Transportation News

Visit the digital archive of the SMART-TD News (PDFs)

SMART Union Celebrates Black History Month

As we celebrate Black History Month in February 2017, read about the groundbreaking inventions from African-American inventors that had a major impact across all American labor sectors, including the transportation industry: Andrew Jackson Beard, born a slave in Alabama, beca [...]

Memorial services set for John P. Schneider

John P. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train while working near the Wallula train yard in Walla Walla County, Wash., Jan. 31. Schneider had been a member of Local 1505 in Spokane, Wash., since 2004. He loved to read, was a survi [...]

Go Fund Me account set up for fallen Brother, John Schneider

Friends of fallen Brother, John P. Schneider, recently set up a Go Fund Me account that is accepting donations in support of Brother Schneider’s family. Click here to donate. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train on Tuesday [...]

SMART TD announces Treasurer’s Workshop for April 2017

SMART Transportation Division will be conducting a Treasurer’s Workshop at the SMART TD Headquarters located in North Olmsted, Ohio, April 25-27, 2017. Attendance will be limited to 35 registrants. Attendees will be accepted on a first-come basis. Those interested in at [...]

Why Right-to-Work is wrong for union and non-union

Tire builder Jesse Isbell outlines in his recent blog post how the Right-to-Work bill is nothing more than a pack of lies intended to break unions and make the rich richer. Isbell and thousands of his co-workers lost their jobs when the Oklahoma City Bridgestone Tire plant th [...]

OSHA finds Amtrak in violation of Federal Railroad Safety Act

BOSTON – The National Railroad Passenger Corp., better known as Amtrak, retaliated against a supervisory special agent in its inspector general’s office when he raised concerns about railroad safety, fraud and abuse involving an Amtrak contractor and when he suppo [...]

Who’s Behind National Right to Work?

Who’s behind right-to-work? Ignoring the facts about “right-to-work,” far-right politicians across the country are promoting these deceptive policies as payback to their Big Business donors. By weakening workers’ ability to have a say about their job, right to work weakens un [...]

RRB releases spring conference schedule

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) released its Informational Conference Schedule for March – June 2017. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. and programs begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:15 p.m. at all locations. Click here for a list of conferences. Online registrat [...]

Member hit and killed by Union Pacific train

WALLA WALLA COUNTY, Washington — John P. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train around 5 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31. The accident occurred near the Wallula train yard in Walla Walla County, Wash. No one else was injured in the ac [...]