News Archive
Provincial Resources and Benefits Available for Canadian Workers Impacted by COVID-19
Below are links from each Canadian Province and Territory for members and workers effected by the societal disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus.
Canada Passes Emergency Response Act: Details On New Benefit for Workers
After an overnight session, the Canadian Parliament has passed the new COVID-19 Emergency Response Act, ensuring that Canada has the tools and flexibility to respond quickly to the rising challenges being posed by the COVID-19 virus. The Act includes the new Canada Emergency [...]
State Resources and Benefits Available for Workers Impacted by COVID-19
State Resources and Benefits The following are online links to U.S. states and some local municipal resources for workers that have been impacted by COVID-19. Within these links are resources for Unemployment Insurance as well as other support services. ALABAMA General infor [...]
U.S./ Canada Emergency Legislative Center
The purpose of this page is to serve as an information clearinghouse for clear and accurate information about emergency legislative an regulatory activity regarding the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the general public along with SMART members and their families. This site is t [...]
New Emergency Employment Insurance Benefits Passed In Canada
Below is a summary of EI sickness benefits, EI regular benefits, the new Emergency Care Benefit and a new Emergency Support Benefit for Canadian members passed by the Canadian government. EI Sickness Benefits Workers that have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus or are en [...]
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 [...]
DOT guidance on compliance with drug and alcohol testing regulations during pandemic
This guidance document provides clarity to DOT-regulated employers, employees, and service agents on conducting DOT drug-and-alcohol testing given concerns about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We, as a nation, are facing an unprecedented public health emergency that [...]
Ferguson discusses emergency request regarding COVID-19
The following article by Dan Zukowski has been reproduced from Trains Magazine’s website with permission. Labor unions representing rail and transit workers have asked the Federal Railroad Administration for two emergency orders to address the dangers in their work envi [...]