Category: News
Increases in RRB annuity payouts, earning limits go into effect
Most railroad retirement annuities, like Social Security benefits, were scheduled to increase Jan. 1 on the basis of the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the third quarter of 2016 to the corresponding period of 2017. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) reports that [...]
SMART TD switchman dies on duty in Minnesota
Brother Nicholas A. Vosejpka, of Hampton, Minn., a switchman with SMART TD Local 1614, died while on duty Dec. 30, 2017, as he worked as a yard foreman at Union Pacific’s Hoffman Yard in St. Paul, Minn. Vosejpka, 35, was walking in the yard performing an air-test in temperatu [...]Local treasurers: New version of WinStabs available; don’t forget about workshop
A new version of WinStabs for 2018 — Version 5.09 — is now available for download via iLink and includes updated tax rates. Follow this link to view PDF instructions about how to download and start a new year in this new version of WinStabs. Once you have download [...]
Canadian National places major locomotive order
Canadian National has placed the largest power order by a Class I rail carrier in three years, asking for more than 200 ET44AC locomotives to be acquired from General Electric over the next three years, according to a report from Railway Age. The first round of locomotives ar [...]
Make your hotel reservations for 2018 SMART TD regional meetings
Reservations are now open for both the Seattle, Wash., and Hollywood, Fla., regional meetings. Click here to learn how to make hotel reservations for the Seattle meeting. Click here to learn how to make hotel reservations for Hollywood, Fla. SaveSave
CALL SENATORS: Tax bill could wipe out RRB unemployment/sick fund
The Republican tax bill that is being voted on today has the potential to wipe out Railroad Retirement Board-administered unemployment and sickness benefits. This is your last chance to call and tell your senators to VOTE NO. A call to action posted by SMART Transportation Di [...]
SMART TD President’s statement on Washington derailment
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Dec. 19) — SMART Transportation Division is assisting as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducts its investigation and offers its sincere condolences to the victims and families of those affected by the Dec. 18 Amtrak Cascades derai [...]Update: NTSB says derailed Amtrak train was speeding
The Amtrak Cascades train 501 that derailed over Interstate 5 near DuPont, Wash., Monday, Dec. 18 was speeding, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said. The train was traveling at around 80 mph in a 30 mph zone, the agency said. The train was carrying 80 passenge [...]