Union presidents announce tentative agreement

September 15, 2022 By Greg Roberts

SMART-TD and BLET announce tentative rail agreement

Statement by Jeremy Ferguson, President SMART Transportation Division and Dennis Pierce, President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen on Tentative Agreement Reached Early This Morning Between Unions Representing Conductors and Engineers and the Nation’s Class I Railroads

Early this morning following nearly three years of bargaining, the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), a Division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, reached a tentative National Agreement with the nation’s largest freight rail carriers which includes wage increases, bonuses, and no increases to insurance copays and deductibles. For the first time our Unions were able to obtain negotiated contract language exempting time off for certain medical events from carrier attendance policies. Our Unions will now begin the process of submitting the tentative agreement to the rank and file for a ratification vote by the memberships of both unions.

The tentative agreement calls for an immediate wage increase of 14% once compounded with an additional 4% on July 1, 2023, and 4.5% on July 1, 2024. In addition, wage increases of 3% effective July 1, 2020, 3.5% effective July 1, 2021, and 7% effective July 1, 2022, will be fully retroactive, for a compounded increase of 24% over the 5-year term of the agreement. The agreement also includes annual lump-sum bonus payments totaling $5,000.

The parties’ Health and Welfare Plan point-of-service costs will remain unchanged; there will be no increases to copays or deductibles and there are no disruptions to the existing health care networks. After over 20 hours of negotiations, we were able to reach an agreement that freezes our members’ monthly health care contributions at the end of the agreement. No additional increases will apply to our monthly contributions while the parties bargain over the next National Agreement.

The solidarity shown by our members, essential workers to this economy who keep America’s freight trains moving, made the difference in our Unions obtaining agreement provisions that exceeded the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board. We listened when our members told us that a final agreement would require improvements to their quality of life as well as economic gains. As a result, this agreement includes agreement provisions that will create voluntary assigned days off for members working in thru freight service, and all members will receive one additional paid day off. Most importantly, for the first time ever, the agreement provides our members with the ability to take time away from work to attend to routine and preventive medical care, as well as exemptions from attendance policies for hospitalizations and surgical procedures.

This tentative agreement provides for the highest general wage increases over the life of the agreement in over 45 years. SMART-TD was successful in blocking the carriers’ attempts to fast track arbitration on crew-consist agreements, protecting two-person crews for the indefinite future. The carriers’ demands for increases in point-of-service health care costs were blocked, along with their demands to charge married employees with children more for monthly health care contributions. Retroactive application of general wage increases and performance bonuses will provide our members with meaningful back pay checks in the coming weeks.

This agreement would not have been reached without the hard work of President Biden, Labor Secretary Walsh, Deputy Secretary Julie Su and others in the administration. Congressional leaders, including Senators Schumer, Durbin and Sanders, along with Speaker Pelosi listened to your requests and stayed out of our dispute, allowing for an agreement to be reached across the bargaining table, rather than through legislation.

This contract will not become final until our members have an opportunity to review its terms and approve it through a ratification vote.

Combined, the BLET and SMART-TD represent approximately 125,000 active and retired rail employees, approximately half of our membership is employed at Class I railroads that are party to this agreement.

# # #

The SMART Transportation Division is comprised of approximately 125,000 active and retired members of the former United Transportation Union, who work in a variety of crafts in the transportation industry.

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen represents nearly 57,000 professional locomotive engineers and trainmen throughout the United States. The BLET is the founding member of the Rail Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Sent via Action Network, a free online toolset anyone can use to organize. Click here to sign up and get started building an email list and creating online actions today.

Filed Under: Industry Related

“Hi-Viz” absenteeism policy

March 17, 2022 By Scott Spratt

‘Completely demoralized’: US railroad workers pushed to the brink

Workers are under intense strain amid grueling schedules, union contract negotiations and an arcane attendance policy system

A BNSF rail terminal worker monitors the departure of a freight train on June 2021 in Illinois. Photograph: Shafkat Anowar/AP

American railroad workers are criticizing a new restrictive attendance policy at one of the largest railroad freight networks in the US, as they experience grueling schedules and labor cuts in the midst of new union contract negotiations, which have hit an impasse, prompting federal mediation.

The Guardian spoke with several railroad trainmen and engineers who requested to remain anonymous as they are prohibited by their employer from speaking to the media.

On 1 February, BNSF Railway, one of the largest railroad freight networks in North America implemented a new point system attendance policy, criticized by workers and unions representing about 17,000 workers, for being more restrictive, incentivizing going to work fatigued or ill, and increasing threats of discipline.

“We feel stabbed in the back, completely demoralized with the work we did through the pandemic, understanding the situation, going the extra mile, and doing what we’re asked to do, and then some without complaint,” said the worker.

The new attendance system appears arcane. Workers are allotted 30 career attendance points and docked several points for taking any days off, with points varying on the time of the week and days designated as high-impact days. Workers can get four points back after working uninterrupted for 14 days. Previously, workers were allotted five weekdays off a month and two weekend days off. Workers are continuously on call and have just over an hour to report to work when they are called in.

“Fatigue is a chronic issue with almost everyone I know and work with. We manage it so it doesn’t get too severe,” they added. “We’ve been struggling through the pandemic with fatigue, exhaustion, and we have no chance to even catch our breath.”

A Union Pacific rail car is parked at a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train yard in Washington, February 2017. — A Union Pacific rail car is parked at a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train yard in Washington. Photograph: Chris Helgren/Reuters

Despite the grueling work schedules, workers explained there is no room for error in the work they do given the important safety components of their job, such as transporting hazardous chemicals.

Workers are legally permitted to work a maximum of 12 hours operating a train, but the worker noted it often takes several additional hours for relief to arrive and to get to a hotel or terminal when away from home. While always on call, the work hours vary widely and often change on a moment’s notice, making it impossible for workers to adapt to healthy sleep schedules, having to piece together naps whenever possible while waiting to be called into work.

Workers say that even though high-impact days, such as various holidays including Super Bowl Sunday, are designated as seven attendance points, workers are not paid any additional pay for working those days.

“You don’t know when they’re calling and they can call you at any time,” a worker said. “We’re still going through the pandemic, whether folks like to believe that or not, or abide by what’s going on or not, even though it’s lessened, you’re forcing folks to come to work sick because they’re scared to use points. You’re literally having them pick between ‘do you go to work sick and ill and not feeling well or do you save that time to be with your kids and your family?’”

Another worker criticized the attendance policy, arguing it makes it even more difficult to take time off for medical appointments or to be able to take time off to spend with family as railroad workers spent most of their time away from home, waiting anywhere from 12 to 30 hours in a hotel room before being called back into work on a return trip to their home.

“There are 17,600 employees that work with this new attendance policy, and not one of them will tell you that it’s a good program at all. It’s completely unmanageable,” they said.

Workers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation unions mobilized and pushed for the right to strike over the new attendance policy, but a federal judge ruled the dispute was “minor” under the Railway Labor Act, meaning workers cannot legally strike over the policy.

“This is a policy that, frankly, is just blind to the moment,” said Greg Regan, president of the transportation trades department, AFL-CIO, which represents 36 labor unions in the transportation industry. “They’re turning around and punishing their employees, because they’re faced with some of the challenges that they created themselves.”

A worker reaches for absorbent pads as residual oil leaks from a train car being readied to be moved following a derailment, December 2020. — A worker reaches for absorbent pads as residual oil leaks from a train car being readied to be moved following a derailment in December 2020. Photograph: Elaine Thompson/AP

The attendance policy change was implemented as workers have continued working through the pandemic via contract negotiations between 10 unions and over 30 railroad companies that have been ongoing since fall 2019 amid widespread labor cuts in the industry since 2017 where over 20% of staff have been cut under a new operating model.

The industry is pushing to reduce two person rail crews, an engineer and a conductor, to one person crews, which unions and workers have criticized as a serious safety issue that will lead to an increase in train derailments, severely affecting communities around the country.

“What the companies are offering at the bargaining table, you would think they’re facing declining revenue and decreasing profits, not recording the highest profit margin in the history of railroading,” Regan said. “It’s clear that the industry does not want to give an inch right now, and they want to continue to claw out as much profit as possible.”

BNSF Railway, owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, reported record profits in 2021, with operating income increasing 13.7% to $8.8bn.

A spokesperson for BNSF Railway argued the new attendance policy will provide more predictability for train crews and provide more reliable crew availability.

“Our program is designed to provide ample time for obligations outside work, including planned vacations, personal leave days and unplanned absences while ensuring that we have sufficient employees available to work,” a spokesperson said in an email. “Based on initial feedback, BNSF has already modified the program. We look forward to continuing to work with our employees to gather input and refine the program if needed. BNSF team members drive our success and we couldn’t deliver the nation’s goods without them. We understand that change can be an adjustment, but we believe we can adapt together to meet today’s competitive freight environment.”

Full article here:

‘Completely demoralized’: US railroad workers pushed to the brink | US unions | The Guardian

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Filed Under: Industry Related

RAIL MEMBERS’ INPUT SOUGHT BY FRA FOR FATIGUE SURVEY

February 17, 2022 By Scott Spratt

Rail members’ input sought by FRA for fatigue survey – Smart Union (smart-union.org)

The Federal Railroad Administration is asking T&E rail members of the SMART Transportation Division to participate in a wide-reaching survey of T&E personnel on the topic of fatigue.

Participants working in T&E roles in either passenger or freight service are highly encouraged to help FRA’s Office of Research, Development & Technology: Human Factors Division gather data via the 49-question survey.

“It’s an opportunity to provide any feedback about fatigue, work schedules and work/life balance,” FRA officials said.

Topics include typical work schedules over a period of days, weeks and months, members’ sleep cycles and their commute times, i.e. “the time (or distance) from home to work and vice versa, with ‘work’ referring to the location where crews start/finish their shift. ‘Home’ may also include away sites where crew members rest/sleep away from their personal home.”

Follow this link to participate in this important survey.

The first six weeks of 2022 have been quite busy weeks in the transportation industry. Click below to go to the SMART-TD story of interest:

Bill limiting train length in Iowa gains traction.
Two-person crew in Texas saves life of missing woman.
Kansas SLD introduces DOT Secretary Buttigieg.
Year-end financial reports for Class I’s. (Narrator: they made lots of money)
New board member assumes position on NMB.
Rail members’ input sought for FRA fatigue survey.

Better yet, click here to go to the main news page for all the stories. And let’s be careful out there!

Sincerely,

Greg Hynes

National Legislative Director

SMART Transportation Division

“Let’s Be Careful Out There”

Forward to a Friend | Unsubscribe

Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News

C3RS Inside The Rail – Issue 15

January 30, 2022 By Scott Spratt

ISSUE 15 – JANUARY 2022

C³RS: Over a Decade of Safety Reporting

In 2011, the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C³RS) was launched as part of the FRA’s Rail Safety Action Plan risk reduction strategy. The program was modeled after the successful NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) with the goal of improving rail safety through the collection and sharing of safety information.

C³RS began with a single participating carrier and received 100 reports in its first year. Over ten years later, C³RS has now grown to include 20 participating carriers and has received over 24,000 reports. The information provided in these voluntarily submitted close call reports is invaluable and provides insight into the safety issues railroad employees face on a daily basis.

For more than a decade, NASA C³RS Expert Analysts have gleaned important safety insights from these reports including the factors that contribute to common safety events such as overspeed and doors off platform events, as well as identifying new and emerging safety issues related to the introduction of Positive Train Control (PTC) and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the DataBase Query Tool (DBQT), full of de-identified reports, went on-online¹ marking a major milestone for safety in the rail industry by allowing anyone to review and learn from these close call reports. NASA also shares safety information from these reports with the rail community by issuing Alert Bulletins / For Your Information Notices, Quick Response data summaries and extensive research studies.

What has been truly notable is the participation of the different carriers, crafts, unions, and organizations that contribute to make C³RS a unique safety reporting system that is unparalleled world-wide. Below are samples of close call events submitted by reporters from key railroad groups: Engineering, Signal, Transportation, Mechanical, and Dispatchers. Each report provides a unique close call event that highlights and suggests corrective actions to prevent the incidents from happening again.

Engineering Close Call Event

A Manager provides insight into how a communication breakdown during an emergency repair caused a close call event involving energized electric rail.

The Construction gang was on the rail repairing a pole line cable that came down during the overnight storm with Track and Time and an electrified rail outage. During the cleanup, an electrified rail man told us the rail became re-energized through a back feed. We had crews actively working on removing strand and cable that could have been in contact with the electrified rail. There were no injuries and everyone stepped clear of anything metal.

C³RS Expert Analyst’s Callback Summary:

The reporter, a Manager, stated that a crew of fifteen plus employees were working on Track and Time authority issued to them by the Dispatcher… The reporter explained that the crew was not certain as to the exact circumstances involved, but at some point the power was restored to the track segment where all the employees had been working. During the cleanup process, the Electric Traction Manager informed the Manager that the electrified rail had become energized due to a train down the line “bridging the gap.” None of the employees were making contact with the tracks at that time…

Signal Department Close Call Event

A Signal Maintainer explains how human factors and deviating from procedure set up a close call event when disconnecting breakers in a signal bungalow.

At the Interlocking, I was removing old equipment to be salvaged. The last piece of equipment to be removed were snow blower breakers. All of the breakers were in the off position. I had cut out four of the smaller breakers before I got to the large main breaker… On the fifth wire, I saw a bright flash from the sixth wire. I believe that making an assumption that the power had been turned off along with not having a multi-meter available to verify, was the cause of this incident. I believe that it is imperative to always verify that the circuit is not live before disconnecting anything from it.

C³RS Expert Analyst’s Callback Summary:

The reporter, a Signalman, was working alone disconnecting power to equipment near control points that were going to be upgraded. Power had been shut off several weeks prior. The reporter said there were no lights in the bungalow and assumed the power was off on the circuits as well, but did not initiate steps to verify they were off. The Signalman was unaware the circuits were on a separate feed and that they were energized… The third wire to be cut had faulty insulation and touched the breaker panel, which was connected to the ground and created a flash and an arc… To prevent mishaps like this in the future, the reporter said there needs to be an Electrician or other qualified employee to perform electrical work. The Signalman also recommended improved communication among the crafts as well as implementing a proper Lock Out/Tag Out procedure.

Transportation Close Call Event

Protecting a shove at restricted speed as a train approached a blind curve, a Conductor discusses why communication and situational awareness are so important.

The Train departed Station X on time. We were shoving with the Dispatcher’s permission on a routine move to Station Y. We received a restricting indication at the Interlocking, which was a blind curve. After making the curve, I observed two track workers sitting in the gauge working on a metal box. I blew the proper whistle warning and the workers immediately jumped out of the gauge…

C³RS Expert Analyst’s Callback Summary:

… The Conductor was in the rear control car and was in control of the shoving move. The crew was in the process of shoving their train one mile so they could pull into the other station… The reporter suspected the workers were contractors who were stealing foul time as they had no authority to occupy the track as the train had a restricting signal… The reporter concluded by saying there was no Foreman present to obtain Track Authority for the workers.

Mechanical Close Call Event

Communication and job safety briefings are critical to railroad safety. Here is a report from a Machinist highlighting an instance where neither were properly applied in a blue flag protection situation.

Blue lights were removed by a Laborer from the end of the track and train before an onboard brake test was completed. Lack of communication to the Electricians on the other end of the train in the cab car left them unprotected by blue lights. It was discussed about, what and why it happened afterward.

C³RS Expert Analyst’s Callback Summary:

The reporter, a Machinist, conveyed the Laborer was the employee that called in Blue Light Protection. While sitting in the engine the reporter observed the Laborer remove the blue light, which left the Electrician unprotected… The reporter cited a lack of communication as the contributing factor to the event. In the future, better communication by everyone in the group will help prevent incidents like this from happening again.

Dispatcher Close Call Event

A Dispatcher shares a deviation from track blocking procedures that could have resulted in a serious incident.

… Foreign Carrier’s Train arrived in the Station after midnight with an extra electric engine that had to be removed and brought to the Foreign Carrier’s Yard. I gave the appropriate signals for the light engine to proceed west and switch blocked the route. I realized after the light engine had already made its way to the Yard, I had the switch blocked as necessary. I did not apply a track block to prevent the Foreign Carrier’s Train from coming in on top of the light engine. That being said, no signal was given on top of the light engine and no incident occurred.

C³RS Expert Analyst’s Callback Summary:

The reporter, a Dispatcher, stated that the move being made with the train was routine. However, in this particular instance the Dispatcher was distracted due to working from a different location than normal. The reporter explained that periodically, the Dispatchers are required to work from a different location so that the usual dispatching office can be disinfected for COVID-19. Therefore, there was an unusual amount of noise and activity, which is a distraction.

To search close call events that are submitted to C³RS, visit the C³RS website Online Resources page and click on Confidential Close Call Reporting System Online Database. https://c3rs.arc.nasa.gov /resources.html

Did You Know?

If you submit a C³RS report, a NASA C³RS Expert Analyst may call you if you do not include enough information or to better understand the safety issues you are sharing. It is very important that you return our call within three days so that your identification (ID) strip (sent by the U.S. Mail) can be returned to you quickly.

The more information you include in your report, the faster the ID strip can be returned to you!

Report Intake By Craft

January through December 2021

Transportation – 2,824

Engineering – 108

Mechanical – 72

Monthly Report Intake

Previous 3 Months

October – 287

November – 301

December – 261

Inside The Rail – Issue 15

Download PDF and Print

Online Resources

Visit c 3 rs.arc.nasa.gov for a detailed overview of C³RS, instructions on how to submit C³RS reports, report forms and a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

See the FRA C ³ RS web page for more information and access to the IMOU agreements of the participating railroad carriers and unions.

NP-2022-01-XX-ARC

NASA Confidential Close Call Reporting System | c3rs.arc.nasa.gov

Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News

Governor Murphy Signs the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act

January 11, 2022 By Scott Spratt

01/10/2022

TRENTON – Governor Murphy today signed the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act (S4701) to create new tools for protecting transit workers throughout the state. In addition to upgrading the penalty for all assaults on a motorbus or autobus operator, an operator’s supervisor, or a rail passenger employee, the bill enables NJ TRANSIT and other carriers to suspend or prohibit from ridership individuals who commit assaults against employees and ensures NJ TRANSIT and private bus companies equip all buses and trains with communications systems to quickly contact law enforcement in an emergency.

“I cannot overstate the value of the hardworking people who ensure the safe, efficient operations of our mass transit system,” said Governor Murphy. “It is critical that we protect New Jersey’s frontline transportation workers who provide vital services to commuters across our state. These essential safeguards will promote better environments for passengers and employees.”

Primary sponsors of S4701 include Senators Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. and Robert Singer, and Assembly Members Daniel R. Benson, Yvonne Lopez, and Harold J. Wirths.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that deadly viruses can spread easily and quickly on mass transit because of the limited distance between passengers. However, as NJ public train and bus operators work to continue to give riders a safe experience, they, themselves find their health at risk with unruly passengers,” said Senator Diegnan. “Signing this legislation will take steps to ensure that NJ TRANSIT operators are physically protected from harm and exposure at the hands of unruly passengers.”

“There have been too many instances where bus and train operators have been assaulted by unruly passengers,” said Senator Robert Singer. “These violent attacks put the lives of the operator and every other passenger at risk. This new law will significantly increase the penalties for these dangerous assaults and help make our transportation systems safer.”

“Transportation workers are far too often subjected to vicious attacks by irate passengers for simply doing their jobs,” said Assemblyman Benson. “This new law will work towards preventing that violence while making it clear these attacks unacceptable. Our bus and rail employees must be protected as they fulfill their critical duties on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of commuters in our state.”

“The hard-working employees on our trains and buses are invaluable to New Jersey’s transportation system and deserve our respect,” said Assemblywoman Lopez. “It is unacceptable that so many of these employees fear for their safety due to the frequency of violent attacks, which have only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must put safeguards in place to enable a safer working environment going forward.”

“Since the pandemic, mass transit employees have put their lives on the line while being asked to do more than ever before. We need to do a better job of protecting our front-line mass transit workers while sending a strong message to passengers that assaults will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Assemblyman Hal Wirths. “Upgrading fines and implementing additional safety measures will go a long way toward ensuring a smoother ride for employees and law-abiding passengers alike.”

S4701 requires NJ TRANSIT and motorbus companies to coordinate with law enforcement and transit police to help protect bus operators and rail employees on potentially problematic routes. The bill also requires NJ TRANSIT and motorbus companies to establish an employee assistance program for bus operators and rail employees that have been assaulted and to provide periodic de-escalation to bus operators and rail employees and to make such training available to other transportation operators in the state in order to develop best practices.

“Governor Murphy’s commitment to transportation workers has been highly visible throughout his administration,” said Jerome Johnson, General President and Chairman of SMART-TD Local 60. “I am proud to support legislation that protects the safety and well-being of the hard-working men and women who make our state run.”

“The Amalgamated Transit Union commends Governor Murphy’s unwavering support for our transit workers who are frontline heroes, tasked with the essential job of keeping our state moving. Today’s signing of the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act calls for increased penalties on those who attack transit workers, and will provide critical mental health assistance and support to victims of an attack,” said Ray Greaves, ATU International Vice President. “This is undoubtedly meaningful legislation that will better protect our members and those who ride mass transit. Our thanks and appreciation to Governor Murphy for today’s signing and to all those who worked so hard to make this happen.”

“At NJ TRANSIT, the safety of our employees is of paramount importance and we are pleased that Governor Murphy is signing this important bill into law,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “This legislation is critical to ensuring our frontline employees, many of whom I ride with on my daily commute, are protected while delivering the essential transit services our customers depend on every day.”

“In New Jersey, assaults on NJ Transit workers have increased and become more violent with passengers refusing to follow the federal mask mandate on public transit,” said ATU Chairman, Orlando Riley. Our members are the subject of that abuse, which not only endangers them, but the passengers they’re responsible for. We thank Governor Murphy for recognizing the importance of this legislation to protect our members and the leadership of Assemblyman Daniel Benson, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, and Assemblyman Harold Wirths in getting this bill to the finish line.”

Office of the Governor | Governor Murphy Signs the Motorbus and Passenger Rail Service Employee Violence Prevention Act (nj.gov)

Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News

Infrastructure Actions

October 13, 2021 By Scott Spratt

This month is critical for infrastructure. Congress continues to debate the size and scope of the reconciliation bill and are aiming to pass the infrastructure package (reconciliation and the bipartisan bill) by the end of October. There is intense debate over the size of the reconciliation bill and it will likely be cut down significantly from $3.5 trillion to somewhere in the ballpark of $2 trillion. This means our priorities could be on the chopping block. We can’t let this happen.

We want to keep the pressure up on every member of Congress to pass both bills and make sure they include SMART priorities. The AFL-CIO is asking every state federation and central labor council to meet with every member of Congress over the next week to share this message—pass both bills with all of labor’s priorities.

SMART Army request: We are asking the SMART Army to take the same action as the AFL-CIO. Over the next week, meet with every member of Congress in your area. Ask them to pass both bills and include SMART priorities.

SMART’s four primary asks for infrastructure:

Apply strong labor standards to any infrastructure project receiving federal support.
Provide at least $100 billion for school construction.
Include PRO Act provisions.
Strengthen rail and transit safety provisions (such as those incorporated into the House’s INVEST Act).

SMART’s overall message:

Our position has been and continues to be—we need both bills as quickly as possible!
Both bills have important priorities for SMART and we want to see both passed and all of our priorities included.
We want to continue to leave the negotiation of how this is sequenced and gets done to the party but want to make sure we let members of Congress know that we want both bills and that we want our priorities included.

It is critical that all SMART locals stick to this message. We are stronger speaking with a unified message.

Links and attached Materials:

Spreadsheet of targets: The spreadsheet of all members of Congress is here. You can use the spreadsheet to find where members stand on our priorities and if they serve on key committees.
Key MOC messages document: This word document is a “cheat sheet” so you can tailor the message based on the position of the member and what they’ve done on our priorities to date.
Toolkit: The toolkit provides an overview of infrastructure, a link to an action alert, text link, sample social media posts, sample letters to the editor and a script for member videos.
Telephone TPs: This document provides an overview of our top asks and points members can use when calling and/or talking to members at town hall events.
Infrastructure-rail safety talking points: This document provides talking points on rail safety.
Town Hall spreadsheet: This link provides an up-to-date overview of town hall events by state and district.
Breakdown of infrastructure package: This document outlines the provisions of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and reconciliation that benefit SMART members. It is important that we continue to urge Congress to pass both right away because both have critical provisions, and we want all of it!
Biden accomplishments: This podcast breaks down Biden’s first 100 days in office and how it benefits labor. Page 3 and 24-30 in the latest issue of the SMART Journal outline a timeline of Biden’s accomplishments for labor.

Download (DOCX, 17KB)

Download (PDF, 542KB)

Filed Under: Industry Related, Local 60 News

Progress Through Unity

SMART-TD and BLET announce tentative rail agreement

They Are the Backbone of This Nation’s Supply Chain

Tell Congress: Listen to Rail Workers

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