News Archive
FAQ on Unemployment and Sickness Benefit Flexibilities Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) during the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
From Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Labor Member John Bragg: As the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) works its way through this pandemic, I will continue to reach out to you, my fellow brothers and sisters, to keep you informed on the status of the RRB and the benefits we adm [...]
SMART Coordinates with Building Trades, Nurses Union to Donate Masks and Protective Gear
At the end of last month, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), an alliance that includes SMART and 13 other unions, announced a partnership with National Nurses United (NNU) to donate N-95 respirator masks and other protective equipment to nurses around the count [...]Red Cross: Urgent Need for Assistance
In a letter to the North American Building Trades, the National Red Cross from across North America are in urgent need of blood and plasma. According to the letter: “At this moment, the Red Cross is having a difficult time in finding places to set up and perform collec [...]
Members’ efforts help to cope with COVID-19
As COVID-19 has spread across the country, some carriers and businesses have been caught flat-footed in dealing with the pandemic as indicated by field reports we’ve received from members. The same cannot be said for front-line SMART Transportation Division members who have s [...]RRB: Coronavirus Relief Act impacts railroad workers
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, signed into law March 27, boosts unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad workers impacted by the pandemic. Under the CARES Act, the 1-week waiting period required before railroad workers can receive [...]
Non-RRB members: FAQ On Unemployment Insurance Benefits Under COVID-19 Relief & One-Time Direct Payments
Topics Covered: I. ONE-TIME, DIRECT PAYMENT TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES II. EMERGENCY UI BENEFITS UNDER CARES ACT III. THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR UI BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY FOR UI BENEFITS AMOUNT OF INCREASED UI BENEFITS UNDER THE CARES ACT RELATIONSHIP TO EMERGENCY PAID SIC [...]
Victory in Washington as governor signs bill
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law H.B. 1841, a two-person crew bill that was championed in various forms for seven years by SMART-TD Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn and the other members of the state’s legislative board. Affectionately known as [...]How COVID-19 bill affects bus and transportation workers
On March 27, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act that provides provisions favorable to SMART Transportation Division bus and transportation members as the nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The bill provides a $2 trillion [...]