News Archive
Amtrak Workers’ Rallies Call on Congress to Preserve Jobs, Fund Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 28, 2020) — Unionized Amtrak workers, led by members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD), Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and Transportation [...]
RRB: Sequestration hits unemployment and sickness benefits
Railroad Unemployment and Sickness Benefits Will See Slight Decrease in New Sequestration Reduction Rate Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and a subsequent sequestration order to implement mandated cuts, railroad unemployment and sickness insurance benefits are reduced by [...]
Retired GC Gary Babiarz passes away
Gary F. Babiarz, a member of SMART Transportation Division for more than 45 years and retired general chairperson of GCA-449 (Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, passed away Sept. 23, 2020, at age 66. Brother Babiarz joined the union in January 1974 and was a GC from 2015 to 2019. [...]
Nomination rules, election procedures for fall local elections have been released
SMART Transportation Division members are reminded that elections are scheduled to be held this autumn to fill the three-year Local officer positions described by the SMART Constitution’s Article 21B, Section 56. Positions include President, Vice President, Secretary and Trea [...]
Elimination period waiver for VSTD extended into November
Dear Member: As many of you may recall, the SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan temporarily suspended the Elimination Period for COVID-19 (Coronavirus) disabilities. In an announcement to you dated April 15, 2020, we communicated that the Elimination Period was being w [...]
Gov. signs bill protecting N.J. SMART-TD bus members during pandemic
On Sept. 14, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law S-2380, which retroactively protects the state’s essential workers, including SMART Transportation Division bus members, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Essential employees’ workers compensation claims are routinely rejec [...]Retired UTU vice presidents Patsouras, Easley and Pearl pass away
The union has received notification in recent weeks of the deaths of three former vice presidents of the United Transportation Union. Five-term UTU Vice President Peter Patsouras passed away on Thursday, Sept. 10. He was 76 years old. Joining the union in August 1965, he was [...]STEPS Challenge announces winners, fall challenge
Congratulations to the winners of SMOHIT’s Spring STEPS Challenge, which ended on April 30. SMOHIT would like to thank all the participants for committing to their health and team spirit during the STEPS Challenge. The fall STEPS Challenge will begin Sept. 15 and continue thr [...]