SMART TD mourns loss of Brother John Hines: African American trailblazer in rail labor & industry

Hines John Henry Hines Jr., 69, died Feb. 4 at a local rehabilitation facility after battling ill health for the past couple of years. Hines hired out as a conductor/brakeman in 1969 with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (now CSX) at the Hermitage and Brown St. yards in Richmond, Va. After those yards closed, he…


February 13th 2017
SMART Union Celebrates Black History Month

As we celebrate Black History Month in February 2017, read about the groundbreaking inventions from African-American inventors that had a major impact across all American labor sectors, including the transportation industry: Andrew Jackson Beard, born a slave in Alabama, became a railroad employee and invented the Jenny coupler in 1897 after losing a leg using the…


Memorial services set for John P. Schneider

Schneider John P. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train while working near the Wallula train yard in Walla Walla County, Wash., Jan. 31. Schneider had been a member of Local 1505 in Spokane, Wash., since 2004. He loved to read, was a survivalist enthusiast and a…


February 10th 2017
Go Fund Me account set up for fallen Brother, John Schneider

Friends of fallen Brother, John P. Schneider, recently set up a Go Fund Me account that is accepting donations in support of Brother Schneider’s family. Click here to donate. Schneider, 54, of Spokane Valley, Wash., was hit and killed by a Union Pacific train on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The accident occurred near the Wallula train yard in Walla…


February 7th 2017
SMART TD announces Treasurer’s Workshop for April 2017

SMART Transportation Division will be conducting a Treasurer’s Workshop at the SMART TD Headquarters located in North Olmsted, Ohio, April 25-27, 2017. Attendance will be limited to 35 registrants. Attendees will be accepted on a first-come basis. Those interested in attending are instructed to contact Alyssa Patchin by calling (216) 228-9400, or by email at apatchin@smart-union.org as soon as possible…


February 6th 2017