Category: Two-person crews
Members of GO-953 ratify historic tentative agreement with Union Pacific
SMART Transportation Division members represented by GO-953 who work on Union Pacific’s Eastern District, Pacific Northwest, and Idaho Territories ratified a crew-consist agreement that preserves the in-cab conductor position that had been at the center of a court battle and targeted by the carrier for transfer to a nomadic “expediter” role.
Minnesota governor signs omnibus bill, making two-person freight crews law
SMART-TD Minnesota State Legislative Director (SLD) Nick Katich along with the Minnesota State Legislative Board are proud to announce that at approximately the morning of May 24, Gov. Tim Walz has signed HF 2887, and a two-person crew minimum for freight trains is now offici [...]
SMART-TD takes lead during ‘Railroad Safety Day’ on Capitol Hill
With daily headlines nationwide about railroad safety legislation, it has come to feel like every day is “Railroad Day on the Hill.” However, the event is formally held once a year on the legislative calendar for representatives from rail unions and rail carriers alike to des [...]
Will Ferryville derailment be enough to change Van Orden’s tone on rail safety?
By Andy Hauck, Wisconsin SMART Transportation Division State Legislative Director On February 1 in Washington, DC, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee held its first meeting of the 118th congressional session, and one member in particular wast [...]
Pa. rail-safety bill passes through committee
By a 19-2 vote, the Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technologies and Utilities Committee advanced its comprehensive rail safety bill, H.B. 1028, out of committee May 3. “This is a starting point,” said Republican Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Marshall (Distr [...]
Kansas secures two-person crews as the law of the land
Making two-person crews the rule of the land in the state of Kansas took an atypical route to the finish line but got there just the same. On Monday, May 1, Kansas became the 10th state in the country to secure 2PC as the minimum train crew size in the state. It has been the [...]
Michigan Legislature takes up rail safety
State Senate has rail safety bills regarding two-person crews and train length before it Michigan State Legislative Director Donald Roach served as a primary source as The Detroit News published articles this week (subscription required to read) centering on two pieces of rai [...]
From the Ballast: ‘Getting railroaded’
“From the Ballast” is an open column for SMART Transportation Division rail members to state their perspective on issues related to the railroad industry. Members of the union are encouraged to submit content by emailing to news_TD@smart-union.org. Columns are published at th [...]