Category: News
UPDATED: The Passing of General President Emeritus Joseph Nigro
The General President, General Secretary Treasurer, General Executive Council, Staff of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and the members and officers of SMART affiliates across the U.S. and Canada mourn the death of our esteem [...]
Railroad Retirement benefits get COLA increase for 2019
Most railroad retirement annuities, like social security benefits, will increase in January 2019 due to a rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2017 to the corresponding period of the current year. Cost-of-living increases are calculated in both the [...]
Social Security benefits to get 2.8 percent COLA increase for 2019
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, announced the Social Security Administration (SSA). The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more [...]
Funeral arrangements announced for members who died in Wyo. train crash
Two members, Jason Vincent Martinez, 40, and Benjamin ‘Benji’ George Brozovich, 39, died Thursday, Oct. 4 when the Union Pacific (UP) train they were operating hit the rear-end of a stopped train near Cheyenne, Wyo. SMART TD would like to express our condolences t [...]
How Medicare responds to hurricane-related disasters
When a natural disaster, extreme weather or other emergency occurs that affects providers and the Medicare beneficiaries that they serve, special emergency-related policies and procedures may be implemented. The process begins when a governor of an affected state requests ass [...]
Candidates with ties to SMART TD seek local offices in Illinois, Indiana
Come Nov. 7, Macon County, Ill.’s county government could be getting a SMART influx with two candidates with Transportation Division ties seeking office in the Nov. 6 elections. Lloyd Holman, a member of the SMART TD Alumni Association, is seeking a seat on the Macon Co [...]
DOT repeals ECP brake installation rule leaving people worried
The Bellingham Herald reports that last week the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) decided to repeal a rule that required electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking systems be installed on all oil trains. [...]
FAA allocates $205 million for infrastructure grants to small airports
WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $205 million in supplemental funding for infrastructure grants to small airports in 34 states. More than half of these airports serve rural [...]