Operator safety Archives

Safety alert issued after tripwires found in Missouri

August 24, 2022 A safety alert was issued this week after the discovery of tripwires by a Class I worker Aug. 19 stretching from rail spikes to a sign across the ballast near Harrisonville, Mo. “The affixing of these wires – difficult to find even when looking for them, much less see while performing professional duties along the […]

Tags Association of American Railroads, safety alert

FRA NPRM: The truth behind the need for two-person crews

August 5, 2022 It’s a shame, really, that the safety of my members, the public and the infrastructure are nothing more than political pawns in the railroads’ game of never-ending greed. And it’s a shame, frankly, that the railroads manipulate woefully inept individuals – having never meaningfully walked the ballast or performed the myriad tasks of a conductor […]

Tags Federal Railroad Administration, FRA, Railway Age, Two-person crew NPRM, two-person crews

TD President Ferguson to testify before House rail subcommittee

June 8, 2022 SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy R. Ferguson is scheduled to be a featured witness testifying next week in a hearing before the U.S. House Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. The hearing on freight rail safety is scheduled 10 a.m. June 14 at the 2167 Rayburn House Office Building in Washington D.C. “I have great […]

Tags House subcommittee on railroads, SMART-TD President Jeremy Ferguson

TTD: 20 unions urge FTA to protect transit workers from assault

March 9, 2022 FTA has not yet implemented worker safety provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. WASHINGTON – Today, 20 labor organizations representing transit drivers and other transportation workers urged Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator Nuria Fernandez to immediately implement the safety provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to protect transit workers from assault. […]

Tags AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO TTD, BIL, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, bus operator assault, Federal Transit Administration, FTA, operator assault, protection from assault, transit operator assault, TTD

TD New Jersey SLB recognizes Assemblyman Dan Benson’s advocacy

March 8, 2022 SMART Transportation Division New Jersey State Legislative Board Vice Chairperson Joseph Williams in early March presented a proclamation from SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy R. Ferguson, National Legislative Director Gregory Hynes and N.J. State Legislative Director Ron Sabol recognizing the efforts of Assemblyman Dan Benson in protecting our members. Benson serves as the chair of […]

Tags Dan Benson, Joseph Williams, New Jersey State Legislative Board, Ron Sabol

Union officers’ efforts yield better protections for N.J. transportation workers

January 11, 2022 SMART Transportation Division Bus Department Vice President Calvin Studivant and New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol spent a significant time brainstorming ways to protect members in Sabol’s state last year. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic had added even more potential risk to our members working on New Jersey Transit (NJT) and other carriers. Beyond their […]