Transportation News

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

Win a family vacation to Disney World

UTU members can already save on Disney World park tickets, but right now,
they could also win a Disney vacation for four. By signing up to receive Union Plus emails and mobile alerts featuring union savings and special offers, you’ll be automatically entered to win a Disney d [...]

Plaque commemorates railroad strike of 1887

Most of the historical plaques at Camden Yards are about particular players’ home-runs or Babe Ruth’s father’s tavern, but a new marker outside the ballpark pays tribute not to ballplayers but to workers whose names we’ll never know. Unveiled yesterday, the sign on the Howard [...]

Bus companies target sleep apnea

By Calvin Studivant, Alternate Vice President, Bus –   Sleep apnea is a serious ailment and certainly one that should not go untreated. But it also should not be used to discriminate against our members, which it appears some carriers are doing. There are reports from some of [...]

We cannot afford to be complacent

By Mike Futhey, SMART Transportation Division President –  Election day 2012 has passed, the celebration of an inauguration is done. Now what? Complacency is not a luxury we can afford. Our fight is not over. After the candidates’ assurances of brighter days for labor, a cont [...]

Rail passenger groups seeks federal aid

The National Association of Railroad Passengers, the U.S. High Speed Rail Association, Californians for High Speed Rail, and the Midwest High Speed Rail Association are urging Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to support XpressWest’s creation of a Los Angeles to Las Vega [...]

LIRR members’ golf tourney supports autism research

The UTU’s Long Island Rail Road General Committee of Adjustment GO 505 is hosting it annual golf classic on May 13 to benefit families on Long Island affected by autism. The gold classic will tee off at 9:30 a.m. at the Hamlet Wind Watch Golf & Country Club in Hauppauge, [...]

NTSB makes recommendations after investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued 12 new safety recommendations as a result of its investigation of the Sept. 30, 2010, collision of two freight trains near Two Harbors, Minn. The NTSB recommendations were issued to the following organizations: the Federal R [...]

UTU, Amtrak reach tentative contract deal

After more than two years of negotiations, three UTU-SMART general committees representing some 2,300 Amtrak members have reached a deal with the passenger carrier on a new contract. General Chairpersons Bill Beebe, Robert Keeley and Dirk Sampson represent Amtrak conductors, [...]

Coscia elected chairman, Amtrak board of directors

WASHINGTON – The Amtrak Board of Directors has elected Anthony R. Coscia to be its next chairman to help guide the future of the railroad and carry out initiatives to increase ridership and improve operational and financial performance. In addition, the Amtrak board elected J [...]

UP ordered to reinstate whistleblower

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific has been ordered to pay $350,000 and reinstate a worker who federal regulators say was fired after reporting an injury to the railroad. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday that the payment [...]