The latest issue of the SMART Transportation Division News is an online-only edition. To view, click here. To view earlier editions of SMART TD News, click here.
On December 16, 2015, members of SMART Transportation Division’s Local 1440 (Staten Island, N.Y.) ratified a tentative agreement with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA). The ratified agreement includes a 15.88 percent pay increase with retroactive pay [...]
The Portland Business Journal reported that President Obama has signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 into law. This officially delays the 40 percent excise tax on group health plans. Unions and other organizations that provide strong benefit packages for members w [...]
Congress must do better for passenger rail and roadway safety By John Previsich, President, SMART Transportation Division While we look favorably on efforts made by members of congress to implement stronger and more wide-spread transportation policy upgrades – including incre [...]
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Amtrak activated its Positive Train Control system (PTC) this past weekend from Philadelphia to Washington. SEPTA has reported they are not far behind and will have PTC online sometime in the new year. Since the Federal Railroad Administ [...]
On Tuesday, December 1, SMART members from sheet metal and transportation locals in Los Angeles joined their brothers and sisters in the Jobs to Move America coalition to lead the protest outside the headquarters of BYD Motors, Inc. – a Chinese-owned electric bus company that [...]
The Minnesota State Legislative Board is hosting a meeting Monday, December 21, 2015, in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Education and Economic Development (MN DEED). The meeting will be held at the South St. Paul VFW 295, 111 Exchange St., St. Paul, from 5:00 pm [...]
Former SMART TD (UTU Local 1348) Washington State Legislative Director Thomas R. Retterath died Monday, November 2, 2015 at the Hospice Care Center following a battle with cancer. Retterath was drafted and served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. In 1971 he began his railr [...]
The Duluth News Tribune reported that within four years, the Northern Lights Express could be providing passenger rail service between the TwinPorts and the TwinCities (Minn.) four times per day. Read the complete article here.
Progressive Railroading reported that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order granting New Jersey and Connecticut law enforcement jurisdiction on New York’s public transportation services and facilities. These enhancements will allow regional government [...]
