Transportation News

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

Ohio labor support for Trump plummeting

The AFL-CIO just released a poll that shows a significant drop in support for Trump from Ohio union members. From Trump’s support of “Right to Work” laws aimed at dismantling unions, to Pence’s 99% record of voting against labor, the downward shift in [...]

Vote for those who support us

Sisters and Brothers, My most recent post generated some lively feedback and I spent quite a bit of time speaking to members on the phone and answering all the emails I received about our endorsement Of Hillary Clinton for president. To be clear, my role and our union’s role [...]

Ohio members: Visit your Ohio Legislative Action Center

The Ohio State Legislative Board is pleased to announce a great new tool with the recent addition to the www.smart-oslb.com website: Ohio Legislative Action Center This is the first ‘State Specific’ – Legislative Action Center within SMART TD State Legislative Boards. This is [...]

Workers must unite: Only we can save ourselves

“Working Americans must act together, because the only things that can be done for workers must be done by workers – collectively. Like Washington, Jefferson and Adams, we don’t need a king – we need each other.” – Tom O’Brien. Read the article in its [...]

SMART TD member David Pryor featured in “The Atlantic”

David Pryor, Amtrak conductor and member of SMART TD Local 168, loves his job on the commuter rail and shared his sentiments and experiences in a recent interview with The Atlantic.   Not only does the job provide him with the opportunity to travel, he also noted that being o [...]

The outcome of this election will affect your job

By John Risch, SMART TD National Legislative Director For those of you who don’t know me, I’m honored to serve as your elected National Legislative Director. I came from the ranks, starting in the track department on the Burlington Northern and went into train service, spendi [...]

Charlotte Area Transit System members ratify contract

Members of SMART Transportation Division Local 1715 in Charlotte, N.C., overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract, Friday, Sept. 9, reports Vice President Calvin Studivant. “I would like to thank General Chairperson (GCA TMD) Hasson Trent, Vice General Chairpers [...]

SMART TD, TTD comment on FRA NPRM

Proposed rule: “Competitive Passenger Rail Service Pilot Program” The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register August 22. This proposed rulemaking from the FRA is a direct result of Section 1130 [...]

Happy Labor Day from SMART TD

SMART Transportation Division wishes everyone a happy Labor Day. Read below to learn about the history of Labor Day.   Department of Labor on the history of Labor Day Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the so [...]

Focus on education at 2016 Regional Meetings

The 2016 Regional Meetings held in July in San Francisco and Chicago was deemed a success by SMART Transportation Division (SMART TD) members who attended. In San Francisco, 298 members attended the meetings, with a total of 507 (including spouses, children, vendors, etc.) pe [...]