Category: News
SMART Celebrates Black History Month
This February, SMART proudly joins with citizens across the United States and Canada to celebrate Black History Month. We honor the contributions of generations of Black scientists, activists, military members, public servants, writers, artists and more who have helped build [...]
Class I’s report 4th quarter and full-year 2020 earnings
4th Quarter 2020 Net Earnings: Increased 5% to $1.5 billion from $1.4 billion Earnings Per Share: n/a – BNSF is not publicly traded Revenue: Decreased 3% to $5.7 billion from $5.8 billion Operating Income: Increased 3% to $2.2 billion from $2.1 billion Operating [...]Local 1381 member, family in need of help after fire
Brother Wesley Welch of Local 1381 (Hammond, Ind.), his wife and their two daughters lost their house in a fire Jan. 30 and are seeking help. Welch, 39, a switchman with Norfolk Southern, and his family saw their home in Cedar Lake, Ind., destroyed and one family member was t [...]
CDC order requires masks on all public transportation to slow COVID’s spread
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order Jan. 29 imposing a mask requirement applicable to public transportation systems, rail, and van, bus and motorcoach service providers to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19. The order implements Presi [...]
Former FRA deputy administrator Bose appointed to again fill post
Amit Bose, who served as deputy administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) during the Obama administration, was appointed to the same post last week by President Biden. “We’re excited to be working with Amit Bose,” said SMART Transportation [...]
RRB: The importance of a current connection for Railroad Retirement benefits
Under the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA), a “current connection with the railroad industry” is one of the eligibility requirements for both the occupational disability and supplemental annuities payable by the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB). It is also a factor in determining [...]
President Biden Moves To Advance Worker Rights In Workplace
President Joe Biden made good on a promise to support workers and the labor movement on his first day when he fired National Labor Board General Counsel Pete Robb within 24 hours of taking office. Robb, a former union buster with a virulently anti-union record, refused Biden’ [...]
VSTD waiver of elimination period extended through February 2021
The SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan (VSTD) has temporarily suspended the elimination period for COVID-19 disabilities. Previously, the waiver of the elimination period began in the month of March and extended through May of this year and then was once again extende [...]