SMART, BLET to fight KCS in-cab cameras
During a meeting with the presidents of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the SMART Transportation Division on April 24, 2013, Kansas City Southern Railway announced that it intends to install and begin to use inward facing cameras in all of its locomotives over the next few weeks. According to KCS, each locomotive will have two cameras – one behind the engineer focused on the control panel, and one across the cab focusing on both crew members. (Some locomotives with cameras installed already are in use in Mexico; others are being fitted for cameras in Shreveport.) The carrier told the two presidents that it has “management prerogative” to take these actions … Read More
Members ratify five-year Amtrak agreement
Amtrak employees represented by the SMART Transportation Division (UTU) have ratified a five-year agreement with management of the National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak). The new pact covers approximately 2,300 members employed as conductors, assistant conductors, yardmasters and dining car stewards. The agreement is retroactive to 2010 and the new rates of pay should become effective within 30 to 45 days. Payment of retroactive wages will be made approximately 60 days after the wage rates take effect. “The membership recognized the value of the proposed contract and in ratifying the agreement have secured the wages and benefits that were hard-fought and hard-won by the … Read More
Administration drops redundant driver’s license rule
The federal government is relaxing a rule for drivers of buses and large trucks who are involved in out-of-state traffic violations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, an office of the Department of Transportation, is eliminating a requirement that drivers notify their state’s licensing agency when they are convicted of a traffic offense in another state. In its final rule published in the Federal Register April 26, FMCSA amends its commercial driver’s license (CDL) rules to eliminate the requirement for drivers to notify the state licensing agency that issued their commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or CDL of out-of-state traffic convictions when those … [Read More...]
Your union needs you!
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers is conducting a survey to better understand your experience as a member of this union. Your participation in this survey would be greatly appreciated. As a member of the Transportation Division of SMART, your feedback and insight are critical to discovering how we can ensure this union works better for everyone. Below is a link to the survey, which should take less than a few minutes to complete. Please note the survey will close on Friday, May 17. Click here to take the survey. Thank you for your participation. … Read More
Are you eligible for death, dismemberment insurance?
Active and retired railroad employees covered under The Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan or The NRC/UTU Health and Welfare Plan may be eligible for life and accidental death and Dismemberment benefits from MetLife. For eligible active employees, the death benefit is in most cases $20,000, and there may be an additional AD&D benefit that could pay up to $16,000. For eligible retired employees, the death benefit is $2,000. Most employees filled out a designated beneficiary form when they began work for a participating railroad and MetLife urges employees and retirees to keep this form with your other important papers. If you need to update your beneficiary form, or if there is doubt as to whom you designated, it is recommended that you complete a new form and send … (Read More)
Merger Updates
Below are the latest updates regarding the merger of the UTU with the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association. SMART will boost UTUIA financial strength (02/16/12) Committees work to create new SMART union (02/16/12) Working together to make SMART a reality (01/20/12) We are now SMART (12/19/11) Merger update: Moving forward constructively (11/10/11) Arbitrator rules in favor of SMART merger (10/11/11) Arbitrator named in UTU-SMWIA merger dispute (03/25/11) … [Read More...]
“Nurse line” offers answers to medical questions
Members covered by Aetna, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or UnitedHealthcare seeking information about treatment options, chronic conditions or answers to other health-related questions can call a "nurse line" for answers 24 hours a day, every day. This free service can help you with losing weight, managing stress, quitting tobacco and much more. More importantly, the nurse line offers you information, motivation, encouragement, and the one-on-one support that can make a real difference in your health: to stay well, get well or manage a health condition. You or one of your dependents can call your plan's nurse line for: 1. Learn about any health topic that concerns you; 2. Change a behavior, like smoking or overeating, that affects your overall health; 3. Gather information about a … Read More
2011 National Rail Contract
What's New: Many will see $2 reduction in health care contribution – Change to benefits – New rail rate tables now posted online – National rail contract ratified – Click here for the latest news on the National Rail Contract – Q&As regarding tentative national rail contract – National rail contract ballots to be mailed Aug. 12 – Tentative national agreement slide show – National rail contract delivers ‘more, now’ – Documents To read the national … [Read More...]
Update on conductor certification
By Larry Mann, UTU Rail Safety Coordinator - The FRA amended its conductor certification rules in February, delaying the time for testing conductors, extending the time for formulating training programs and amending the territorial qualification requirements. By Sept. 1, 2012, each railroad shall have grandfathered as “certified conductors” all persons who were performing conductor duties as of Jan. 1, 2012. This includes conductors on Class I, Class II, Amtrak and commuter railroads, and means they must have issued “certified conductor” certificates to those conductors. After Sept. 1, Class I and Class II railroads, as well as Amtrak and commuter railroads, must designate and issue certificates to all persons authorized to perform as conductors between Jan. 1, 2012, and … [Read More...]
Help needed for our UTU hurricane victims
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated families in the Northeast, we again are reminded we are a nation of one people. Just as we see President Obama, a Democrat, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, working together to address the needs of those suffering, UTU members can collectively do our part by helping our brothers and sisters as we have in past disasters. Hurricane Sandy caused significant property damage and loss to scores of UTU members in the Northeast, and we are soliciting donations in order that funds are available to assist our struggling brothers and sisters get back on their feet. We encourage all UTU members, locals, general committees, and state legislative boards to give generously to help our brothers and sisters in need. The UTU disaster … [Read More...]
