Category: News

STB issues two decisions in passenger rail proceedings

July 29, 2016 The Surface Transportation Board released two decisions related to its oversight of Amtrak’s operations under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA). First, the Board decided that it would consider on-time arrival and departure at all stations along [...]

Tags Amtrak, Daniel Elliott, passenger rail, PRIIA, STB, Surface Transportation Board

SMART TD welcomes new members to Local 202

July 29, 2016 On April 15, employees of Denver Transit Operators (DTO) voted to join SMART TD Local 202 at Denver. This vote adds 51 engineers to the local, with growth to a possible 75. Local 202 Secretary Jeff Maxfield said, “We are proud to represent the operators at DTO and look forwar [...]

Tags Carl Smith, Denver Transit Operators, Director of Organizing Rich Ross, DTO, Jeff Maxfield, Local 202

Two-person crew issue has railroads, regulators at odds

July 26, 2016 The Columbus Dispatch reported that the issue of crew consist has railroads at odds with federal regulators. This comes after the Federal Railroad Administration announced a proposed rule earlier this year requiring two-person crews on trains. Standing with the FRA, and this [...]

Tags FRA, John Risch, two-person crews

Man hit by train, saved by member

July 25, 2016 In a heroic show of foresight and bravery, SMART Transportation Division Vice Local Chairperson Rob Forrest (Local 202 at Denver) saved the life of a pedestrian Wednesday, July 20. Forrest, who – according to SMART TD Colorado State Legislative Director Carl Smith ̵ [...]

Tags Carl Smith, Local 202, Rob Forrest

OSHA’s safety tips for working in the heat

July 22, 2016 HEAT ILLNESS CAN BE DEADLY The body normally cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially with high humidity, sweating isn’t enough. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels if you don’t drink enough water and rest in the shade. You can suffer fro [...]

Tags heat exhaustion, Heat Illness, heat safety, heat stroke, OSHA

Unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad employees

July 20, 2016 The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, which provides two kinds of benefits for qualified railroaders: unemployment benefits for those who become unemployed but are ready, willing and able to work; and sickness benefits for th [...]

Tags Railroad Retirement Board, RRB, unemployment and sickness benefits

Unions In WI and WV Challenge RTW

July 14, 2016 Eleven unions filed petitions in a local W.Va. court arguing that the state’s new “Right-to-work” law amounts to an illegal seizure of their property and resources. The bill was vetoed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, however, his veto was overrode by a Republican majority in th [...]

Contact your Reps. about two-person crew legislation

June 24, 2016 By National Legislative Director John Risch Recently, Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert of Texas – one of the most conservative members of the U.S. House of Representatives – cosponsored our two-person crew legislation, H.R. 1763, the Safe Freight Act. This show of support [...]

Tags H.R. 1763, John Risch, The Safe Freight Act, two-person crews, two-person crews legislation

SMART TD, BLET: Federal regulators must prohibit one-person freight train crews

June 16, 2016 SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) President Dennis Pierce, issued a joint statement, following their submission of their comments to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on train crew size. [...]

Tags crew consist, Dennis Pierce, Federal Railroad Administration, FRA, John Previsich, press release, proposed rule, two-person crews

SMART TD to Washington state: DEIS will set "troubling precedent"

June 10, 2016 John Risch, National Legislative Director with SMART TD, submitted comments to Cowlitz County and the Washington State Department of Ecology, in concern over the state’s possible efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from major construction projects, and the neg [...]