VSTD NOTICE: ELIMINATION PERIOD WAIVED FOR COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) DISABILITIES

April 15, 2020 As Trustees of the SMART Voluntary Short Term Disability Plan, we have a responsibility to manage your Plan with care and prudence. We are always concerned with maximizing the benefit of the program for you, particularly in your time of need. We believe this has been accomplished over the years through favorable…


April 15th 2020
S&Ts: IRS extends deadlines for form submissions because of pandemic

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced extended deadlines for the filing of certain forms related to union business in a notice recently sent to non-profit organizations. The Form 990 deadline, normally due on May 15th has been extended to July 15th, 2020. However, IRS updates to tax-exempt searches have been…


April 14th 2020
OSHA establishes plan to keep workers safe from COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced an interim enforcement response plan for the coronavirus pandemic. The response plan provides instructions and guidance to OSHA area offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling coronavirus-related complaints, referrals and severe illness reports. During the coronavirus outbreak, OSHA…


Vice General Chairperson to NS CEO: Protect your train operators

The CEO of Norfolk Southern, James A. Squires, recently asked employees for feedback concerning the carrier’s responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. SMART Transportation Division has been gathering reports about how carriers are complying during the outbreak of coronavirus. As one of those employees deemed “essential,” SMART-TD Vice General Chairperson Robert M. Levkulich (GCA-898) sent the…


April 13th 2020
SMART-TD, ATU and TWU send joint letter to congressional leaders stating transit worker priorities

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker U.S. House of Representatives H-232, The Capitol Washington, DC 20515   The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives H-204, The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate The Capitol, S-230 Washington, DC 20510   The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader U.S. Senate…


April 10th 2020