Category: News
FAA refuses to regulate seat size and legroom on planes
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was ordered by a judge in 2017 to address the issue of airlines shrinking the sizes of seats and legroom in order to add more seating on planes. The FAA has responded by ruling that seat shrinkage does not affect passenger safety and [...]
President Previsich announces date, site for 2019 TD Regional Meeting
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich announced July 4, on the final day of the TD Regional Meeting in Seattle, the location of the 2019 regional meeting. The Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, host to the 2014 SMART TD convention, will h [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 3: President Previsich answers member questions
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division President John Previsich answered questions from members about the Janus decision, upcoming 2019 national rail labor contract negotiations and discussed new technological initiatives. The Janus decision affects a handful of proper [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 3: National Legislative Director John Risch updates members
SEATTLE — SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director John Risch gave attendees a broad overview of the landscape of the transit industry on the third day of the TD regional meeting. Among the topics covered: how to grow support for transportation-relate [...]
SMART TD Regional, Day 1: Solidarity key to fighting in post-Janus world
Strength, unity and education will be the way to fight the United States Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last week on Janus v. AFSCME 31 that overturned more than four decades of legal precedent. That was the message given at the opening session of the SMART Transportation [...]
Big Blue Bus driver touted as hero, honored with award
Big Blue Bus (BBB) operator and SMART TD member Rochelle Beamon (Local 1785) has been honored by Santa Monica, California’s city manager with the city’s “Elaine” award. Beamon has been labeled a hero after she managed to miss hitting a man on an electr [...]
Water. Rest. Shade.: Staying safe while working in the heat
OSHA’s campaign to keep workers safe in the heat OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign, launched in 2011, educates employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat. Through training sessions, outreach events, informational sessions, publications, soci [...]
Barring massive employment drop, rail retirement appears solvent until 2047
The chief actuary of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) said in his triennial report that the railroad retirement fund will remain solvent with no cash flow problems for nearly three decades, barring any unforeseen drops in rail worker employment over that time. The positive [...]