Early rail retiree insurance cap rises in 2014

UTU members and their dependents insured under the Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Benefit (ERMA) Plan (GA-46000) will have their lifetime maximum amount of coverage increased, effective Jan. 1. ERMA is a comprehensive benefits plan for employees wh [...]

AAR responds to Senate report on rail finances

WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads Nov. 21 issued the following statement from President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger in response to the Senate Commerce Committee staff report Update on the Financial State of the Class I Freight Rail Industry. “Unfortunately th [...]

Critical Pa. transportation bill rejected

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania state House delivered a body blow Nov. 18 to hopes for a major transportation spending proposal in a test vote that raised doubts about whether any roads bill will pass this year. The House voted 98-103 against a proposal to raise gasoline t [...]

Seat belts will be required on large buses

New tour buses and buses that provide service between cities must be equipped with seat belts starting in late 2016 under a federal rule issued Wednesday, a safety measure sought by accident investigators for nearly a half century. Beginning in November 2016, all new motorcoa [...]

DOT agencies evaluating railroads' security plans

The Federal Railroad Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration have issued a safety advisory to reinforce to railroads the importance of properly classifying Class 3 materials and ensuring the railroads’ safety and security plans addr [...]

Local 1732 President Dacanay dies

Henry L. Dacanay Jr., 46, president of SMART Transportation Division Local 1732 at San Jose, Calif., died Nov. 14 following a heart attack. Dacanay worked for Amtrak as a conductor for 19 years. Besides serving as local president, he held various other positions including loc [...]

NTSB says unsecured cars led to death of member

MASON CITY, Iowa – The National Transportation Safety Board says unsecured railroad cars are the probable cause of the death of a Union Pacific railroad worker in Mason City in 2012. Georgiy Solovlyov, 36, of Stanhope, a switchman, was found on the tracks in the area of 13th [...]

Ask Your Lawmakers’ Support For Two-Person Crews

Members of the SMART Transportation Division and all of rail labor have the opportunity to make it federal law to have two qualified persons working on all freight trains operating in the United States a reality. Now is the time to contact your legislators in the House of Rep [...]

NARP calls on Congress to support passenger-rail

As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prepares a markup on rail reauthorization legislation, the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) is urging Congress to embrace a national vision for intercity passenger trains. NARP is concerned that commit [...]

Ask your lawmakers’ support for two-person crews

Members of the SMART Transportation Division and all of rail labor have the opportunity to make it federal law to have two qualified persons working on all freight trains operating in the United States a reality. Now is the time to contact your legislators in the House of Rep [...]