News Archive
All state rail transit safety oversight programs have been certified by FTA
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced March 18 that the 31 State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs in 30 states have been certified in advance of the April 15, 2019, safety deadline. “Safety is the department’s [...]
RRB announces schedule of spring pre-retirement seminars
The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) has announced its schedule of pre-retirement seminars for March – June 2019. The RRB hosts these seminars for rail employees and spouses who are within five years of retirement. The board recently combined their traditional informatio [...]
FRA denies KCSR’s request to outsource brake tests to Mexico
In a victory for safety, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) denied a request by Kansas City Southern Railroad (KCSR) to outsource brake inspections to Mexico, the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) reports. “In its decision, the FRA correctly told KCSR th [...]
AFL-CIO TTD sets rail safety priorities at meeting
The AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department (TTD) on March 11 announced the railroad industry issues that the coalition of transportation unions, of which SMART Transportation Division is a member, will prioritize in the coming months. Of the highest importance, the [...]
Progress on two-person crew bill in Washington state
The Washington State Legislative Board had some good news to report this week about its effort to get two-person crew legislation passed in the state. “For six consecutive years, we have doggedly pursued passage of this critical public safety bill. Today, for the first [...]
Transportation labor announces eight key policies to promote safety, protect transit jobs in era of automation
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Calling on Congress and the Trump Administration to take seriously threats posed by automation, the Transportation Trades Department (TTD) of the AFL-CIO on March 11 laid out eight principles for promoting safety, protecting the livelihoods of transit opera [...]RRB: Longevity of Railroad Retirement beneficiaries
Every three years, the Railroad Retirement Board’s chief actuary conducts a study of the longevity of its annuitants, as part of a valuation of future revenues and benefit payments. The following questions and answers summarize the results of the most recent longevity study. [...]
2019 SMOHIT Steps Challenge Returns Friday March 15
One of the ancillary benefits SMOHIT brings to SMART members is the opportunity to be apart of a little friendly competition — the STEPS Challenge. The benefits of walking are extensive, you will want to experience it. The next STEPS Challenge will start March 15, 2019. Visit [...]