Arbitrator Gottesman’s Decision of November 4, 2013

On November 4, 2013, Arbitrator Michael Gottesman issued a second decision related to several questions concerning implementation of the merger and establishment of a single union, SMART.  The Transportation Division requested that General President Nigro hold off posting the [...]

OSHA finds Illinois Central violated whistleblower law

JACKSON, Miss. – A whistleblower investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined that Illinois Central Railroad Co., by conducting a disciplinary hearing, retaliated against a worker for reporting a work-related i [...]

Rise of oil trains fueling concerns in small towns

WOLF POINT, Mont. – It’s tough to miss the trains hauling crude oil out of the Northern Plains. They are growing more frequent by the day, mile-long processions of black tank cars that rumble through wheat fields and towns, along rivers and national parks. As comm [...]

HVAC Service Tech Course In St Louis

This comprehensive class is designed for the beginning service technician. The concentrated training program consists of 96 hours of intense classroom and hands on training within a 12-day schedule. The objective is to enable participants to acquire a complete understanding o [...]

FMCSA operation removes 52 unsafe bus companies

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced Dec. 12 that 52 bus companies and 340 vehicles were put out of business and removed from the road as a result of Operation Quick Strike, an eight-month int [...]

Federal judge approves auction of bankrupt MM&A

Freight trains rolled through Lac Megantic, Quebec, Dec. 18 for the first time since the July derailment and subsequent explosion and fire that killed 47 people. In Bangor, meantime, a federal judge has given the green light for a late January auction to sell the bankrupt rai [...]

OSHA Introduces New Online Form for Whistleblowers

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is seeking to streamline the whistleblower process by introducing an online form to register discrimination and retaliation complaints. The form provides enough information for whistleblower investigators to follow up a [...]

CATS Local 1715 Averts Strike, Gets Three-Year Deal

SMART Transportation Division Local 1715 bus operators employed by Transit Management of Charlotte, Inc., Dec. 12 ratified a three-year agreement with management, averting a possible strike. The new agreement calls for annual wage increases, paid retroactively to July 1, plus [...]

Rail safety agency stretched thin, getting thinner

The nation’s foremost railroad watchdog is potentially facing a serious workforce shortage, raising questions about its ability to ensure safety after a string of high-profile accidents. With 324 safety inspectors across the country, government investigators say, the Federal [...]