OSHA establishes plan to keep workers safe from COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced an interim enforcement response plan for the coronavirus pandemic. The response plan provides instructions and guidance to OSHA area offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling coronavirus-related complaints, referrals and severe illness reports. During the coronavirus outbreak, OSHA […]

First TD member fatality from COVID-19 reported

Joseph Hansen, a conductor out of Local 60 (Newark, N.J.) who worked for New Jersey Transit (NJT), passed away recently to become the first reported active SMART Transportation Division member to succumb to COVID-19, the novel coronavirus. Hansen was 62 years old and had been a SMART-TD member since November 1999. He worked out of […]

COVID-19: Quick tip on bleach to buy

Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity shared a tip about the type of bleach that should be used for disinfecting work areas while trying to prevent spread of the coronavirus. Bleach water should be created with a tablespoon of bleach per gallon. The bleach used to mix the solution should not have additional scent added […]

Representatives’ letter supports SMART-TD petition for COVID-19 safety measures

A bipartisan group of 14 members of Congress — seven Democrats and seven Republicans — pledged support to SMART Transportation Division’s petitions to the administrators of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) seeking protection for railroad and transit workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our transit and rail workers are essential […]

Members’ efforts help to cope with COVID-19

As COVID-19 has spread across the country, some carriers and businesses have been caught flat-footed in dealing with the pandemic as indicated by field reports we’ve received from members. The same cannot be said for front-line SMART Transportation Division members who have sprung into action to help their communities and fellow members cope with the […]

How COVID-19 bill affects bus and transportation workers

On March 27, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law the CARES Act that provides provisions favorable to SMART Transportation Division bus and transportation members as the nation continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The bill provides a $2 trillion relief package to the nation as it copes with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus […]

New Jersey AFL-CIO has COVID-19 resources available

New Jersey State Legislative Director Ron Sabol reports that the state AFL-CIO has established a clearinghouse to provide people with state-specific information about the COVID-19 pandemic. Sabol has been working closely with the AFL-CIO to distribute information to members, especially those employed by New Jersey Transit, which has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic.