Transportation News

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

Court eyes corruption in firing of member

The 9th Circuit on March 13 revived claims that corruption led an arbitration panel to fire a railroad conductor for allegedly drinking on the job.
 Richard Kite, a 27-year employee of the BNSF Railway Co., was fired in 2005 after being cited twice in 10 years for reporting t [...]

Around the UTU, March 2013

Local 23, Santa Cruz, Calif. Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District bus operator Jose Polanco, center, is recognized for his outstanding safety record and committed service to the community by a district official on Feb. 22. Polanco developed a plan to identify thousands of [...]

N.D. ‘Spring Swing’ meeting location changes

All active and retired members of North Dakota locals will have the opportunity to visit with UTU International and general committee officers and representatives from the Railroad Retirement Board, health-and-welfare benefit providers and designated legal counsel at a series [...]

Mo. Senate endorses union paycheck bill

JEFFERSON CITY — After steadfast opposition from Democratic senators, the Missouri Senate gave first-round approval early Tuesday morning to a bill that would require public employee unions to seek annual consent in order to automatically deduct fees from members’ paychecks. [...]

UTU-SMART fights longer, heavier trucks

Click here to see a brochure that was mailed and emailed to all active and retired members in Maine and Wisconsin. Members in those states, as well as anyone concerned with the preservation of good-paying railroad jobs, should contact Representatives Michaud and Ribble and as [...]

Senate lauded for resisting cuts to transit funding

WASHINGTON, DC—Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) President Edward Wytkind issued this statement applauding the Senate for including surface transportation bill (MAP-21) funding levels in its FY 2013 appropriations package (UTU-SMART is a member of the TTD): “The [...]

Former CSX General Chairperson Terry Reed dies

Retired former CSX (B&O) General Chairperson John T. “Terry” Reed, 71, died March 5. Funeral services will be held March 11 at 1 p.m. at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home at 5336 Old Taylor Mill Rd. in Taylor Mill, KY 41015. The services will be preceded by a [...]

Department of Labor announces investigation

On March 7, 2013, the organization was advised by the U.S. Department of Labor that they are instituting an investigation concerning the Voluntary Short-Term Disability policy we have through Anthem. While the Department of Labor did not provide the full nature of its investi [...]

GE, CAT to develop natural gas-powered locos

General Electric Co. (GE) and Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), the world’s largest locomotive makers, are rushing to develop natural gas-powered models in a potential shift from diesel’s six decades as the fuel of choice for railroads. Three of the biggest U.S. rail carriers — B [...]

Rule adds non-controlled substances to drug list

The Federal Railroad Administration has published a final rule, effective May 6, 2013, adding certain non-controlled substances with potentially impairing side effects to its standard post-accident testing panel.  This rule will enact the addition of over-the-counter, legal d [...]