fund is primed to assist members in their times of need.

In recent memory, the fund has helped during disastrous cold in Texas, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and fires. Our members’ touching and steadfast generosity never fails to provide hope when the sense of devastation takes hold — when homes are damaged and lives are upended such as what has occurred with recent storms in the South and in California.

To help members struck by these and future crises 2023 may present, the Disaster Relief Fund asks that the TD family heed this call to give what you can. With your help, the difficult task of starting over and rebuilding can become easier for members who find themselves affected in times of trouble.

Any donations will help lessen the struggle and bring real hope and relief to SMART-TD members who are suffering after this great loss. SMART-TD will administer donations sent to the SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund when the need arises.

Contributions may be sent and made payable to:

SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund
6060 Rockside Woods Blvd., N., Suite 325
Independence, OH 44131-2378

Questions? Please call the Transportation Division office at 216-228-9400 referencing the SMART TD Disaster Relief Fund.

— The SMART Transportation Division

In today’s age of economics driven by corporate greed, there are many trade unions in our country at odds with the so-called “captains” of their industries and the profit-obsessed mindset of upper management. Few unions, however, share such similar struggles as the members of the SMART Transportation Division and those that represent airline crews.

Currently, as our freight rail members await the results of an FRA ruling on the sanctity of the two-person crew in the locomotive cab, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is defending that exact same safety measure in the air. As flight crews cope with an epidemic of aggressive and often-violent behavior, our commuter rail and bus members are right there with them fighting that same battle on the nation’s roads and rails.

In light of these parallels, SMART-TD would like to state with clarity that we support ALPA in their efforts to legislate a two-pilot flight crew. Just as with our rail members, task overload, menu diving into screens/gauges, as well as fatigue are common distractions for pilots and impede safe operations. SMART-TD members know that reality all too well. We also know that redundancy and the second pair of eyes of an experienced fellow crew member are far better for safety than any computer software Silicon Valley can sell our industries on as they look to cut headcount and costs.

On Monday, January 16th ALPA is celebrating the 14-year anniversary of the “Miracle on the Hudson” when the highly skilled crew of Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and F/O Jeffrey Skiles worked together to save the lives of 155 passengers and the crew of Flight 1549 famously taking the plane with two dead engines to a safe and heroic landing on the Hudson River.

As our brothers and sisters in ALPA make their arguments to the FAA regarding the vital importance of having two trained pilots in the cockpit during the agency’s reauthorization, we need to be on the right side of this fight. Corporate and shareholder profits must not be allowed to be placed above the safety in either the airline or freight rail industries.

SMART-TD commemorates the actions of that two-person crew on that cold January day in 2009 and stands in absolute and unyielding support of ALPA’s efforts in keeping two pilots in America’s cockpits.

Efforts of the airline industry to lobby Congress to amend part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to allow single-pilot crews are dangerous, short-sighted and would threaten to disrupt the current period of safe operations by the air carriers in our nation. We encourage our members to contact their congressional representatives and tell them to not entertain the thought of disobeying airlines’ Rule of 2.

In a letter sent Jan. 5, 2023, to the CEOs of the seven Class I railroads operating in the United States as well as to Association of American Railroads (AAR) President/CEO Ian Jeffries, Federal Railroad Administrator Amit Bose warned them that “incremental” changes to carriers’ training, qualification and certification programs have in some cases not solved numerous deficiencies identified by FRA audits over the past 18 months.

“Please be advised that FRA is committed to pursuing enforcement action if a railroad’s resubmitted certification program continues to fail to address the deficiencies identified by FRA,” Bose wrote. “Accordingly, whenever FRA conducts its audit of your railroad, FRA will take into account those opportunities FRA has already provided your railroad to correct or address previously identified deficiencies.

“I want to remind industry that the quality and adequacy of these certification programs are fundamental to ensuring that your operating crews are properly trained to safely perform their assigned duties,” Bose wrote. “This starts with certification programs that clearly meet the minimum training and qualification standards.”

Read the full letter below.

2023.01.05_FRA_Bose_letter-certificationDownload