Category: Regulations

NJT train crashes into Hoboken hub, one death reported

September 29, 2016 The New York Times reported that a New Jersey Transit train has crashed into a major Hoboken, NJ transit hub during rush hour. A transportation official confirmed that one person has died and many others have been injured. Urban Search and Rescue squads are at the site. No [...]

Tags commuter rail, NJT, NJT crash, rail safety, train accident, transit safety

We’d better care about Clinton v. Trump on transportation

September 26, 2016 The Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, highlights the stark difference in how Clinton and Trump stand on transportation issues, underscoring how the outcome of this election may profoundly impact the health and future of transportation unions and all working fam [...]

Tags AFL-CIO, Amtrak, aviation, bus, Clinton, commuter rail, Freight rail, Rail Safety Task Force, safety, Transportation unions, Trump, TTD, two-person crews, vote

Senate bi-partisan push for TSA protection of transit and rail

September 23, 2016 The Hill.com reported that just days after a backpack filled with explosives was found near a New Jersey train station, Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), its ranking member, submitted [...]

Tags aviation security, bus, bus security, freight, freight security, rail, rail security, senate transportation committee, transit security, transportation legislation, TSA

Ohio labor support for Trump plummeting

September 21, 2016 The AFL-CIO just released a poll that shows a significant drop in support for Trump from Ohio union members. From Trump’s support of “Right to Work” laws aimed at dismantling unions, to Pence’s 99% record of voting against labor, the downward shift in [...]

Tags aviation members, bus members, Pence voting record on labor, rail members, Right to Work laws, Sheet Metal, Unions rejecting Trump

Vote for those who support us

September 21, 2016 Sisters and Brothers, My most recent post generated some lively feedback and I spent quite a bit of time speaking to members on the phone and answering all the emails I received about our endorsement Of Hillary Clinton for president. To be clear, my role and our union’s role [...]

Workers must unite: Only we can save ourselves

September 20, 2016 “Working Americans must act together, because the only things that can be done for workers must be done by workers – collectively. Like Washington, Jefferson and Adams, we don’t need a king – we need each other.” – Tom O’Brien. Read the article in its [...]

Tags aviation members, bus members, commuter rail, conductors, engineers, Freight rail, labor movement, rail members, union workers

The outcome of this election will affect your job

September 13, 2016 By John Risch, SMART TD National Legislative Director For those of you who don’t know me, I’m honored to serve as your elected National Legislative Director. I came from the ranks, starting in the track department on the Burlington Northern and went into train service, spendi [...]

Tags aviation, bus, commuter rail, Freight rail, presidential campaigns, presidential election, why trump is bad for unions

FRA clarifies "Smartwatch" Rule – Fitbits restricted

June 8, 2016 The question? May an employee wear a device like a “Garmin Vivofit” or “Fitbit” wristband that acts like a watch, and counts the steps that an individual takes each day? The devices are not searching for the internet, or Wifi, to do this and must be s [...]

Tags Federal Railroad Administration, Fitbit, fitness tracking device, FRA, personal electronic devices

Bus employers ask to have hours of service law cut

May 7, 2013 SEPTA and Port Authority employers are awaiting a decision to be made by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on whether or not they can continue to ignore state law and keep drivers on the clock for shifts lasting up to 18 hours. SEPTA drivers can work up [...]

Tags bus, hours of service, hours of service law, PennDOT, SEPTA

Engineer says cell phone not factor in crash

February 25, 2013 The engineer of one of two ore trains that crashed head-on just outside of Two Harbors, Minn., in 2010 is taking issue with the National Transportation Safety Board report on the accident, disputing that cell phone use by the train crews was a relevant factor. In an exclusive [...]

Tags Cell Phone Ban, cell phone crash, fatigue