News Archive
Former Virginia Sen., DLC Willard Moody Sr. dies
Willard James Moody, Sr., a well-regarded attorney and former state legislator who served as a longtime Designated Legal Counsel (DLC) for the United Transportation Union (UTU) and advocated on behalf of railroad workers in the court of law throughout his life, passed away Ma [...]
Metra performing ‘safety blitzes’ and is in process of evaluating stations
Illinois commuter carrier Metra, in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver, has embarked on a series of educational safety blitzes to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around its trains and tracks. The carrier reported in a March 26 news release that the state [...]
Pacific Northwest sustainability advocates pick up on ECP benefits
An article published March 28 on the website of the Sightline Institute follows up on an Associated Press report from over the winter about the Department of Transportation’s repeal of the Federal Railroad Administration’s electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) [...]
New Mexico anti-right-to-work bill signed into law
In a win for labor, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 85 into law, prohibiting counties and other local entities from enacting their own right-to-work laws. Sponsored by Democratic Reps. Daymon Ely and Andrea Romero, the bill-turned-law invalidates righ [...]
Local 60 legislative rep is New Jersey Transit board nominee
David Rasmussen, legislative representative for SMART Transportation Division Local 60 (Newark, N.J.), has been nominated as the rail labor representative on the New Jersey Transit (NJT) board by Gov. Phil Murphy. “A strong NJ TRANSIT Board is critical to ensuring a leadershi [...]
New Mexico Institutes Nation’s First State-Wide Fire Life Safety Law
On March 27, sheet metal workers in New Mexico saw the culmination of years of effort when SB 143 was signed by Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham. This legislation makes New Mexico the first state in the nation to ensure that fire and smoke dampers and smoke control systems ar [...]
Your Track to Health lists assistance for flooding victims
The disastrous flooding in the Midwest has affected thousands of people, including SMART Transportation Division members. To help assist those who have had their lives affected by the floods, Your Track to Health has compiled a list of services and information for behavioral [...]
Supreme Court: Part of lost wages award is taxable under Railroad Retirement Act
A decision by the U.S. Supreme Court found that the portion of a damages award attributable to lost wages for a workplace injury is considered to be taxable compensation under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). The decision in BNSF Railway Co. v. Loos (No. 17-1042) was r [...]