News Archive
Following furloughs, rail workers demand immediate federal inspections of BNSF locomotives and rail cars
WASHINGTON, DC – The shop craft unions at Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway are urgently calling upon the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to initiate unannounced focus inspections on all locomotives and rail cars owned and leased by BNSF Railway, and immediate [...]
Call for Support: Kentucky Two-Person Crew Bill Gets Momentum
SMART-TD Kentucky State Legislative Board | CSX & Norfolk Southern CALL TO ACTION: SMART-TD's mission to maintain safe rail operations goes on in Kentucky. Support is needed for two-person crew legislation in the state!
Online fundraiser established for Local 1503 member’s survivors
Our union, Local 1503 in Marysville, Kan., the Kansas State Legislative Board and GCA 953 mourn the loss of Brother Benjamin “Ben” Berger. A strong union brother always willing to do his part for his union, his community, and his family, he was reported missing ea [...]
SMART-TD Oklahoma crew battle has begun — time to weigh in!
As a direct result of the powerful message we’ve sent to two state legislators and the work by Oklahoma’s State Legislative Board, a two-person rail crew bill will be heard in the House of Representatives’ transportation committee. Yet H.B. 1075 needs your continued help to p [...]
C3RS: SMART-TD and Norfolk Southern agree to anonymous safety reporting
SMART Transportation Division began a new era in rail safety and worker protection by working with Norfolk Southern to accept and act on anonymous safety reports. How it Works The one-year pilot program, called the Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), is similar to one airline [...]
Virginia 2PC bill heading to governor
Parliamentary procedures between the two chambers of the Virginia Legislature concluded Tuesday, and a two-person crew bill now awaits the governor’s signature. “It was a big day and a big win in our state for rail safety for the public and the men and women who work on the r [...]Sam Nasca, N.Y. SLD, passes away
Sam Nasca, the dean of active SMART Transportation Division state legislative directors, who led union efforts for at least 32 years in the state of New York, passed away on Feb. 14, 2024, at the age of 90. Brother Nasca first joined the union in 1959 and was in his 64th year [...]
From the Ballast: Cowboy boots and hazmat suits
This article was contributed by Johnny Walker, SMART-TD Local 610's legislative representative. Rail conductors and all other crafts have a role to play in the event of a derailment or accident. In these situations, conductors are first on the scene.