Ohio SLD Whitaker, senators state case for Railway Safety Act before commerce committee

In the aftermath of February’s rail disaster in Ohio, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee held a key hearing March 22 on “Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment” to get to the bottom of what when wrong in the accident and to discuss the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023.   The committee […]

TD Ohio SLD to appear before Senate at hearing today

The Senate Commerce Committee will be holding a hearing on “Improving Rail Safety in Response to the East Palestine Derailment”. The hearing will start at approximately 10:45 a.m. ET, following a 10 a.m. mark-up session. SMART TD Ohio State Legislative Director Clyde Whitaker is scheduled to testify at the hearing along with Jennifer Homendy, chair of […]

SMART statement on President Biden’s veto of HJ Resolution 30

Today, President Biden vetoed HJ Resolution 30, which would have rescinded the Department of Labor’s rule entitled “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights.” In response, SMART issued the following statement: “Days like today prove that no modern American president has done more to advance the causes of working people than […]

UPDATED: President Ferguson appears with U.S. Sen. Brown to discuss Railway Safety Act

SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson appeared with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in Cleveland on Monday morning to discuss the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023 as momentum for legislative action on railroad safety continues to build on Capitol Hill. Sen. Brown and fellow Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, Pennsylvania Sens. Bob Casey and John […]

Analysis: Lawsuit means shareholders might not be OK after East Palestine

The brutal effects of Precision Scheduled Railroading, better known as PSR, on the lives of railroaders since 2017 have been well-documented. It’s been almost as bad for suppliers, who have seen delays in their products making it to market. It’s been bad for shippers, who have seen deliveries have to take circuitous routes so the […]

FRA issues safety bulletin on grade-crossing shove moves after fatal accident

FRA SAFETY BULLETIN 2023-02 SUBJECT: Highway-Rail Grade Crossing and Shove Movement Accident The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is investigating a recent switching accident that resulted in a crew member fatality. Based on FRA’s preliminary investigation, a conductor with 18 years of service was fatally injured when the tank car he was riding to provide point […]

Second BE4ALL Toolbox Talk promotes “Effective Communication”

The Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) Committee launched its second Toolbox Talk on March 16 – part of the committee’s ongoing work to strengthen SMART and the unionized sheet metal industry by making all members feel welcome, on and off the job. Toolbox Talk #2, titled “Effective Communication,” addresses the important steps that can be taken to avoid miscommunication and conflict on the jobsite