FRA roundup – several actions published in Federal Register

Over the past 1.5 weeks, the Federal Railroad Administration has published several notices in the Federal Register. Below are portions of those postings, including: Drug and alcohol testing: Determination of minimum random testing rates for 2021 (notification of determination [...]

Mooney Appointed to SMART GEC

Mike Mooney is in his 34th year as a SMART sheet metal worker. He started his Sheet Metal career in 1986, finished his 5-year Apprenticeship in 1991 and worked with the tools as a Foreman until 2000. In 2000, he was appointed as a Local 18 Union Organizer and continued in thi [...]

National Disease Control Standard for U.S. Construction Sites

The North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training released a new national standard for infectious disease exposure control practices for U.S. construction sites.  These guidelines aim to prevent disease, disability a [...]

Breaking: Grass Roots Effort to Assist First Responders

Below is a letter from Joe Delacrus, a Local 40 SMART Sheet Metal Worker in Groton, CT.  His employer was asked by a local nurse to make the aluminum strips used on N95 masks so they could sew them in the cotton masks being made by volunteers around the Country.  They are loo [...]

COVID-19: Form launched for reports of CDC protocols not being followed

CDC guidelines state that employers should do the following to prevent the spread of COVID-19: reduce transmission among employees, maintain healthy business operations, and maintain a healthy work environment. As transportation workers are considered to be essential workers, [...]

Families First Act Signed Into Law: How This Affects SMART Members

On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law, marking the second major legislative initiative to address COVID-19 (the first was signed on March 6 and provided emergency funding relief for domestic and global efforts). The Families First [...]