Local 556 loses member to alleged drunken driver

William “Bill” Laver SMART Local 556 (Tacoma, Wash.) recognized a moment of silence for their fallen brother this week. BNSF Brakeman William “Bill” Laver, 51, of Grapeview, Wash., had his life of dedicated service cut short Friday, Sept. 16 by an alleged drunken driver while he was on his way to work. Laver had answered…


September 22nd 2022
Two-person crew rule’s comment period receives extension

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced Sept. 22 that the public comment period for the two-person crew size Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) has been extended. Stakeholders now have an additional 60 days to show their support for the minimum crew size of two in the cab of trains nationwide. The previous deadline was Sept….


Registration open for Branson, Mo., TD Regional Training Seminar

SMART Transportation Division has announced a Regional Training Seminar (RTS) to take place Nov. 14 through 17, 2022, at the Hilton Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri. This event is an exciting opportunity for local leadership and members to engage one on one with union experts to help fulfill the need for local training closer…


September 20th 2022
Local 1846 loses member in accident, fundraiser established

Local 1846 in West Colton, Calif., tragically lost a brother on Sept. 8, and a fundraiser has been established to help his family in this inexplicably difficult time.  Zachery Lara Conductor Zachery “Zach” Lara, 25, and his engineer Steven Brown were in helper service assisting a train up a grade. When they made a reverse…


SMART-TD statement on the tentative agreement (Sept. 16, 2022)

To TD members covered by national handling: Since the announcement of the tentative agreement (TA) yesterday morning, a number of posts purporting to reveal the finalized contents or finalized components of the TA have spread rapidly and are being presented as factual. They are not. Anyone who states that they have seen a final copy…


September 16th 2022