WASHINGTON – A string of fiery train derailments across the country has triggered a high-stakes but behind-the-scenes campaign to shape how the government responds to calls for tighter safety rules. Billions of dollars are riding on how these rules are written, and lobbyists [...]
The San Luis Obispo Annual Union Pacific Railroad Barbecue will be held Saturday, August 2, at 1 p.m. at Cuesta Park, located at 2400 Loomis St. This barbecue is a joint event sponsored by UP, SMART Transportation Division Local 98 at San Luis Obispo and SMART Transportation [...]
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo spoke to attendees at the First Transportation Division Convention of the International Association of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers in San Diego, Calif., July 1, 2014. His speech, as prepared, is below. G [...]
In cases brought by the law firm of Schlichter, Bogard & Denton, LLP of St. Louis on behalf of injured railroad workers, two courts have ruled favorably to workers that FELA judgments are not subject to tax withholding under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA). The Mis [...]
Employees of Bay Line Railroad based in Panama City, Fla., voted July 2 for representation by the SMART Transportation Division, Organizer Rich Ross reports. Of 17 eligible voters, 10 voted for SMART while three voted for no union. “I thank CSX and Norfolk Southern new-hire c [...]
A potential strike by the unions representing Long Island Rail Road workers would be a “terrible failure by both the unions and the MTA,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Wednesday. MTA Chairman Thomas Prendergast was in Washington on Wednesday to meet with t [...]
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers General Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sellers has announced the following important deadlines for the union’s First SMART General Convention Aug. 11-15 in Las Vegas. Duplicate credentials must be mail [...]
In June, U.S. Class Is originated 1,177,655 carloads, up 3.6 percent compared with June 2013’s total, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR). U.S. carloads averaged 294,414 per week – the highest weekly average for a June since 2008, AAR officials said [...]
John Previsch was elected president of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers’ Transportation Division June 30, shortly after the opening of the union’s First Transportation Division Convention at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel [...]
The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO issued the following statement on the train accident in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, that happened one year this week: This week marks the one year anniversary of a tragic rail accident – a runaway train carrying 72 cars of crude r [...]