News Archive
Breaking: Construction Industry Exempted From IRAPs
Brothers and sisters, Our collective actions in support of exempting the construction industry from Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) made a difference. In 2017, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order No. 13801 seeking to establish a Task Force on A [...]
Rail unions urge FRA to act regarding spread of coronavirus
CLEVELAND, Ohio (March 6) — SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) jointly petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on March 6 to take action in responding to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 (coronav [...]
TD president’s letter seeks NCCC’s clarification on industry’s approach to coronavirus
The SMART-Transportation Division has reached out to the chairman of the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) seeking answers as to what the rail industry’s response would be to the spread of the COVID-19 respiratory illness, especially when considering the strict a [...]
Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Bill Passed to Address Emergency Preparedness
On February 24, the Trump Administration requested $2.5 billion from Congress in emergency funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the process, the bill came to $7.8 billion in emergency spending with the bulk of funding to Health and Human Services and Cente [...]Disaster relief contributions needed after killer storm
The SMART Transportation Division is primed to assist members in their time of need when disaster strikes. The deadly tornadoes this week in Tennessee affected a number of families and TD members may be among those whose lives have been devastated by the killer storms that cl [...]
Registration is open for southwestern hazmat training
The Rail Workers Hazardous Materials Training Program has opened registration for a hazmat/chemical emergency response training program in April for rail workers in Arizona, western New Mexico, southeastern California and the Navajo Nation. This training addresses OSHA- and D [...]
Former Bus Department Vice President Deiser passes away
Richard Deiser, a former Bus Department director and union vice president, died Feb. 28. He was 79 years old. Richard Deiser, a former Bus Department vice president, passed away Feb. 28 at age 79. “Rich was a great union brother who will be sorely missed by those who ha [...]
National Legislative Director Hynes speaks out in Trains Magazine about railroad issues
SMART-TD National Legislative Director Greg Hynes In an interview to appear in the April edition of Trains Magazine, SMART-TD National Legislative Director Greg Hynes was interviewed about key issues and industry trends including Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR), two-per [...]