Cheryl Sneed, who worked in the office of the United Transportation Union for nearly four decades, including as an executive administrative aide in the President’s Department, passed away on Nov. 25, 2019.
She was 66 years old.
Cheryl started with the UTU in 1975 in the Word Processing Department, then progressed to the Legal Department and Bus and Yardmaster departments. She later handled correspondence and scheduling for former UTU President Mike Futhey and coordinated matters for the Board of Directors and Board of Appeals.
Among her many duties, she also helped to administer the union’s disaster relief fund before retiring in 2014.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 7, 2019 in St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 929 Pearl Road, Brunswick, OH 44212. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery 14609 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44142.
A link to her death notice is here.
SMART-TD offers its sincere condolences to Cheryl’s family and friends.
Author: bnagy
Jennifer Diaz, niece of SMART TD Alternate Vice President and General Chairperson Anthony Simon (GO-505), passed away recently, and memorial arrangements have been finalized.
Visitation is scheduled 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 at Frederick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, 20 Hicksville Road, Bethpage, N.Y., 11714.
A memorial service will take place 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26 at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church, 220 Central Ave., Bethpage, N.Y., 11714 with a funeral to follow at St. Charles Cemetery.
Canadian Pacific announced Wednesday, Nov. 20 that it has come to an agreement that would result in the Class I carrier acquiring the Central Maine & Quebec Railway (CM&Q).
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in a news release announcing the deal.
CP’s purchase from Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC now gives the carrier trackage and facilities from St. Jean, Quebec, Canada, to Searsport, Maine, and is expected to close by the end of the year.
SMART Transportation Division represents 52 members on the CM&Q in the Transportation, Mechanical and Engineering Departments who belong to GO-049, which is represented by General Chairman Rick Lee. CM&Q owns 481 miles of rail lines primarily in Quebec and Maine.
Read the full release from PR Newswire.
On November 20, SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) General Chairpersons served on railroads represented by the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) the SMART-TD’s intended amendments to agreements affecting rates of pay, rules and working conditions.
Such notices are required by Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act to reopen agreements. With this notice to the NCCC, and the NCCC’s earlier notice, the parties are set to begin the next round of bargaining.
While the national rail contract between the SMART-TD and railroads represented by the NCCC becomes amendable on January 1, 2020, the existing contract will remain in force until it is amended and ratified by SMART-TD members under the craft autonomy provisions of the SMART Constitution’s Article Twenty-One B (21B).
During this round of national contract negotiations with the SMART-TD, the NCCC will be the chief bargaining representative for matters pertaining to rates of pay, rules, and working conditions on behalf of BNSF, CSX, Kansas City Southern, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, Soo Line, Union Pacific and numerous smaller railroads. Other railroads, including Amtrak, negotiate individually with the SMART-TD.
More than 40,000 SMART-TD members are affected by these national contract talks with the NCCC, and the resulting agreements frequently set patterns for other negotiated rail agreements.
SMART-TD President Jeremy R. Ferguson will lead the SMART-TD negotiating team. Members of the negotiating team will be selected early next month.
As noted in a press release on November 1, 2019, the SMART-TD will be joining with nine (9) other rail labor organizations who are participating in coordinated bargaining in this round of national negotiations.
Major elements of the SMART-TD’s Section 6 notices include:
- Complete and permanent elimination of existing service scale (entry rates of pay);
- A series of general wage increases, effective Jan. 1, 2020, and every six months thereafter;
- Cost of living adjustments;
- Shift- and weekend-differential pay;
- Paid sick leave for all crafts, without censure or discipline;
- Technology pay for daily required utilization of all in-cab and handheld reporting devices;
- Additional rest opportunities and ability to miss work for family needs, quality of life, and doctor visits;
- Additional training pay for all crafts, including compensation for qualification, re-qualification, and familiarization trips;
- Carriers to give first-employment consideration to qualified conductors furloughed from other railroads;
- Furloughed employees called back to work will be guaranteed a minimum of 60 days of work and pay;
- Increased meal allowances;
- Restrictions on transferring, consolidating, combining or centralizing yardmaster assignments;
- Establishment of a formula for yardmaster extra boards; and
- Enhanced benefits under the NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan and the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan (GA-23000).
SMART-TD Section 6 notices were developed beginning with recommendations offered by SMART-TD members. A committee of general chairpersons from the Association of General Chairpersons, District No. 1, reviewed and fine-tuned those suggestions, which were then approved by the entire Association of General Chairpersons, District 1.
To view the SMART-TD Section 6 notice, click here:
https://static.smart-union.org/worksite/PDFs/Agreements/2019+National+Rail+Contract/112019+–+Section+6+Notice.pdf
To view the carriers’ Section 6 notice, click here:
https://static.smart-union.org/worksite/PDFs/Agreements/2019+National+Rail+Contract/110119+–+NCCC+Section+6+Notice+-+SMART+TD.pdf
Tweaking the TARWhen the beginning of the calendar year rolls around, the SMART Constitution requires the Treasurer’s Annual Report (TAR) to be presented to the membership and then filed. The procedure kicks off when trustees assemble in January for this annual audit of a Local’s finances and review the receipts and disbursements for the prior year before signing the report. The report is then presented at the local’s next meeting and copies are filed and submitted to the SMART TD offices before a Feb. 20 deadline. With the implementation of WinStabs-NMR, the TAR will be undergoing changes effective with the 2019 report. Historically, the TAR simply generated a high-level financial overview of the Local’s books, but over the last several years the Field Audit Support Team has seen an increase in locals that get behind on other required business-related duties. This revised TAR will flag items that are not getting completed. Local Treasurers can work along with Local Trustees to review these items and formulate a plan for fixing them as part of the report to the SMART TD office. Additionally, this will allow the Field Audit Support Team to identify Locals needing additional support at an earlier stage so that catching up and getting into compliance is not a monumental undertaking. The revised TAR will be more detailed and include other action items that should be reviewed and signed off on by Local Trustees. The new report will show a better, more detailed position of the Local’s fiscal outlook along with its compliance with SMART constitutional and federal requirements. With the addition of these changes, more information will be necessary to gather to generate the 2019 TAR. Treasurers can start preparing now by reviewing or gathering the following:
| IMPORTANT: Closing out All treasurers should make every attempt to complete all 2019 eBills before December 31, 2019. All bill adjustments to ANY 2019 eBill must be made prior to March 31st, 2020. Treasurers will not be able to add any dues to collect or dues to return after March 31st. On April 1, 2020, treasurers will be locked out of making any additional adjustments to 2019 eBills.
• Nov. 20 — Monthly billing due to SMART TD office. • Dec. 14 — Deposit CT-1 and Form 941 taxes. Quarterly 940 taxes (FICA only) also must be deposited. • Dec. 20 — Monthly billing due to SMART TD office. • Dec. 27 — Deadline to reserve discounted room rate for K.C. workshops. • Jan. 20 — Registration deadline for Kansas City, Mo., workshops. • Jan. 27-29 — S&T workshop in Kansas City, Mo. • Jan. 30 — Local president/trustee workshop in Kansas City, Mo. • By January 31 — Quarterly Form 940 (FUTA) taxes must be deposited (FICA only). https://www.eftps.gov/eftps • By Feb. 20 — Treasurer’s annual report (TAR) for 2019 and Local President Financial Oversight forms are due to the TD office. Questions Visit the S&T Tools page on the SMART TD website for guidance on getting the job done! Still not sure? Call the Field Support Help Desk at 216-227-5444. Drop-in help desk hours are 9a-5p (Central Time) M-W-F. Help desk appointments can be scheduled in advance for Tuesdays, Thursdays, weekends, and evenings. Call or email fieldauditor@group. |
Training opportunities for Local officers
Workshop offerings are being finalized for S&Ts who are interested in learning the ins-and-outs of running the finances of your Local.
Among the topics to be discussed are:
- Using TD Connect
- WinStabs
- Creating required reports
- Financial pitfalls to avoid
The first workshops will take place in Kansas City from Jan. 27 to 30, 2020. The first workshop — Jan. 27 to 29 — is intensely focused on the role of the Secretary, Treasurer or S&T in managing a Local’s finances. A second workshop on Jan. 30 is for Local Presidents and Trustees to better understand their role in the Local from a fiscal perspective.
Additional workshops in 2020 are in the process of being finalized in Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and New Orleans as well as one planned during the Cleveland Regional Meeting in August.
Details and registration information for all workshops will be posted to the SMART TD website as well as emailed out. Don’t miss out on this chance to expand or refresh your knowledge of the duties of your office!
About the Field Audit Support team
So what’s the Field Audit Support Team about?
We’ve been conditioned throughout our lives to tighten up anytime the word “audit” is used because it brings up thoughts of sitting across from an IRS tax collector being hassled and then owing gobs of money if our personal returns are reviewed.
And yes, IRS audits can bring stress and the possibility of penalty because of financial missteps.
But even though you see “Audit” in our name, the SMART TD Field Audit Support Team is in your corner. Our mission is to help you to get your Local’s books in order, to keep accurate records and to help your Local’s finances stay out of the crosshairs of any number of agencies: the IRS, the Department of Labor or the Railroad Retirement Board.
We realize the kind of stress that these responsibilities can create, and we are here to SUPPORT you if you need assistance in working through any fiscal concerns or difficulties.
“The big thing is that we want all of the locals to establish compliance with all federal regulations and with the requirements set forth by the SMART Constitution,” Field Auditor John Purcell says.
If the SMART requirements are followed, then it stands to follow that state, local and municipal tax regulations will be complied with as well as those on the federal level, Purcell said.
“We’re here to help you deal with the headaches and the heartaches that come with all of these scattered compliance issues with the end goal of getting your local into 100% compliance,” he said. “The message is — we’re here to help.”
The Field Audit Support Team is on your side and we’re here to provide financial help FAST to your Local. Call us at 216-227-5444 or email fieldauditor@group.smart-union.org for any assistance you might need.
Ask an Auditor
Q: WinStabs is giving me a message to reconcile my bank statement before I print my OE1a. I have already reconciled my statement — why is it telling me to do that?
A: It is simply a reminder to make sure you have reconciled your statement and that it is balanced before you print the report to assure the information on the report is accurate.
If you have reconciled your statement, simply ignore the message and continue.
Note that you will get a similar message when you pull up your IRS Form 941 worksheets.
To submit a question for the Ask an Auditor feature, email the Field Audit Support Team at fieldauditor@group.smart-union.org.
The Association of General Chairpersons — District 3, consisting of the general chairpersons in the SMART Transportation Division Bus Department, chose new leadership Nov. 12 and discussed initiatives put forth over the summer at the SMART General Convention by the SMART Transit/Bus Committee.
Elected to lead District 3 at the conclusion of the meeting were Chairperson Tonette Nixon-Pray (Local 172, Darby, Pa.); Vice Chairperson Erskins Robinson (Local 1785, Santa Monica, Calif.); and Secretary Tom Pate (Local 1081, Glendale, Ariz.).
TD President Jeremy Ferguson took questions from the 16 GCs in attendance and laid out some of the initiatives that the union will be focusing on in the coming months under his administration. Among those discussed by President Ferguson were intensified efforts at organizing, the establishment of a Bus Safety Team and improving accessibility to educational offerings.
“We need more boots on the ground,” he said, and changes to the Organizing Department to enhance its power will be made after the first of the year. “We’ll have more organizers out there that can work not only on getting new properties but helping existing properties where they need help.”
Chief of Staff Jerry Gibson said that the TD office will collect as much information as it can of incidences that put members working in bus and transit service to document at risk in the run-up to the establishment of a Bus Safety Team, and that nominations of safety-oriented TD members will be sought to serve on that team.
“If you’re going to talk the talk, then walk the walk. I expect you to be active, and those are the type of people we’re looking for to be involved,” Gibson said.
President Ferguson also pledged increased responsiveness and support to the general chairpersons’ concerns as the organization defends its membership and the SMART Constitution.
“We want to give you every tools — all the support you can get. You have my support, all my vice presidents and the staff,” Ferguson said. “You also have the state and national legislative department. You also have the Legal Department … Reach out. We’re here.”
Some of the support will come in increased educational efforts, he said. In addition to the annual regional meeting that the union puts together, more “mini-regionals” involving multiple locals will provide guidance on how to run local meetings, represent members and maintain local financial records will be held around the country.
“We’re going to start branching out and doing more of that,” Ferguson said.
Legislative directors from the states with bus general committees also attended the meeting in a show of solidarity.
Additional details about steps to be taken by the Bus Department going forward will be discussed by Vice President — Bus Calvin Studivant in a future edition of the Transportation Division News.
Registration has opened for local secretaries, treasurers, and for presidents and trustees who are interested in attending workshops that will go over key aspects of the business of local union finances. Follow the links below to register.
Secretary and treasurer workshops
The Local S&T serves as the backbone to the business operations of the Local. Your position comes with a high level of fiduciary responsibility where you have the legal responsibility for managing your members’ money. What this really means is that you have been placed in a position of trust and there may be consequences, legal or otherwise, for betrayal of that trust. This workshop presented by the Field Audit & Support Department will prepare you with a baseline of all the responsibilities S&Ts must handle. Rules, regulations and procedures are always changing and evolving, so we encourage even the seasoned S&Ts to periodically attend this workshop.
Workshops will run 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. local time all three days. Topics include:
- Managing member records in TD Connect
- Understanding payroll deductions
- Working the monthly eBill
- Using WinStabs-NMR to manage your Local’s money
- Making proper disbursements
- Budgeting for your Local and LCA funds
- Paying taxes and filing reports with the authorities
- Each officer’s role in the newly revised Treasurer’s Annual Report (TAR) and audit process
- Proper record keeping
S&T WORKSHOP DATES
- January 27 through 29, 2020 – Kansas City, Mo., Room 109 of the Drury Inn and Suites, 7900 Northwest Tiffany Springs Kansas City, MO 64153;
The block room rate is $92/night-double $102/night-single. Room reservation deadline is Dec. 27, 2019. Call 1-800-325-0720 or visit www.druryhotels.com to make a reservation. Use group # 2396909.
This workshop is full and registration is CLOSED. A waitlist is available by contacting the Field Audit Support team at 216-228-9400. - March 2020 – Philadelphia, Pa.; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED
- June 2020 – Salt Lake City, Utah; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED.
- Nov./Dec. 2020 – New Orleans, La.; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED.
Local president and trustee business basics workshops
The Field Audit & Support Department is launching a new series of workshops geared towards Local Presidents and Trustees. The purpose of these one-day workshops will be to equip officers with “local business basics” so that they understand their role in the business operations along with what is necessary to support and keep the Local Treasurer on task. It is most likely cost-prohibitive for Locals to send all three trustees to this workshop, so it is recommended that they identify a single trustee to send.
Learn about:
- The role each officer has in the business operations of the Local
- Business-related tasks Locals must perform and be held accountable for
- Understanding the monthly treasurer report
- Each officer’s role in the newly revised Treasurer’s Annual Report (TAR) and audit process
- Maintaining revenue and making proper disbursements
- Getting business done at the Local meeting and properly recording it in meeting minutes
- Common Local pitfalls and how to avoid them
LOCAL PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEE WORKSHOP DATES
- January 30, 2020 – Kansas City, Mo., Room 109 of the Drury Inn and Suites, 7900 Northwest Tiffany Springs Kansas City, MO 64153;
The block room rate is $92/night-double $102/night-single. Room reservation deadline is Dec. 27, 2019. Call 1-800-325-0720 or visit www.druryhotels.com to make a hotel reservation. Use group # 2396909.
Register to attend this workshop by following this link. Workshop registration deadline is Jan. 20 and there are 25 slots open. - March 2020 – Philadelphia, Pa.; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED
- June 2020 – Salt Lake City, Utah; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED.
- Nov./Dec. 2020 – New Orleans, La.; DETAILS TO BE FINALIZED.
For more information, call Katy Andrijowych at 216-227-5432 or email kandrijowych@smart-union.org.
SMART Transportation Division Illinois State Legislative Director Bob Guy testified Nov. 13 before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials regarding the future of Amtrak as members of Congress continue the reauthorization process for the national passenger carrier and the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
He touched upon the topics of assault upon workers, Amtrak funding and having a labor member on the carrier’s board.
Guy called for Congress to increase the level of appropriations reserved for Amtrak so that the carrier can go forward as an important part in the groundwork of a multimodal transportation system in the United States.
“Congress should allow Amtrak to be America’s railroad and support their ability to maintain a qualified workforce that meets customers’ demands now and well into the future,” Guy told representatives on the subcommittee.
He said steps taken by legislators in the FAST Act, including the addition of three grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, have helped to increase momentum for improving Amtrak’s service.
“These grants are successful, and they work.”
But operationally, there are areas of concern — Guy urged representatives to preserve and protect Amtrak’s long-distance service, which had been in jeopardy of being axed last year — especially the Southwest Chief route — before legislators stepped in.
On the administrative side, Guy said the Amtrak Board of Directors should have a member from labor on it, mirroring what the Railroad Retirement Board does, Guy said. Often, the experiences of SMART TD members and other unionized workers who keep Amtrak running day to day can be enlightening on what to do and what not to do when running the railroad, he said.
“Passengers interact with our members on board trains,” Guy said. “We hear concerns and complaints … having a labor member at a board level will help Amtrak make decisions that could affect service.”
Guy said employees also are not given enough resources to deal with violence against them. Carrier-provided protections for Amtrak’s rail workers such as de-escalation and self-defense training aren’t there, he said, and neither is counseling after an incidence of violence occurs. SMART TD brother Michael Case was shot in 2017, and the incident spurred the introduction of legislation to treat the punishment of transit worker assaults the same as those perpetrated on airline workers.
Guy was one of three labor representatives who discussed the carrier’s relationship with labor. Over the past year, Amtrak has engaged in what has been described by some as “union busting” behavior, especially as it concerns cuts to the jobs of unionized call-center and food-service workers, police officers and rural station agents.
“When you are reducing the workforce that’s in charge of inspections and fixing equipment and whatnot, it makes it hard to keep things in a state of good repair, regardless if new equipment is coming,” Guy said. “I wouldn’t want to see worker reductions to the point where safety is jeopardized. We don’t think it is, but that’s a path we wouldn’t want to see.”
Amtrak reported a positive fiscal 2019 with an increase in ridership, a decrease in operating loss and an increase in operating revenue, but subcommittee Chairman Dan Lipinski, who represents Illinois’ 3rd District, was highly critical of the carrier’s cuts that helped to achieve those results in his opening remarks.
“Amtrak clearly has decided that the way to prosperity is to have its workers pay for it,” Lipinski said. “This is not the way to run this railroad.”
Among the cuts were about 500 jobs at a call center in Riverside, Calif. About 350 of those jobs were later brought back at non-union sites.
“Amtrak used to be an enviable place to work,” said Jack Dinsdale, national vice president of the Transportation Communications Union, in criticizing the loss of those union jobs. “It was about union busting, period.”
Also testifying on labor’s behalf was Dan Regan, secretary of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department.
Watch the entire hearing.
As we pause to recall the sacrifices that those who have served and their families have made to solidify and defend the freedoms that we enjoy in the United States, SMART-TD wanted to provide this list of services available to military veterans today and throughout the year.
Those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces were placed in harm’s way in a commitment to a higher calling — that of our country. I am proud not only to serve the membership of SMART – Transportation Division who are among the ranks of U.S. military veterans as SMART-TD president but I am proud to stand with them as an Army veteran myself, having served for three years.
The bonds formed in service of any kind to others are among the strongest of all. Collectively, working toward a common goal, those in our armed forces exemplify the epitome of strength, focus and sacrifice, shielding the United States and preserving our American way of life through the country’s 243 years of existence.
The bond of military service has lifted the country to triumph in times of conflict, reshaped the course of world history and has shielded the constitutionally protected freedoms we all enjoy. Each and every veteran has had a role in the preservation of our country. Each and every veteran deserves to feel a sense of appreciation on this Veterans Day.
On behalf of SMART-Transportation Division, to all U.S. military veterans, we thank you once again for your service.
Fraternally,
Jeremy Ferguson
President — Transportation Division
U.S. Army, 1988-1991
Services and discounts
Veterans Administration
The purpose of this federal agency is to oversee the benefits to which the men and women who have served our country in the armed forces are entitled.
VA Crisis Hotline
This crisis line links people to caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs and is available 24/7 via telephone, web or text. Many of the counselors are veterans themselves.
Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1.
Make the Connection
This online resource is designed to connect veterans, family members and friends and other supporters with information, resources and solutions to issues affecting the lives of veterans.
Mission 22
This nonprofit’s focus is to combat the veteran suicide rate through veteran treatment programs. It also organizes events and builds memorials while engaging people with an an ambassador volunteer program to create social impact and awareness for these issues.
Wounded Warrior Project
The program serves alumni — those men and women who have experienced a physical or mental injury while in service to the United States since Sept. 11, 2001. All services offered by the Wounded Warrior Project are free.
Hope for the Warriors
Hope for the Warriors provides comprehensive support programs for service members, veterans, and military families that are focused on transition, health and wellness, peer engagement, and connections to community resources.
Save A Warrior
Save A Warrior provides an alternative holistic services that equip veterans, military personnel, police, firefighters and other first responders with a community of support and effective techniques to overcome symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress.
Give An Hour
This organization provides care for those who otherwise might not receive it by harnessing the skill, expertise and generosity of volunteer mental health professionals.
Union Veterans Council
Issues surrounding veterans and union employees are not independent of each other, this AFL-CIO affiliated organization says. It brings working-class veterans together to speak out on the issues such as the need for good jobs and a strong, fully funded and staffed VA.
Vets 4 Warriors
A 24/7 confidential peer support network — call 855-838-8255 — for veteran and military communities to provide peer support through confidential phone, chat, text, and email conversations to serve anyone who has ever worn the uniform, as well as the family members and the caregivers who love and support them.
Vet Roadmap
This guide is to help veterans return to civilian life and was created by the coordination of the George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative (MSI) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program.
Hire A Hero
Hire A Hero allows veterans to upload resumes and search for military-friendly jobs.
Show Your Stripes
Another website sponsored by Iheartradio that links veterans to potential employment opportunities.
Union Plus Mortgage veterans grant
The Union Plus Mortgage Program offers a $1,000 grant to veterans and their family members who obtain a mortgage through this Union Plus program.
Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP)
This non-profit, HUD-approved housing counseling organization seeks to increase sustainable homeownership, financial-literacy education, VA loan awareness and economic opportunity for the active-military and veteran communities.
Homes for Heroes
This large nationwide network of affiliate real estate, mortgage, and local business specialists intends to provide easy ways for veterans to save on a home. The organization connects veterans with specialists who can answer specific real estate and/or mortgage questions, and provide helpful tips.
Team RWB
The goal of this organization is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
K9 Warriors
This is the nation’s largest provider of service dogs for disabled American veterans, which rescues dogs and trains them to become service dogs for veterans.
USA Cares
This group provides financial and advocacy assistance to post-9/11 active-duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families.
Rail safety legal expert Larry Mann is scheduled to provide additional proponent testimony regarding H.B. 186 before the Ohio House Transportation and Public Safety on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The hearing is scheduled 11 a.m. Nov. 19 in the Ohio Statehouse Room 114 in Columbus.
Following testimony provided by the bill’s opponents on Oct. 22 in which they argued that it was futile for the state to consider passage of H.B. 186 because of pending legal challenges to legislation in Illinois and Nevada, the Ohio State Legislative Board coordinated a campaign to convince bill co-sponsors Reps. Brett Hillyer and Mike Sheehy, as well as committee Chairman Doug Green and House Speaker Larry Householder, to grant an additional hearing.
“We believed that an additional hearing for expert proponent testimony was needed in order to set the record straight,” Ohio State Legislative Director Stu Gardner said. “This additional testimony is solely at the discretion of the Transportation Committee Chairman Doug Green to allow (the bill) to go forward or not.”
Mann has served as the SMART TD Designated Legal Counsel’s rail safety coordinator since the position was created in 2008 and has extensive legal experience in the transportation industry, including being the principal draftsman of the Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970.
“Larry is the foremost rail safety expert in the United States,” Gardner said. “He has dealt with the issue of preemption raised by the railroads for many years. He will counter the statements raised by the railroads in their recent opponent testimony concerning legislation covering two-person crews, blocked crossing, walkways and yard illumination.”
Gardner requests that SMART TD members and railroad workers fill the committee’s room in Columbus for a third time at 11 a.m. Nov. 19.
“Once again, (let’s) show our solidarity on HB 186, and our concerns over our safety, and the safety of the communities that our trains pass through and where the yards that we work in are located. Demonstrate our resolve to those Transportation & Safety Committee members that will ultimately decide to pass this legislation out of committee, and forward to the House,” he said.