Category: Washington
Some Railroad Retirement recipients must add dependent info with IRS to get $500 COVID payments
Railroad Retirement benefit recipients who have a qualifying child and didn’t file a 2018 or 2019 tax return have a limited window to register to have $500 per eligible child added automatically to their soon-to-be-received $1,200 COVID-19 payment, the Internal Revenue [...]
Second member passes from COVID; Ferguson calls for federal agencies to act
On April 15, SMART Transportation Division Local 61 (Philadelphia, Pa.) announced that conductor Michael A. Hill, 58, of Glassboro, N.J., died from the coronavirus. Brother Hill was a 30-year member of SMART-TD and worked for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (S [...]
TTD: Labor unions call on lawmakers to press pause on automated vehicle legislation, continue focusing on COVID-19 response
The Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr. Chairman House Committee on Energy & Commerce 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Greg Walden Ranking Member House Committee on Energy & Commerce 2322 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 205 [...]
FRA grants unions’ request for extension to file certification petitions
CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 15) — On April 7, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) granted a joint petition filed by the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) to extend time limits in which certain petitions f [...]Lives at risk as FRA continues to limit its response on coronavirus safety
CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 15) — The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on April 10 denied requests submitted by labor Organizations which, if approved, would have provided critical protections for railroad employees during the ongoing national COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, [...]
SMART-TD, ATU and TWU send joint letter to congressional leaders stating transit worker priorities
[table id=4 /] Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: On behalf of more than 275,000 transit workers across the country, we are writing to bring your attention to the critical, immediate issues our members face during the current public he [...]
SMART leaders urge full initiation of Defense Production Act
The Defense Production Act (DPA) was invoked April 2 by President Donald Trump to expedite the manufacture and eventual distribution of supplies, especially ventilators, necessary to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The first step in getting the products — including surgical mask [...]Union leaders call on FTA to set mandatory safety standards, ensure pay for frontline transit workers
April 8, 2020 The Honorable K. Jane Williams Acting Administrator Federal Transit Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Acting Administrator Williams: First, we want to thank you and your staff for your hard work en [...]