Progress Through Unity

Transit Members: Ask Your Rep. to Cosponsor H.R. 1139 /// Rail Members: Action Needed in CO and WA

Bus and Transit Members: Good news, H.R. 1139, the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act, now has 65 co-sponsors. But we need more to show that this bill has widespread support.  If you have not already done so, click on the link below to send a message to your member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 1139. Click Here to Send Cosponsor Message to your U.S. Representative Once you click on the link, click on the “take action” button and enter your street address. You will find a sample message to send to your Representative. You can either send that message, or tailor to your specific style.

Rail Members and Retirees: As fully expected, the Railroads are doing a full court press in every state capitol where we have two-person crew legislation introduced. They are good at stopping bills – that is why their paid lawyer/lobbyists are some of the best around. But while they have the suits, we have the numbers. And in Colorado and Washington, we need your help right now. In Colorado, the two-person crew legislation has been sent to Governor Polis. He has 10 days to take action – if no action taken, the bill becomes law with no signature. If you are a Colorado resident and have not yet sent a message asking Governor Polis to sign HB 1039 into law, please do so right now. Send a Message to Governor Polis Asking Him to Sign HB 1039 Members and retirees in the other 49 states, if you have friends or family in Colorado, send them the above link and ask them to send a message to their governor. Every contact can be a difference maker. In the state of Washington, two-person crew legislation was passed out of committee (introduced as HB 1841, Safe Train Crew Size), and now proceeds to the House floor. The railroads are in full force to try stop the vote. If you are a Washington state member or retiree (or if you have family that live in Washington), click on the link below to find out how to contact your state representative. Contact Your Washington State Representative to Vote Yes on HB 1841 And there are even more efforts around the country. Hearings were recently held in several states, including Nebraska, Georgia, Illinois and Oregon, with many more upcoming. Look to your emails for continued state updates.
In solidarity,

John Risch
National Legislative Director
SMART Transportation Division

GC Report March 2019

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Press conference in Newark Penn Station

Dear Coalition Partners,

The ATU NJ State Council and US Senator Robert Menendez will be holding a joint press conference on Monday at Newark Penn Station to push for Federal Legislation to increase protections for transit workers and pedestrians.You are invited to join us at Newark Penn Station on Monday at 11:30am.


Menendez Pushes Legislation to Improve Pedestrian Safety, Protect Bus Operators from Assault 

Sen. Menendez recently introduced the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Reps. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32) and John Katko (R-NY-24). The bipartisan legislation provides $125 million over five years to make critical safety upgrades to reduce the risks of pedestrian strikes and attacks on bus and rail operators. 

The Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act gives transit agencies two years to develop Bus Operations Safety Risk Reduction Programs in partnership with their transit workforce, and with oversight from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).  Specifically: 

It also gives transit agencies two years to develop Rail Operations Worker Assault Risk Reduction Programs.

The Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act would also require transit agencies to report all assaults on transit workers to the USDOT’s National Transit Database (NTD).  

Funding provided through the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act could be used to advance those and other efforts developed partnership with NJ TRANSIT and its employees.

 The legislation is supported by the ATU, Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART), AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department, and Teamsters.

Atlantic City and Dinky Restoration

Atlantic City and Princeton Dinky service is scheduled to resume on May 24th 2019, we will supply updates as information as it becomes available.

Contact your representatives our protections are in jeopardy & attend hearing planned for 02/14/19

Please attend a hearing at the Statehouse anex Committee room 11, 4th floor at 10:00am, on Thursday February 14th. SMART-TD NJ State Legislative representative will be there and is requesting available members attend to show our support for this legislation.

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
Please use the link to find your representatives and copy & paste to send the message below
“I am writing today on an important development affecting employees of NJ Transit, the recent ruling by the Third Circuit Court, on New Jersey’s claim of sovereign immunity.
Employees of New Jersey Transit are not covered by many State laws protecting employees and providing employees with certain rights, including workers’ compensation and “whistleblower laws.” Federal laws exist to provide certain protections and rights to us. Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. s.151 et seq.), the Federal Employers Liability Act (45 U.S.C. s.51 et seq.), the Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. s.231 et seq.), the Railroad Retirement Tax Act (26 U.S.C. s.3201 et seq.), the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (45 U.S.C. s.351 et seq.), the Federal railroad safety laws (49 U.S.C. s.20101 et seq.), whistleblower laws, discrimination laws, and the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. s.10501 et seq.).
My SMART-TD NJ State Legislative Representative recently worked with NJ Assemblyman Dan Benson and introduced legislation (No. A4689 & S3164) that would waive those claims your support on this bill is imperative to NJ Transit employees who currently are not protected.”

Election Results


General Chairman

  • Steve Burkert 142
  • Jerome Johnson 556*

Delegate

  • Steve Burkert 119
  • Dave Rasmussen 413*
  • Greg Taylor 168

LCA-A

VLC

  • Roberto Milan 151*
  • Glen Johnson 49

LCA-B

LC

  • Rashonda Brown 185 *
  • Joe Strano 143

VLC

  • Chris Dunn 140
  • Otheo Muse 184 *

LCA-C

LC

  • Matt Foran 72
  • Greg Roberts 95*

VLC

  • Wayne Alleyne 97*
  • Mustimir Hagler 70

Secretary

  • Joe Morgan 95*
  • Ryan Mitchell 71

Ballot information

  Sent Received
LCA-A 391 210
LCA-B 506 347
LCA-C 266 179

Employee Message From Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer Christine Baker Regarding the Whistleblower Access & Assistance Program January 31, 2019

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Services for Brother Emmet Smart

Visitation:  

Sunday, February 3, 2019 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Gleason Funeral Home

1360 Hamilton Street

Somerset NJ 08873

 

 

Visitation/Funeral:

Monday, February 4, 2019 

Visitation from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Funeral Service at 11:00AM

EPIC Church International

2707 Main Street Extension

Sayreville, NJ 08872

 

 

Interment – Pittsburgh PA

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 

The Homewood Cemetery

1599 S. Dallas Ave

Pittsburgh, PA 15217

(Visitation 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and Service at 1:00PM in the Chapel)

Payroll Newsletter 2019

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W2 Label Explanation

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