Transportation News

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

Avantair pilots land at SMART Transportation

In their final approach for union representation, the pilots of Avantair, Inc., successfully touched down on the SMART Transportation Division runway. The Feb. 14 vote brought 224 Avantair pilots under the SMART umbrella. Among the pilots who participated in the representatio [...]

Around the UTU, February 2013

Local 240, Los Angeles, Calif. Local Chairperson Harry J. Garvin Jr. reports that the local’s 2013 monthly meetings will be held at Ozzie’s Diner at 7780 E. Slauson Ave. in Los Angeles off 5 FWY between 710 FWY and 605 FWY. The diner’s telephone number is (323) 726-0300. Meet [...]

Acting for impaired Railroad Retirement beneficiaries

According to Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) policy, every annuitant has the right to manage his or her own benefits. However, when physical or mental impairments make a railroad retirement annuitant incapable of properly handling benefit payments, or where the RRB determines [...]

UTU supports town’s noise reduction effort

CSX is fighting efforts by the UTU and neighboring residents to use flagmen in a busy rail yard to increase safety and reduce noise. Residents living near the yard in Worcester, Mass., recently complained to city and railroad officials about the constant use of locomotive hor [...]

We pledge allegiance, in solidarity

By SMART General President Joe Nigro –  We are one! Not only as a result of our recent merger, but also by the pledge we make to one another as union brothers and sisters. The strength of organized labor lies in the hearts and minds of every union member who understands the m [...]

Regional meeting online registration now open

Members planning to attend one or both of the UTU’s regional meetings this summer can now complete their registration online through the UTU website. The secure pages on the UTU website provide for safe and convenient registration. There’s no need for filling out a paper regi [...]

Railroads to invest $25B, hire thousands in ’13

WASHINGTON – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced the nation’s major freight railroads plan to invest an estimated $24.5 billion in 2013 to build, maintain and upgrade America’s rail network to ensure freight railroads can continue to deliver for the nation’s [...]

Texas & Northern employees select SMART

Employees of the Texas & Northern Railway Company this week were successful in their efforts to bring union representation to their property. In separate elections held Feb. 6 and Feb. 7, the operating and non-operating employees at the northeast Texas railroad voted over [...]

A guide to RR Medicare’s voice-responsive phone line

You need to know more about your Railroad Medicare benefits or specific claims.  Sometimes you’d like to find the information on your own, and other times, you want to speak with a Customer Service Representative (CSR).  Railroad Medicare, administered by Palmetto GBA, gives [...]

Railroads report mixed 4Q, yearly earnings

CANADIAN NATIONAL Canadian National Railway reported its income in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $613.8 million, increasing three percent from $595.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased by seven percent year-over-year to $2.5 billio [...]