News Archive
Former Wash. State Director Thomas Retterath dies
Former SMART TD (UTU Local 1348) Washington State Legislative Director Thomas R. Retterath died Monday, November 2, 2015 at the Hospice Care Center following a battle with cancer. Retterath was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. In 1971 he began his railr [...]NLX may restore passenger train service to Twin Cities
The Duluth News Tribune reported that within four years, the Northern Lights Express could be providing passenger rail service between the TwinPorts and the TwinCities (Minn.) four times per day. Read the complete article here.A victory for public safety: longer trucks voted down
Today, Congress put the safety of all motorists before the special interest agenda of a few select trucking and shipping companies. The proposal to force all states to allow double 33-feet trailer trucks, known as “Double 33s,” was not included in the omnibus spending bill. T [...]Former N.D. State Director Alton Schuette dies
Former N.D. State Director Alton Schuette, 93, of Bismarck, N.D. died Dec. 10, 2015, at a Bismarck care center. Schuette enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943 and was deployed during World War II at the battle of Iwo Jima. After Iwo Jima was secured, Schuette was sent to China [...]General President’s father, Joseph Sellers Sr., dies
Joseph Sellers Sr., age 77, the father of SMART General President Joseph Sellers Jr., died Thursday, Dec. 10 at Arden Courts, Warminster, Pa. Sellers Sr. worked for 40 years as a sheet metal worker and was a member and union official for the SMWIA (now SMART) Local 19 in Phil [...]CP anticipates proxy fight with NS
The Globe and Mail reported that a proxy fight is likely between Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern. In a recent regulatory filing, NS said that the premium offered by CP in its proposal was too small and the merger and the voting trust proposed would not be approved by re [...]Cuomo orders heightened security for transit
Progressive Railroading reported that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order granting New Jersey and Connecticut law enforcement jurisdiction on New York’s public transportation services and facilities. These enhancements will allow regional government [...]
Safety Alert: shotgun shell found in locking pin
Canadian Pacific Railway recently reported that a shotgun shell was found in the locking pin of the coupler on the Quebec Gatineau Railway (QGRY) in Quebec. “This type of mischief has potentially fatal consequences and serves as a reminder that employees must always be [...]