Retired General Chairperson Al Nowlin passes away

Charles “Al” Nowlin, a stalwart supporter of the union through and through and a multiple-term general chairperson for GO-569, passed away unexpectedly April 24. He was 68 years old. “Al was a true brother to all of us. He was steadfastly dedicated to our cause and that of the labor movement in general,” SMART Transportation…


April 26th 2023
REEF Act to prevent rail jobless benefit cuts reintroduced

Under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and a subsequent sequestration order to implement mandated cuts, Railroad Retirement Board-administered unemployment and sickness insurance benefits were reduced by a set percentage that is subject to revision at the beginning of each fiscal year. In December 2020, in an effort to minimize the effects the COVID-19 pandemic…


April 24th 2023
Michigan Legislature takes up rail safety

State Senate has rail safety bills regarding two-person crews and train length before it Michigan State Legislative Director Donald Roach served as a primary source as The Detroit News published articles this week (subscription required to read) centering on two pieces of rail safety legislation in the state Legislature. Donald Roach After reviewing the circumstance…


April 21st 2023
A note to all SMART VLTD enrollees

Dear Member, As a SMART-TD Member enrolled in the Voluntary Long Term Disability (VLTD) Plan, you received communication in February regarding updates to the VLTD Plan and the decision by SMART-TD to transition from Amalgamated Life Insurance Company to Sun Life Financial, effective March 1, 2023. This decision helps ensure the sustained success of the…


April 11th 2023
Colo. mobile billboard campaign puts PSR in CEO’s face

Lance Fritz, president and chief executive officer of the Union Pacific Railroad, is on his way out the door after announcing in late February that he will vacate his office by the end of 2023. Though there is no publicly announced date for his departure, his hand is on the ripcord and he’s preparing to…