News Archive
SMART Statement On Nation’s First Director of OMB Made In America Office
Yesterday, President Biden announced that Celeste Drake will serve as the Nation’s first Director of the Made in America Office at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). SMART issued the following response: “We applaud the Biden Administration for its continued comm [...]
SMART Statement on American Families Plan
Yesterday, President Biden released the American Families Plan and delivered an address to a joint session of Congress. In response, SMART issued the following statement. “After his first 100 days in office, it is clear, President Biden is delivering on his promise to recover [...]
Class I carriers report first quarter 2021 earnings
1st Quarter 2021 Net Earnings: Increased 5% to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion Earnings Per Share: n/a – not publicly traded Revenue: Stayed flat at $5.4 billion Operating Income: Increased 4% to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion Operating Expenses: Decreased 2% to $3.5 billion f [...]
RRB: Dual benefit payments Q&A
The payment of a Railroad Retirement annuity can be affected by entitlement to Social Security benefits, as well as certain other government benefits. Such dual entitlement, if not reported to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), can result in benefit overpayments that have t [...]Biden order creates task force to increase unionism
President Joe Biden on April 26 signed an executive order that created a Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment to increase union density and union organizing in the country. The group will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris and DOL Secretary Marty Walsh and have [...]
AFL-CIO TTD issues blueprint for restoring intercity passenger transportation
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the nation, nearly all intercity passenger transportation ceased almost overnight. In 2020, air carriers ferried their fewest passengers in three decades, registering months with as much as 96% fewer boardings compared to the prior year. [...]
Nevada gov. honors railroaders with proclamation
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has issued a proclamation praising America’s railroaders, declaring Wednesday, April 28, 2021, as “A Day In Honor of Railroad Workers.” A portion of the proclamation reads: “The safe and efficient movement of the trains transporting… freight an [...]
Amit Bose nominated to be FRA administrator
Amit Bose, who has been serving the Biden administration as acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) since February, was formally nominated to become administrator of that body April 22. Bose has years of experience serving in the public sector. He ha [...]