Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

Two TD members pass from COVID-19

The SMART Transportation Division is mourning two union brothers who have died in recent weeks because of COVID-19. Member Thurman Wheeler, 47, of Local 1348 (Centralia, Wash.) passed away on April 30 after being hospitalized for nearly two weeks with the virus. He was a Unio [...]

Updates to Indiana’s South Shore line is getting back on track

The Indiana South Shore Line, operated by Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), is finally going to be revamped, according to Portage.Life. The very last rider boarded from the 11th Street warming shelter and the train left at 2:18 a.m., Saturday, May 1, [...]

SMART Statement on American Families Plan

Yesterday, President Biden released the American Families Plan and delivered an address to a joint session of Congress. In response, SMART issued the following statement. “After his first 100 days in office, it is clear, President Biden is delivering on his promise to recover [...]

Class I carriers report first quarter 2021 earnings

1st Quarter 2021 Net Earnings: Increased 5% to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion Earnings Per Share: n/a – not publicly traded Revenue: Stayed flat at $5.4 billion Operating Income: Increased 4% to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion Operating Expenses: Decreased 2% to $3.5 billion f [...]

RRB: Dual benefit payments Q&A

The payment of a Railroad Retirement annuity can be affected by entitlement to Social Security benefits, as well as certain other government benefits. Such dual entitlement, if not reported to the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), can result in benefit overpayments that have t [...]

Biden order creates task force to increase unionism

President Joe Biden on April 26 signed an executive order that created a Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment to increase union density and union organizing in the country. The group will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris and DOL Secretary Marty Walsh and have [...]

Nevada gov. honors railroaders with proclamation

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has issued a proclamation praising America’s railroaders, declaring Wednesday, April 28, 2021, as “A Day In Honor of Railroad Workers.” A portion of the proclamation reads: “The safe and efficient movement of the trains transporting… freight an [...]

Amit Bose nominated to be FRA administrator

Amit Bose, who has been serving the Biden administration as acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) since February, was formally nominated to become administrator of that body April 22. Bose has years of experience serving in the public sector. He ha [...]

TTD applauds Biden nomination of Deirdre Hamilton to the NMB

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On April 20, union attorney Deirdre Hamilton was nominated by the president to serve on the National Mediation Board (NMB), the government body that facilitates labor-management relations in the aviation and rail industries. The 33-member union Transportati [...]