Transportation News

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

Oberman addresses SMART General Session

As part of the first SMART Leadership Conference in San Francisco on Aug. 8, Surface Transportation Board Chairman Martin Oberman appeared remotely to address the general session. The STB, which is tasked with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation [...]

Two-person crew saves the life of missing woman

SMART TD Local 818 (Ft. Worth, Texas) Alt. Legislative Rep. and BNSF Conductor Cristhian Sosa (pictured) was on BNSF train M-TULIRB1-02A with Engineer Justin Luster heading southbound from Madill, Okla., to Irving, Texas, on Thursday, Feb. 3 when they spot­ted a woman near th [...]

TD President Ferguson, three members testify before STB

From left, Local Chairperson Chris Bond (Local 513, Gainesville Texas); Local Chairperson Steve Groat (Local 329, Boone, Iowa); General Chairperson Matt Burkart (GCA-341); SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson and AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department Pre [...]

FRA NPRM: The truth behind the need for two-person crews

It’s a shame, really, that the safety of my members, the public and the infrastructure are nothing more than political pawns in the railroads’ game of never-ending greed. And it’s a shame, frankly, that the railroads manipulate woefully inept individuals – having never meanin [...]

SMART-TD LACMTA operators ratify tentative contract

LOS ANGELES, (August 4, 2022) — The efforts by the SMART-TD General Committee of Adjustment GO 875 negotiation team have resulted in a new agreement for the bus and rail operators of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), which serves more than [...]

SMART-TD, BLET presidents update members following PEB 250

Brothers and Sisters of our unions: Presidential Emergency Board (“PEB” or “the Board”) 250 conducted hearings in Washington, D.C. this past week, concluding on July 28th. We both were honored to represent our unions and, by extension, the memberships of the dozen strong [...]

Union Plus opens ‘Unions Power America’ contest

Union Plus has once again opened its ‘Unions Power America’ contest. The contest runs now and ends August 8 at 11:59 p.m. Cash prizes have been announced with a grand prize of $25,000, first prize of $20,000, second prize of $15,000 and 25 third prizes of $2,000 each. To win, [...]

United Rail Unions statement on opening of PEB

Today, July 24, 2022, the United Rail Unions, who are bargaining as part of the Coordinated Bargaining Coalition and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way/SMART Mechanical Coalition, and the Carriers represented by the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), began thei [...]