News Archive
RRB: Railroad retirement and unemployment insurance taxes in 2021
The amounts of compensation subject to Railroad Retirement Tier I and Tier II payroll taxes will increase in 2021, while the tax rates on employers and employees will stay the same. In addition, unemployment insurance contribution rates paid by railroad employers will include [...]
Local 1241 member passes from COVID-19
Brother Miguel “Mike” Gaitan, 64, an active SMART Transportation Division member out of Local 1241 (Richmond, Calif.), passed away Friday, December 11, 2020, from COVID-19. An engineer with BNSF, he joined our union in February 1995. “Fellow employees state [...]
NTSB issues 6 safety recommendations following investigation of train derailment, hazardous materials release
WASHINGTON (Dec. 10, 2020) — The National Transportation Safety Board issued Rail Accident Report 20/04 Thursday for its investigation of the Aug. 2, 2017, CSX Transportation, Inc. freight train derailment and release of hazardous materials near Hyndman, Pennsylvania. No inju [...]
FRA issues final rule modernizing brake safety standards
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued a final rule, extending the amount of time freight rail equipment can be left off-air (meaning parked with its air brake system depressurized) before requiring a new brake inspection, w [...]
SMART-TD, other unions ask for essential transportation workers to be prioritized for vaccine
SMART Transportation Division today petitioned the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to prioritize essential transportation workers as recipients of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. “Without a hea [...]
New SASMI COVID Benefit
As we get into winter the cases of COVID-19 are continuing and even increasing. The SASMI Trustees see a need for reinstituting the COVID-19 Wage Replacement Temporary Benevolent Disaster Relief Benefit. However, more is known about the virus and testing has become more avail [...]Releases from RRB: Q&A about the effect of private rail pensions; Medicare Part B premiums for 2021
Private rail pensions may reduce supplemental annuities Railroad Retirement beneficiaries are reminded that receipt of a private railroad pension may reduce the amount of a supplemental annuity payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). The following questions and answer [...]
SMART Mourns the Death of Larry Willis
“SMART joins labor unions across North America in mourning the loss AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Larry Willis. Brother Willis was a tremendous leader who provided determined guidance, measured action and stood undaunted by the multitude of challenges tra [...]