SMART-TD 2020 Regional Meeting Called Off

CLEVELAND, Ohio (April 21, 2020) – Unfortunately, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the state of Ohio’s orders regarding distancing and banning meetings, we have had to cancel the 2020 SMART Transportation Division Regional Meeting. Accordingly, please disregard the registration information printed in the February/March SMART Transportation Division News. That particular edition […]

RRB begins payment on extended unemployment benefits

From the RRB’s Public Affairs office: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, recently signed into law by President Trump, authorized extended unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for railroad workers sidelined during the COVID-19 pandemic. After making necessary programming changes to agency systems, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) began processing and […]

NS idles yard in N.C.; UP an engine shop in Ark.

In a move that carrier officials said was in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, Norfolk Southern has idled the hump yard at Linwood Terminal in North Carolina, costing more than 80 people their jobs. NS told Trains Magazine May 1 that the “unforeseeable business circumstances” caused by the coronavirus will result in 85 jobs lost […]

Remembering Those We Lost

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, SMART mourns the deaths of those members who put their lives on the line during this global crisis. It is important for us to work together during this crisis to prevent further deaths while thanking those doing the work to maintain our nations’ critical infrastructure and keep us safe. We […]

National Disease Control Standard for U.S. Construction Sites

The North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training released a new national standard for infectious disease exposure control practices for U.S. construction sites.  These guidelines aim to prevent disease, disability and death caused by infectious disease exposure in lieu of federal action by OSHA. The new national framework […]

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 for review must be filed with the Locomotive Engineer Review Board (LERB) and the […]

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, according to the SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). “Although FRA […]

S&Ts: IRS extends deadlines for form submissions because of pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced extended deadlines for the filing of certain forms related to union business in a notice recently sent to non-profit organizations. The Form 990 deadline, normally due on May 15th has been extended to July 15th, 2020. However, IRS updates to tax-exempt searches have been […]