Category: Transportation
Transit Equity Day: Remembering Rosa Parks
Each year on Feb. 4, Rosa Parks’ birthday reminds us that public transit is also a platform for dignity, equality, and progress. Read on to see how some transit agencies are honoring the trailblazer’s legacy today and how this tribute connects civil rights history with the ongoing work of bus and passenger rail members.
Railroads Have Short Memories: East Palestine 3 Years Later
Ohio State Safety & Legislative Director Clyde Whitaker reflects on the 3rd anniversary of the East Palestine derailment with a powerful commentary. Despite new laws and promises, the railroads are still playing the same dangerous games with safety. Read on to see how crews are still being pressured to ignore defect detector warnings and keep trains moving, proving that profits continue to come before people.
RIDER Safety ACT Aims to Curb Transit Assaults Nationwide
Transit operators could gain critical support while on the job under a new bill that provides federal funds for “transit support specialists,” unarmed security responsible for detecting and defusing disputes and other risks before they become violent. Read on to learn about the impact they could have on transit systems across the country and in the lives of riders and operators.
Rail Safety Is Too Important For Corporate Discretion
A veteran Louisiana railroader dismantles the myth that safety mandates hurt efficiency, arguing from lived experience that federal rail safety rules exist because companies repeatedly choose profit over people when left to police themselves. Read on to see why rail workers, not think tanks or lobbyists, are the true experts on what it takes to keep crews and communities safe, and why the Rail Safety Act deserves a full vote in Congress.
Virginia 2-PC Law Could Become a Reality if We Act Now
After falling victim to former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s veto pen in 2024, legislation requiring a minimum two-person crew (2-PC) on freight trains is one step closer to becoming law in Virginia. With a new governor in office, the momentum is on our side —read on to learn how you can help get the bill over the finish line.
WATCH: Members Step Up to Take Care of Their Own
Faced with a life-altering amputation, Brother David Garringer (Local 1393, Buffalo) felt helpless for nearly two years. Things changed once the SMART Army heard about his situation and did what our union does best: step up and take care of our own. Read on to learn about the SMART Army and watch a video about how our brother benefited from their efforts.
Metro Micro Operators Overwhelmingly Ratify First Contract
Following productive negotiations, Metro Micro Operators have ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with Crosby Street Transit. SMART-TD congratulates these operators on their victory, which was achieved with the help of several union leaders. Read on for details.
New Documentary Features California Local 1741 Bus Operators
A new documentary features the members of Local 1741 (San Francisco) and their role in an important time period in labor history. “School Bus Movie” explores San Francisco School Bus Operators’ fight for justice in the 1970s. Directed by the son of a retired SMART-TD member, the documentary makes it clear that the struggles and lessons from the past still hold true today. Read on to learn more about the film and its SMART-TD connection.