Transportation News

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BNSF announces operations back to normal in wake of Harvey

BNSF Railway reports that its operations affected by Hurricane Harvey are back to normal with some delays. “While service has been restored on nearly all affected rail lines, track and signal work continues in some locations,” BNSF said. Click here to read more fr [...]

Amtrak win: defunding amendment rejected

In a 128-293 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Sept. 6 to reject an amendment introduced by Rep. Mo Brooks (R – Ala.) to eliminate $1.1 billion of federal subsidies for Amtrak for 2018. Click here to read more from Railway Age.

Former DLC David Kiker dies

Retired UTU Designated Legal Counsel (DLC) David B. Kiker, 70, died Saturday, Sept. 2. An attorney for the law firm Rossi, Cox, Kiker & Inderwish in Aurora, Colo., Kiker served as DLC until his retirement in 2003. Kiker is survived by his wife of 45 years, Pamela Seale; t [...]

Social Security expedites decisions to those with serious disabilities

Nancy A. Berryhill, acting commissioner of Social Security, announced Tues., Sept. 5, that three new Compassionate Allowances conditions: CACH–Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset Forms, Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy, and Kleefstra Syndrome. Comp [...]

Labor Day – Thank your Union day

By John Risch, National Legislative Director, SMART Transportation Division Enjoy yourself this Labor Day weekend, provided you’re lucky enough to get the weekend off. In my 30 plus years working freight rail, I worked many a Labor Day weekend, but I am lucky to get this one [...]

ATTENTION – RAIL MEMBERS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY

Active and retired railroad members and their families covered under The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan, The Railroad Employees National Health and Welfare Plan and The Railroad Employees National Early Retirement Major Medical Plan impacted by Hurricane Harvey can find impo [...]

Hurricane Disaster Assistance Alert

The United Transportation Union Insurance Association (UTUIA) asks those members who are experiencing financial or other difficulties in paying premiums due to Hurricane Harvey, to please call the UTUIA to discuss options that may be available. The UTUIA may be reached at 216 [...]

UTUIA donates $5k to Hurricane Harvey relief

The United Transportation Insurance Association (UTUIA), in a show of fraternal solidarity and generosity, has donated $5,000.00 to the UTU Disaster Relief Fund to be used for SMART TD members who have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Harvey. “Many Brothers and Sis [...]

Gallup poll: Labor union approval at its highest since 2003

According to Gallup, 61 percent of adults say they approve of labor unions. This is the highest approval rating unions have had since 2003 when approval was at 65 percent. Approval is up five percentage points from last year’s poll and is 13 points above the all-time lo [...]

Our SMART TD Brothers and Sisters in Texas need your help!

Dear Members of the SMART Transportation Division: The catastrophic flood waters caused by Hurricane Harvey have devastated Houston and its surrounding communities with loss of life and immeasurable destruction of property. Some of those affected by the devastation are our Br [...]