
David Rasmussen, legislative representative for SMART Transportation Division Local 60 (Newark, N.J.), has been nominated as the rail labor representative on the New Jersey Transit (NJT) board by Gov. Phil Murphy.
“A strong NJ TRANSIT Board is critical to ensuring a leadership team whose sole focus is on restoring safety, reliability, and accountability to commuters,” Murphy said in a March 21 news release. “I thank the Legislature, the Labor community, and our colleagues in transportation for their input, and I look forward to working with the new board members.”
Rasmussen has been Local 60’s legislative rep. since late 2015. Prior officer positions the 53-year-old from Woodbridge has held include vice chairperson of GCA-610 and vice local chairperson of LCA-610. He is among seven new nominees to the board who still must be confirmed by the state’s Senate.
“I feel I will be an asset to the board as I will bring my nearly 30 years’ experience as a conductor at NJT. Through my career I’ve worked at nearly every terminal and at yard facilities within NJT. I have also worked all types of services that govern our responsibilities,” Rasmussen said. “I feel this will serve the board well, as the other members can lean on me and my experience to identify best possible solutions to resolve any problem, issues or changes the board may be considering.”
The addition of the new board members was part of a restructuring of the transit agency, which is dealing with financial pressures and a shortage of engineers that happened late last year. Murphy’s signing of the overhaul in late December was a win for the N.J. State Legislative Board.
“This piece of legislation adds the largest rail union (SMART TD) to the Board of Directors at NJT. We advocated for this for two years,” New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol said at the time of the signing. “This was a huge undertaking by our office, and it has paid off.”
Among the changes brought about by the bill:
- Five new positions are created on the transit agency’s board, bringing the board from eight to 13 members.
- Board composition will go from four to eight public members and increases the number of labor representatives to two — one to be appointed from the labor organization that represents a plurality of bus operations workers and one to represent the labor organization that represents a plurality of rail operations workers, which is SMART TD.
- A chief ethics officer will be employed to address whistleblower complaints and a customer advocate would compose reports about on-time performance and other customer-centered activities.
- The board will have to hold at least 10 public meetings annually with many at times so commuters can attend.
- A residency requirement is waived for certain employees.
Related News
- For Wisconsin’s State Legislative Director, Role is More Than a Title
- Get the Facts on the Union Pacific Arbitration Award from SBA 1208!
- New Jersey Passes Two New Pro-Labor Laws Backed by SMART-TD
- VILP Enrollment Extended Through September 26!
- FRA Expands Bridge Safety Oversight
- Rep. Lawler’s Transit Funding Flexibility Act of 2025 receives SMART-TD Endorsement
- Join Railroaders from Across the Country for Houston Rail Labor Solidarity Rally!
- Registration Open for Atlanta Regional Training Seminar
- 2025 Labor Day Message from SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson
- Announcing the Winners of our 2025 Local Pride T-Shirt Contest!