News Archive
Video: Mobilizing For Hurricane Relief
In this video, General President Sellers discusses SMART operations directed at hurricane relief for members affected by recent hurricanes. This includes the dispersal of approximately $500,000 (to date) in cash and material relief contributions to affected sheet metal and tr [...]
Expanding “Access For All” In Detroit
When the economy crashed, many Detroit residents had to search for any job that could pay the immediate bills instead of a promising career that could provide a future. Building trades unions and their affiliated contractor associations stepped up with the Access for All prog [...]
SMART TD member in ICU after domestic violence attack
Amtrak Conductor and Local 1933 member Amanda Brillhart is in critical condition after her husband, Charles Nethercutt, poured gasoline on her and set her on fire Sept. 19. Brillhart, 27, has a one-year-old son. As a result of the attack, she has undergone extensive surgeries [...]
Rail members: Healthcare open enrollment begins Oct. 1
Railroad employees covered under the National Railway Carriers/UTU Health and Welfare Plan or the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan are being mailed a notification of the online open enrollment period that begins Oct. 1, 2017, and ends Oct. 31, 2017, at mid [...]
SMART TD comments to FRA in support of discretionary sounding of train horns
In comments to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), SMART TD’s National Legislative Director John Risch wrote in support of allowing train crews to sound train horns at their discretion when traveling through rural America. The comments were written in response to [...]FRA hours of service app now available via iPhone
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has now made their Hours of Service (HOS) App available for download in the iPhone app store. Those wishing to download the app, should search for “FRA HOS Manual.” The HOS app was developed to provide users with clarifica [...]
Operation Lifesaver kicks off 1st U.S. Rail Safety Week
It happens every three hours in the United States: a person or vehicle is struck by a train. When this tragedy occurs, lives are changed forever: for the people involved in the crash, their family, friends and community, and the train crewmembers. To raise awareness of the da [...]
Local officer killed on the job in Texas
Union Pacific switchman, Jon Beckman, 48, was killed when he was struck by a train Friday, Sept. 22. He was working in Arlington, Texas when the accident occurred. Beckman was a member of Local 243 in Ft. Worth, Texas, for 19 years. He served the local as president since 2007 [...]