Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
FAQ on Unemployment and Sickness Benefit Flexibilities Under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) during the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak
From Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Labor Member John Bragg: As the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) works its way through this pandemic, I will continue to reach out to you, my fellow brothers and sisters, to keep you informed on the status of the RRB and the benefits we adm [...]
Members’ efforts help to cope with COVID-19
As COVID-19 has spread across the country, some carriers and businesses have been caught flat-footed in dealing with the pandemic as indicated by field reports we’ve received from members. The same cannot be said for front-line SMART Transportation Division members who have s [...]RRB: Coronavirus Relief Act impacts railroad workers
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, signed into law March 27, boosts unemployment and sickness benefits for railroad workers impacted by the pandemic. Under the CARES Act, the 1-week waiting period required before railroad workers can receive [...]How COVID-19 bill affects bus and transportation workers
On March 27, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act that provides provisions favorable to SMART Transportation Division bus and transportation members as the nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The bill provides a $2 trillion [...]
COVID-19: CDC releases symptom screening app through Apple
Apple Inc., in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released an app and website that guides Americans through a series of questions about their health and exposure to determine if th [...]
COVID-19: Form launched for reports of CDC protocols not being followed
CDC guidelines state that employers should do the following to prevent the spread of COVID-19: reduce transmission among employees, maintain healthy business operations, and maintain a healthy work environment. As transportation workers are considered to be essential workers, [...]
Union leaders demand clarification from FRA on waivers
SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy R. Ferguson and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) President Dennis Pierce sought clarification today from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) after the agency granted 60-day emergency waiver requests t [...]What the COVID-19 bill means for our railroad members
On March 27, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law a bill that provides provisions favorable to SMART Transportation Division members as the nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The bill provides a $2 trillion relief package to the nation [...]