Local 66 Members & Contractors Tackle Fire Life Safety Issues Together

Following the examples of Local 33 and others, Local 66 contractors and members have been busily preparing to make the facilities within their jurisdiction verifiably safe. Local 66 has delivered Fire Life Safety Level 1 Technician training for the last few years through the [...]

SMART GP Nigro: A Transparent History

Throughout the past year, we have shared major portions of our history, as documented by labor historian Grace Palladino. She has provided an insightful and candid look at several major issues addressed by your union’s leadership since publication of an earlier history in 198 [...]

Feds get 'aggressive' against bus co. violators

In a fundamental shift in the way tour buses are regulated, the federal agency that oversees the companies is implementing a long-sought rule to aggressively go after and shut down those that repeatedly violate safety laws, endangering the lives of tour bus riders as well as [...]

L.A. Metro proposes fare increases to address deficit

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced last week that it was considering a number of fare-restructuring options that would increase fares, change its current transfer policy and help the bus and rail operator address its mounting operating defi [...]

Class I employment flat in 4th quarter

The U.S. Class I workforce expanded slightly in November, then contracted a bit in December, according to employment data recently compiled and released by the Surface Transportation Board (STB). As of mid-November 2013, the large U.S. roads employed 163,199 people, up less t [...]

Class I railroads release 4th quarter earnings

CSX Corporation announced its fourth quarter and full-year earnings for 2013 Jan. 15. The railroad reported net earnings of $426 million or $0.42 per share for the fourth quarter. These earnings were down from the same quarter in 2012, with earnings of $449 million or $0.44 p [...]

FRA collects minimal enforcement fines, docs show

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation collects relatively small civil penalties against the railroads it regulates, as concern grows over the safety of shipping large volumes of crude oil and ethanol in tank cars long known to be deficient, federal documents show [...]

Wash. SLD Krohn eyes transportation bills

SMART Transportation Division Washington State Legislative Director Herb Krohn reports that a two-person rail crew bill has been introduced in both houses of the state legislature. H.B. 2718, introduced in the House of Representatives, has 26 sponsors. The primary sponsor is [...]