Transportation News

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

Rail Retirement finances remain strong

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is required by law to submit annual reports to Congress on the financial condition of the railroad retirement system and the railroad unemployment insurance system. These reports must also include recommendations for any financing changes w [...]

UTU DIPP: Above all, ‘peace of mind’

By General Secretary & Treasurer Kim Thompson We are all familiar with employers imposing unwarranted discipline and even dismissal on employees. A member survey by the UTU’s Rail Safety Task Force revealed that more than 50 percent of train, engine and yard workers cite [...]

LACMTA talks continue; operational funding a must

By Vic Baffoni, Vice president, Bus Department I extend my congratulations to all the newly elected and re-elected Bus Department officers and delegates, and I ask that they do their best to represent all their membership. Dedication and hard work must include conversation an [...]

UTU locals must file IRS Form 990

UTU locals that have not filed Form 990, Form 990EZ or Form 990-N with the Internal Revenue Service for the last three years have until Oct. 15, 2010, to file, or they will automatically lose their tax-exempt status. For additional information on which of three above forms a [...]

UTU member recalls good old days

PRESCOTT, Ariz. – John Stevenson can relate to the thousands of people who flock to the Peavine Trail each year to take in the imposing views of Granite Dells, the Daily Courier reports. In a completely different era, Stevenson also spent plenty of time walking and ridi [...]

Rail health plan booklets now online

The summary plan description booklets for both the National Railway Carriers and UTU Health and Welfare Plan (NRC/UTU) and the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan are now available on the SMART TD website. Both booklets give information on the Comprehen [...]

State of the union, 2010

By International President Mike Futhey Are things better now than they were three years ago? Have you witnessed an improvement in representation, union finances, internal procedures and management transparency since Arty Martin, Kim Thompson and I took office Jan. 1, 2008? He [...]

UTU Alumni offering tour to Opryland

UTU Alumni offering tour to Opryland The UTU is offering members of its Alumni Association a holiday tour they will not soon forget: the newly renovated Gaylord Opryland hotel and convention center, plus the Grand Ole Opry theater, in Nashville, Tenn. The “Country Christmas” [...]

UTU rail-member health insurance alert

Federal law now requires the reporting of Social Security numbers (SSNs) for covered dependents to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Employees who have not yet provided dependent SSNs will have their dependents’ coverage terminated on July 31. This [...]

Rail safety concerns voiced by UTU members

Train and engine workers are the eyes and ears of railroads — the first to spot trouble, and the first to suffer when trouble occurs. On railroads, trouble too often means career-ending injuries and death. The UTU Rail Safety Task Force was created by UTU International [...]