News Archive
When technology impedes your ability to do your job, we want to hear about it
For months now, your union has been collecting hundreds of reports from members of our and other rail unions that document instances when railroad technology doesn’t work as intended. While carriers might see technology as a stepping-stone to more money and the eventual repla [...]TTD, SMART TD file complaint over National Mediation Board rules change
The AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD), in conjunction with SMART Transportation Division and 13 other unions associated with the railroad and aviation industries, filed suit in federal court in the District of Columbia against the National Mediation Board (NMB) r [...]
Ohio SLD: Opponents to rail safety bill to appear in Columbus on Oct. 22; support needed
State Legislative Director Stu Gardner said that a hearing for opponents of H.B. 186 to appear before the Ohio House Transportation and Public Safety Committee has been scheduled. Opponents are scheduled to give testimony at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Ohio Statehouse Room 11 [...]Virginia SLD reminds state voters: Absentee voting has begun!
SMART Transportation Division Virginia State Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs issued a reminder Oct. 16 that absentee voting in-person or by mail has begun for the state’s Nov. 5 general elections. Voters can cast absentee ballots in person at their local voting regist [...]Poll claims Coloradans are willing to pay more taxes for rail service
A recent poll conducted by RBI Strategies & Research in conjunction with Magellan Strategies found that 61% of those surveyed would support a sales tax increase to fund a passenger rail service project along Colorado’s Front Range. Although a sales tax increase is support [...]
Kansas SLD criticizes UP yard cuts
Union Pacific’s version of Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) claimed more victims recently. UP announced last week that it was doing away with its Neff Yard in Kansas City, Mo., and with it 200 well-paying rail jobs evaporate. The short-term benefits of these and other wo [...]
Update on the facts of the crew consist lawsuit from President Ferguson
Brothers and sisters of the SMART Transportation Division, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain what the crew consist lawsuit that has been filed in federal court in Texas is about. From the questions we have received, it appears that there is some confusion. The laws [...]
GP Sellers Joins SMART Women at 9th Annual TWBN Conference
The weekend of October 4-6, saw the ninth international Tradeswomen Build Nations Conference, the largest gathering of its kind in the world. More than 2,800 tradeswomen representing 48 states and ten provinces gathered in Minneapolis, Minn. to share experiences and best prac [...]