Category: Bus news

SMART-TD transit union conducts first Bus/Transit Day on the Hill

July 3, 2024 Our transit safety committee and TD legislative leaders took to the U.S. Capitol to share the increasing risks bus and transit operators face every day.

Tags Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity, BTAPS, Bus and Transit Assault Prevention and Safety Committee, Bus Department Vice President Alvy Hughes, Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, Christine Ivey, Federal Transit Administration, National Legislative Director Greg Hynes

Chairperson ensures that new bus members get what’s owed to them

July 1, 2024 One of SMART-TD’s newest locals, led by one of our newest local officers, scores a big win for some of our newest bus members!

Tags First Transit, General Chairperson Justin Schrock, Local 1707

LACMTA reconstitutes in-agency police force to protect workers, riders

June 28, 2024 SMART Transportation Division bus leaders get through to the LACMTA leadership. An agency police force will be re-established after board members make a unanimous vote.

Tags General Chairperson John Ellis, LACMTA

DIPP assessment decrease takes effect July 1

June 24, 2024 Effective July 1, 2024, the monthly DIPP assessment for participants will be reduced from 50 to 32 cents per $1 of daily benefit coverage. This reduction and a 90% + approval on all new claims make SMART DIPP the premier option for discipline income protection in the industry.

Tags rate announcement, smartdiscipline-income-protection-program

Michigan State Legislative Director Donald Roach, left, looks on during discussion of bus and transit worker protection bills by the Criminal Justice Committee of Michigan's House of Representatives.

Progress in Michigan on bus and rail assaults: Member advocacy NEEDED to finish the job!

June 21, 2024 Legislation to prevent, punish assaults on our members needs support in Michigan’s state Senate in order to get it to governor.

Tags bus assault, Michigan State Legislative Director Donald Roach, transit worker safety

Online fundraiser established for survivors of TD member killed in shooting

June 4, 2024 SMART-TD Local 1594 member and SEPTA bus operator Devan Harris died in a senseless act of violence. An online fundraiser has been created to help his girlfriend, also a TD member, and their daughter.

Tags Local 1594, member killed, online fundraiser, SEPTA

SMART-TD negotiators secure a bright future with new Montebello contract

May 24, 2024 In a dramatic reversal, SMART-TD and the city of Montebello complete long-stalled negotiations, ratify a landmark agreement and secure a future based on mutual respect.

Tags Betty Vasquez, Bus & Transit Department, Bus Department Vice President Alvy Hughes, Bus Department Vice President James Sandoval, Cecilia Lopez, Local 1701, Montebello Bus Lines

Los Angeles County MTA announces it will have protective barriers installed in all its buses by year’s end

May 7, 2024 Los Angeles County MTA announced today that it was accelerating its timeline and would have protective barriers installed on all its buses to protect our members two years ahead of schedule.

Tags General Chairperson John Ellis, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Agency, press release, Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson

DIPP assessments drop to 32 cents per dollar of daily benefit coverage

April 30, 2024 Effective July 1, 2024, the monthly DIPP assessment for participants will be reduced from 50 to 32 cents per $1 of daily benefit coverage. This reduction and a 90% + approval on all new claims make SMART DIPP the premier option for discipline income protection in the industry.

Tags rate announcement, SMART Discipline Income Protection Program

SMART GC Ellis issues statement on LACMTA’s emergency procurement declaration to acquire barriers

April 26, 2024 The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board activated emergency procurement procedures this week to expedite the installation of protective barriers for bus operators. John Ellis, general chairperson of GO 875, which represents our members who [...]

Tags bus operator assault, bus operator safety, GC John Ellis, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Agency