Category: News
Chicago wants tighter rules on crude oil trains
Warning that the frequent railroad trains loaded with crude oil passing through the Chicago area are a “serious risk to public safety,” the City Council is calling for tighter restrictions on the shipments than federal officials proposed in July. Council members on Tuesday al [...]Senators move to strengthen STB
A bipartisan pair of senators is planning to introduce legislation to beef up the panel of federal regulators that is supposed to oversee operations on the nation’s freight and passenger railways. The panel, the Department of Transportation’s Surface Transportation Boar [...]SMART needs your photos for Alumni calendar
The SMART?Transportation Division is seeking quality railroad, bus and airline photos, taken by its members, for placement in its annual calendar and other uses. The calendar is mailed annually to members of the UTU?Alumni Association as one of the benefits of Alumni Associat [...]12th annual rail reunion and retirement dinner info
Local 240 Chairperson Harry Garvin Jr. reports that the 12th annual rail reunion and retirement dinner for employees of UP, SP, Pacific Electric, Metrolink, Amtrak and AT&SF (Locals 32, 240, 1422, 1770, 1813 and 1846) will be held Nov. 7, from 3-9 p.m., at Sierra Lakes Go [...]STUDY: Workers in “Right-to-Work” States Receive 24% More Government Assistance
A new study, from University of Illinois-Urbana professors From Labor and Employment Relations professor Robert Bruno and Illinois Economic Policy Institute Director Frank Manzo found that just as “Right-to-Work” allows some workers to freeload to the detriment of others, it [...]
(Video) Al Chesser: A Purpose-Filled Life
Video tribute to Al Chesser, former UTU General President who was instrumental in uniting the railroad crafts under the banner of the United Transportation Union. (View video)Employees of RCP&E Railroad return to SMART
In a swift and decisive vote held Aug. 27, employees of Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad selected the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers as their voice on their property. Among 53 eligible voters, 37 employees marked their [...]Panel recommends safety improvements at N.Y. MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Blue Ribbon Panel studying safety and maintenance practices at its three railroads yesterday announced 29 recommendations to improve operations and safety. Created a year ago after a series of safety-related incidents at MTA [...]