Category: Amtrak/Commuter News
Retired Gen. Chairperson William “Butch” Young dies
SMART TD member and former railroad conductor, William “Butch” E. Young III died at the age of 74 on Feb. 15, 2017, in Chino, Calif. Family was his main priority, and Butch was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Carol; son Mike, daughter-in-l [...]
Ohio Republican brings Right To Work to House floor
Source: Cleveland.com, 2/13/17 COLUMBUS, Ohio – On February 13, 2017, Rep. John Becker (R) introduced H.B. 53, a Right-to-Work measure designed to weaken collective bargaining rights for public and private employees. H.B. 53 would allow public sector employees to opt ou [...]
Railroad worker awarded $7.5 million in toxin exposure case
According to the National Review. com, a jury in Madison county, Wisconsin ruled against Union Pacific Railroad by awarding $7.5 million in damages to a former railroad worker for contracting severe illnesses that were deemed directly linked to his longterm exposure to creoso [...]
Los Angeles: bus ridership down, commuter rail up
According to an article posted by LaTimes.com, despite taxpayer support and route expansion, bus ridership with Los Angeles County’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) has dropped considerably over the past several years. Conversely, commuter rail ridership has incr [...]
Alaska Railroad to lay off 31 employees, eliminate 18 jobs
The Alaska Railroad announced Friday, Feb. 10 that they will lay off 31 people and eliminate 18 vacant positions, 8 percent of its workforce. Employees were told on Friday that their last day will be March 13. The positions being eliminated range from interns to vice presiden [...]Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains why “Right-to-Work” is wrong
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains why “Right-to-Work” legislation is wrong for working families.
SMART Union Celebrates Black History Month
As we celebrate Black History Month in February 2017, read about the groundbreaking inventions from African-American inventors that had a major impact across all American labor sectors, including the transportation industry: Andrew Jackson Beard, born a slave in Alabama, beca [...]
Memorial services set for John P. Schneider
John P. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train while working near the Wallula train yard in Walla Walla County, Wash., Jan. 31. Schneider had been a member of Local 1505 in Spokane, Wash., since 2004. He loved to read, was a survi [...]