Across much of the Midwest and Eastern part of the country, wildfire smoke is creating dangerous air quality conditions that are affecting millions of people. For SMART-TD members working on locomotives, in yards, on the ground, or anywhere outdoors, this isn’t just another weather event. It’s a workplace hazard.

Wildfire Smoke Is More Than an Inconvenience

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has warned employers that wildfire smoke can present serious health risks for outdoor workers and has urged employers to have plans in place to protect employees when air quality deteriorates.

OSHA recommends monitoring air quality through the EPA’s AirNow system, reducing strenuous work when conditions worsen, providing breaks in cleaner air whenever possible, and allowing the voluntary use of appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators when needed. Those aren’t suggestions to be ignored. They are recognized safety practices designed to keep all American workers healthy.

Railroaders know the job doesn’t stop just because the sky turns hazy. Freight still moves. Passenger trains still operate. Customers still expect service. But no train, no terminal, and no operating plan is more important than your health.

Know the Warning Signs

Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, eye irritation, headaches, unusual fatigue, and difficulty breathing. For members with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions, the risks can be even greater.

Protect Yourself and Keep Your Union Informed

If you begin experiencing symptoms that affect your ability to safely perform your job, notify your supervisor immediately. If conditions continue to worsen or you have trouble breathing, move to cleaner air as soon as it is safe to do so and seek medical attention if necessary. Your health is not something to gamble with.

Just as importantly, let your union know.

SMART-TD cannot challenge unsafe practices that we never hear about. If your railroad requires our brothers and sisters to work in hazardous smoke without providing guidance or reasonable protective measures, we need to know. If you are instructed to continue working despite symptoms or unsafe conditions, document what happened and report it.

When reporting wildfire smoke concerns, keep a record of:

• The date, time, and location.
• The Air Quality Index (AQI) for your work area.
• Any symptoms you experienced.
• Who you notified.
• Any instructions you were given by management.

It is not hard to get the AQI for your work area. Just put in the zip code into the search field of this OSHA provided website.

That information can make all the difference if we need to pursue the issue with your carrier or with federal regulators. We are not the canary in the mineshaft. We can’t let ourselves and our coworkers be treated like we are.

SMART-TD Calls For Accountability

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this situation has happened. In the Summer of 2023, massive wildfires in Canada created many of the same concerns. Following the situation in 2023, OSHA instructed employers to come up with mitigation plans for moments exactly like what is happening today.

SMART-TD is also encouraging our State Legislative Directors and Legislative Representatives of our Locals to request each railroad’s guidance for operating during wildfire smoke events. This is a good opportunity to make sure they followed OSHA’s mandate for one thing, but it also puts the railroads and local managers on notice that we have no intention of allowing them to push our brothers and sisters beyond federal regulations under our current air safety conditions.

Railroaders deserve to know what standards their carrier is following before they are placed in hazardous conditions, not after.

Remember, federal law protects railroad employees who report workplace safety concerns or work-related illnesses in good faith. No employee should face retaliation for raising legitimate health and safety issues. If you believe you are receiving pushback for reporting hazardous conditions or protecting your health, contact your Local Safety and Legislative Representative, or a SMART-TD representative. OSHA is not only the federal agency protecting workers from the known dangers of working in smoke and smog, but, it is also the same agency that handles Whistleblower cases.

You Have the Right to Speak Up

As railroaders, we take pride in getting the job done. That’s part of who we are. But professionalism does not mean ignoring hazards that threaten your health.

Pay attention to changing air quality conditions. Watch for symptoms. Speak up when something isn’t right. Keep your union informed.

Most importantly, remember this: there will always be another train to move. We don’t want anyone risking their health and well-being to prove a point, or to make a manager look good on tomorrow’s conference call.

The post Wildfire Smoke Is a Workplace Hazard. Don’t Ignore It. appeared first on SMART Union.

Every day, SMART-TD’s bus and passenger rail members interact with thousands of people. That puts them in a unique position to notice when something isn’t right and, in some cases, help protect someone who may be in danger.

Yesterday (July 8, 2026), the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released updated resources reminding transit employees how to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking and where to report suspected cases. While these materials were developed with busy summer travel and major public events in mind, the information is valuable at any time of year.

SMART-TD is making these resources available to our members within 24 hours of receiving them, because knowledge is one of the most effective safety tools we have. No one expects transit professionals to investigate suspected trafficking, but knowing the warning signs and the proper way to report concerns can help law enforcement intervene while keeping employees and the riding public safe.

One additional sign worth knowing is the internationally recognized “Signal for Help.” If someone folds their thumb into the palm of their hand and then closes their four fingers over it, they may be silently asking for help in a situation where they cannot safely speak. While this gesture is most commonly associated with domestic violence and is not specific to human trafficking, it should be treated as another possible indicator that someone needs assistance. As with any concern, members should follow their employer’s procedures and notify the appropriate authorities rather than attempting to intervene on their own.

We encourage our bus and passenger rail members to take a few minutes to review the FTA’s guidance and share it with their coworkers. Awareness is often the first step toward protecting those who are most vulnerable.

The FTA’s announcement and resource links are provided below.

Prepare for Summer Events with Human-Trafficking Prevention Resources for Transit

As summer brings increased tourism, major sporting events, festivals, concerts and other activities to your area, you can help prepare for the crowds and reinforce community safety by knowing the signs of human trafficking as you prepare for summer events. 

Recognize the Signs

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has shared a list of human trafficking indicators to help transportation employees stay vigilant. While no single indicator can confirm a human trafficking situation, several combined indicators may increase the likelihood that a person is actively being targeted, recruited, or exploited. Signs may include an individual who is: 

• Not in control of their own money, passes, or phone
• Controlled by or unusually submissive to their travel companion 
• Not allowed to speak for themselves 
• Unaware of their route or location 

Consider sharing the complete list with colleagues to help them know what to look for, as transit workers can serve as a community’s eyes and ears.

Resources

FTA and USDOT have several resources available to help transit industry personnel identify, report, and prevent human trafficking: 

• Transit industry resources to counter human trafficking: These resources from USDOT include a 20-minute training and downloadable awareness materials to help transit workers and riders identify and report suspected instances of human trafficking. 
• FTA Major Event Playbook: FTA’s playbook is a practical guide with key considerations to help transit agencies navigate federal transit requirements related to hosting major events. It also includes a section on combatting human trafficking. 
• FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative web page: FTA’s web page links to resources such as past webinars featuring transit organizations’ approaches to identifying and preventing human trafficking. 
• How to Report Suspected Human Trafficking: This USDOT web page provides information on where to report suspected trafficking, such as to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and best practices for providing a detailed tip to authorities. 

Together, the transit industry can play a critical role in identifying, reporting and preventing this crime. 

Links:
Indicators of Human Trafficking
FTA Major Event Playbook
USDOT Counter Human Trafficking Resources
FTA’s Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative
National Human Trafficking Hotline

The post FTA Shares Resources to Help Recognize Human Trafficking appeared first on SMART Union.

For years, SMART-TD has sounded the alarm about the growing epidemic of violence on transit systems across the country, a problem that’s showing few signs of slowing down. Since our union took on this mission, we have succeeded in changing Federal Transit Administration (FTA) policy, gotten bulletproof barriers installed in some regions, and have been a driving force behind numerous state laws designed to curb transit violence.

Doubling down on our union’s commitment to protecting the safety of not only our bus and passenger rail members but also the riding public, a specialized training at the upcoming Baltimore Regional Training Seminar (RTS) will focus on tackling this problem head on, including what to do if a violent situation arises.  

Learn Strategies for Dealing with Unruly Passengers, Tense Situations 

Last presented at the Anaheim Regional Training Seminar in September of 2025, the goal of SMART-TD’s Assault Prevention Training is to help our bus operators and passenger rail workers learn strategies for dealing with unruly or abusive passengers and diffuse situations before they escalate.

Specifically, the training covers… 

• Handling difficult interactions  
• Effective strategies for deescalating tense situations  
• Protocols to ensure employee and passenger safety 
• Best practices for calm, controlled responses 

Led by leadership from SMART-TD’s Bus & Transit Assault Prevention & Safety (BTAPS) Committee, attendees will discuss what constitutes unruly behavior, building rapport with passengers early on, and what to do if a violent incident occurs, including how to document it and report it to the BTAPS Committee.

Please note that this training is primarily geared towards SMART-TD’s bus and passenger rail members.

Specific information, including the tentative day and time for the training, can be found on the Meetings page via the SMART Union mobile app. 

Don’t Forget to Register for the Baltimore RTS Today!

If you plan on attending the Baltimore RTS later this summer, you’re encouraged to book your room and register NOW while there’s still availability.

As a reminder, the training begins with your arrival on Monday, August 31, 2026, with an evening Welcome Reception at 6:00 pm in the B&O Railroad Museum.

Registration closes on August 17, 2026, and there will be no onsite registration available. Late registration is subject to an additional $50 late fee.

Register for the Baltimore RTS ►    
Book Your Hotel Reservation ►

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations.

We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore as we work towards ensuring safer buses and trains nationwide!  

The post Transit Assault Prevention Training Coming to Baltimore RTS  appeared first on SMART Union.

Colorado is facing a devastating wildfire emergency as dangerous conditions continue across the state. Multiple fast-moving fires have forced evacuations, destroyed homes and properties, and left countless families facing uncertainty. With hot temperatures, low humidity, and Red Flag Warnings continuing across much of Colorado, firefighters and first responders remain engaged in an around-the-clock effort to protect lives and communities.

Unfortunately, this disaster has hit close to home for our union family.

SMART-TD has members living and working in the affected areas, including BNSF members from Local 945 (La Junta, Colo.), Union Pacific members as well as our brothers and sisters from the Colorado & Wyoming Railroad out of Local 204 (Pueblo, Colo.). As these communities continue to battle the fires and begin the difficult road to recovery, we want every affected member to know one thing:

You are not alone.

“Our hearts are with every member and family affected by these devastating wildfires,” said SMART-TD Colorado State Safety and Legislative Director Carl Smith. “We want to be there to help our members during this terrible time. Please reach out and let us know where you are, what your situation is, and what SMART-TD can do to help you and your family. That’s what our union family is here for.”

Assistance is available through the SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund

The SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund exists for moments exactly like this.

If you have suffered damage to your home, have been displaced by evacuations, or your living situation has been affected by the Colorado wildfires, we encourage you to reach out immediately. Our union is committed to helping members and their families through difficult times, and assistance is available for eligible members through the Disaster Relief Fund.

Members seeking assistance should contact the chairperson of his or her General Committee, who will provide the Disaster Relief Fund application and help guide you through the process. If you are unsure who your General Chairperson is, you can find their contact information in the SMART App by selecting your local’s meeting information. Members may also contact their local officers for assistance in reaching the appropriate General Chairperson. Additional information about disaster assistance is available through SMART-TD’s Disaster Relief program.

If you have questions about the Disaster Relief Fund or need help connecting with the appropriate representative, please contact the SMART-TD office at (216) 228-9400.

Help us support our Colorado brothers and sisters

Throughout our history, SMART-TD members have always answered the call when fellow union members face hardship. Whether responding to hurricanes, floods, winter storms, or wildfires, our strength has always been found in our solidarity.

Today, our brothers and sisters in Colorado need that same support.

We are asking members who are able to consider making a donation to the SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund. Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure that we can provide meaningful financial assistance to members and their families as they recover from this disaster.

To help us get assistance directly to members as quickly as possible, please do not designate your donation for the Colorado wildfires or any specific disaster. Simply make your contribution payable to the SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund. Undesignated donations give the union the flexibility to respond immediately, without unnecessary administrative or governmental restrictions that can delay assistance getting to our members. Rest assured that we understand the intent behind these donations and will ensure they are used to help TD members affected by this disaster while preserving our ability to respond quickly whenever and wherever members need us most.

Donations to the SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund can be mailed to:

SMART-TD Disaster Relief Fund
6060 Rockside Woods Blvd., N, Suite 325
Independence, OH 44131

Please call (216) 228-9400 with any questions regarding the Disaster Relief Fund.

The wildfires may test our members, but they will never face these challenges alone. When one member of our union family is hurting, all of us have an opportunity to stand together.

To every member in Colorado affected by these fires: your SMART-TD family is thinking of you, standing beside you, and ready to help however we can.

The post Help Available for Colorado members impacted by devastating wildfires appeared first on SMART Union.

As extreme heat and sweltering temperatures blanket a large portion of the country this week, it’s impossible not to be mindful of the impact that this has on railroad workers and the extreme danger that it poses to our safety and well-being.

That’s why it’s a good time to recap some of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) tips and reminders for staying safe during periods of unavoidable heat exposure.

2025 Hearing Underscored Importance of Heat Safety for Railroaders 

In June of 2025 (and ironically in the midst of another heat wave), OSHA held a hearing on its proposed new rule aimed at preventing heat-related injuries and illnesses.

Testifying at the hearing was SMART-TD’s National Safety & Legislative Director Jared Cassity, who emphasized the importance of increased protections for railroaders.

When speaking about the impact that heat has on workers, Cassity made it clear: railroaders can sometimes fall through the cracks.

“The risk and the effects of heat are just as real for [railroaders] as they are for anyone else,” he pointed out. “The exposures are long, the tests are difficult, and the need for proper planning, assessing, monitoring, communicating and training could not be greater.”

Cassity went on to explain how unexpected breakdowns in remote locations can cause the crew to quickly feel the effects of heat exposure.

“[Conductors] can be forced to walk more than three miles on this difficult terrain just to get to the end of their train,” Cassity emphasized. “This takes energy and time, both of which are extremely problematic when exposed to extreme heat. That means without any repairs, just walking, a worker will be in the heat for more than two hours and limited to the water that he or she can carry.”

These aren’t just assumptions; these are lived experiences that SMART-TD members face every day, putting their health and safety at risk.

The bottom line: the railroad industry needs established guidelines that outline when an employee must take a break or what to do when rest, shade, or hydration isn’t immediately available.

How You Can Stay Safe Working in Extreme Heat

Water, rest, and shade are three of the biggest ways to prevent or limit heat-related illness, but all of these are hard to come by when your work takes you off the locomotive for hours at a time. If you happen to be in a locomotive that doesn’t have working air conditioning, you don’t even get the necessary relief when you do get to the cab.

However, there are some simple things you can do to keep yourself and other rail workers safe… 

• Drink water on a regular basis to stay hydrated…don’t wait until you feel thirsty! 
• Know the signs of common heat-related illnesses in the event you or someone you know starts showing symptoms that progress quickly. 
• Be mindful of your own personal risk factors for working in the heat. Not all workers tolerate high temperatures the same way, especially those with certain medical conditions.  
• If possible, wear light colored clothing to keep your body cool 
• Encourage new hires to take it easy if their first few days fall in the middle of a heat wave. Your body needs time to adjust to high temperatures. 

If your carrier is NOT taking steps to reduce heat-related illnesses or ignoring any concerns that you might have, reach out to your Local Chairperson, Local Legislative Representative, or State Safety & Legislative Director. Everyone deserves the right to always work in a safe environment, regardless of the temperature.

Stay safe during these extreme temperatures and please keep an eye on your brothers and sisters!

The post Incoming Heat Wave Reminds Us to Take Safety Measures on the Rails appeared first on SMART Union.

Railroaders know firsthand the importance of rail safety.

It’s not something that necessarily needs to be taught; it’s simply acquired through lived experience on the rails.

But sometimes, it’s a different story for drivers and the public.

Building Off of 2025’s First-Ever ENS Sign Awareness Day

In June of 2025, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) held the first-ever Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day to draw attention to the potentially life-saving significance of the blue and white signs at railroad crossings for the public.

The day of action was a massive success, bringing together railroads, safety advocates, and other stakeholders to amplify the importance of rail safety education.

With the second annual ENS Sign Awareness Day underway, these small but critical blue and white signs are once again in the spotlight.

No matter where you are, you can participate in one (or several) actions.

Help spread the word: click here to access a digital toolkit that you can use to raise awareness about rail safety and ENS Signs in your community. ►

You can also help Operation Lifesaver by e-mailing your effort to promote their campaign with news@oli.org, or use the hashtags #ENSSignAwarenessDay, #ENS, #ENSSign, #FindTheSign and #StopTrackTragedies on social media.  

What to Do If There’s an Emergency on the Tracks

ENS Signs list a phone number and location details that callers can relay directly to the railroad during an emergency or if they spot a safety concern near the tracks.

If your car gets stuck on a railroad crossing, get out of your vehicle and if a train is not approaching, locate the blue and white ENS sign that’s posted on the traffic signs.

Don’t forget to provide the crossing number that identifies your location so that train traffic can be alerted.

When every second counts, knowing how to locate and use the information on these blue and white signs can be the difference between life and death.  

“Find the Blue and White to Save Your Life”

With over 200,000 railroad crossings in the United States, OLI encourages all Americans to know how to find and use an ENS Sign.

The life you save could be yours.    

The post How You Can Help Encourage Rail Crossing Safety on ENS Sign Awareness Day appeared first on SMART Union.

When SMART-TD first asked railroaders to speak up about the dangers of drones operating around active rail yards and critical railroad infrastructure, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) public comment docket contained just 202 submissions.

Today, that number has climbed to 334 comments — an increase of 132 additional voices weighing in on this important safety issue.

While we cannot say with certainty that every new comment came from a SMART-TD member, a family member, or a supporter of our position, one thing is undeniable: since our membership was activated, public participation on this issue has surged.

That is exactly how grassroots advocacy is supposed to work.

Thank You to All Who Have Helped

SMART-TD’s National Safety and Legislative Department would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the 15 State Safety and Legislative Boards that have already stepped up and launched e-mail and peer-to-peer text message campaigns encouraging members to participate in this effort. We also want to recognize the State Directors and Local Legislative Representatives, and the leadership of the SMART-TD Auxiliary, who have helped spread the word and engage members across the country.

Most importantly, we want to thank every SMART-TD member who took a few minutes out of their day to submit a comment to the FAA.

You are making a difference.

Why Stopping Drones in OUR Workplace Matters

For years, railroaders have warned about the growing use of drones inside active rail yards and around moving trains. SMART-TD members understand better than anyone that rail operations already demand constant awareness, concentration, and communication. Introducing drones into these environments creates distractions, raises security concerns, and introduces unnecessary risks into workplaces that already contain moving equipment, hazardous materials, and critical infrastructure.

The federal government is now considering restrictions on drone operations around transportation facilities because these concerns are real. The fact that regulators are examining this issue at all is proof that railroad workers’ voices matter.

But the comment period is still open, and our work is not finished.

Submit Your Comments by July 6

The quality of our argument is not in question. Railroad workers know what happens in rail yards every day. We know the hazards. We know the risks. We know the difference between safe operations and unnecessary distractions.

The question now is simple:

How much volume will our voice bring to this conversation?

Every additional comment helps demonstrate that these concerns are not isolated complaints or whining. They are shared by railroad workers across the country who understand what is at stake when drones become normalized around active railroad operations.

If you have been thinking about submitting a comment, now is the time.

This Only Takes a Few Minutes

As we explained in our original article, your comment does not need to be long, complicated, or written like a legal brief.

Simply tell the FAA:

• Your craft and years of experience on the rail.
• Why active rail yards are dangerous enough without drones operating overhead.
• Why drone surveillance for operational testing creates unnecessary distractions and hazards.
• Why critical infrastructure deserves stronger protections.
• Why railroad workers shouldn’t have to guess whether the drone above their chlorine cars is a terrorism threat or a standard O-Test.

Tell them your truth.

The most powerful comments are often the simplest ones.

If you have witnessed unsafe drone operations, explain what you saw. If you have concerns about security, distractions, hazardous materials, or worker safety, share them. The FAA needs to hear directly from the people who work these yards every day.

Join the Campaign

If your State Safety and Legislative Board, Local Representative, Legislative Representative, or local organization would like to join this nationwide effort, please contact the SMART-TD National Safety and Legislative Department at dbanks@smart-union.org, and we will help put out a call to action in your local, state, or region.

There is still time to make your voice heard.

Together, we opened the door. Together, we can make sure the FAA hears from the people who know rail safety best.

Submit Your Comment to the FAA

Federal Register : Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility

Thank you again to every State Safety and Legislative Board, every Director, every Local Legislative Representative, and every member who has already taken action.

Let’s keep the momentum going and finish the job.

The post Your Voice Is Having an Impact on Rail Safety appeared first on SMART Union.

A serious injury involving a SMART-TD member at CSX’s Selkirk Yard has once again exposed what our union has been warning about for years: rushing employees into unfamiliar territory without proper training is a recipe for disaster. The conductor involved in the incident had recently transferred from Collinwood Yard in Cleveland, Ohio, raising serious questions about whether 10 days is enough time to qualify on a facility reportedly covering 1,250 acres.

Our union repeatedly warned CSX that cutting corners on qualification and training would eventually get someone hurt. Following the incident that left our brother severely injured, New York State Safety and Legislative Director Luke Deleskiewicz delivered a pointed message to CSX leadership: this outcome was foreseeable, the warnings were given, and management chose to ignore them.

We strongly encourage every member of the SMART-TD union to read Brother Deleskiewicz’s letter to Doug Ryhorchuck, the Senior VP of Operations at CSX, below.  

The post A Preventable Injury and a Predictable Outcome appeared first on SMART Union.

It’s seemingly a tale of two transit systems.

Over the past year, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), which employs many SMART-TD members, has made the news regularly for different reasons.

But it was two recent headlines within the span of a week that left us wondering whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times for transit in the Queen City.

Everything’s Great…Or Is It?

On June 1, 2026, Mass Transit published a story with the headline “CATS seeing drop in crime across transit system.” The article touted several statistics provided by CATS that compared Q1 2026 statistics with the same period in 2025.

Three items immediately stood out…

• 67% reduction in overall bus operator and passenger assaults.
• Zero major assaults (requiring medical response) recorded for operators or passengers.
• Zero passenger-on-passenger assaults in Q1 2026, down from three in 2025.

Now let’s compare that with another story published by The Charlotte Observer exactly one week later with the headline “Charlotte bus drivers face dangerous work. 6 things we learned as we dug in.”

The reporter is clear from the beginning: the CATS light rail system isn’t any more dangerous than others like it across the country.

But when it comes to the bus system and bus operators, it’s an entirely different story.

Citing data from the Federal Transit Administration, several key points highlighted include…

• CATS bus operators are assaulted more often than the average nationwide, tallying roughly 77 verbal and physical assaults per every 10 million passenger trips.
• Compared to CATS light rail, CATS buses see more issues.
• Limited accountability for assailants and justice for operators who are attacked.
• Former CATS bus operators spoke to the Observer, citing a work environment that keeps them on high alert and constantly wondering whether they’ll be assaulted that day.

These conflicting narratives paint two very different pictures of a heavily used transit system in a major U.S. city.

Reading Between the Headlines: Both Things Can Be True

So, the question remains: which is it?

The answer is surprisingly simple: both things can be true.

It’s entirely possible that CATS is seeing improvement in some reported categories, like major assaults requiring medical response. That’s a good thing!

But at the same time, frontline operators are still facing serious safety issues, including threats, harassment, lower-level physical altercations, and incidents that may go unreported entirely.

“We’re glad to see that CATS is taking steps in a positive direction, but we’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us,” said SMART-TD’s Senior Bus Vice President Alvy Hughes, a former CATS employee and longtime member of Local 1596 (Charlotte, N.C.). “SMART-TD has stood firm on this issue: all transit employees deserve to work in a safe environment that minimizes the threat of assaults. Full stop.”

The Real Story: Fighting for Transit Safety Nationwide

Increased transit safety is obviously not something that can happen overnight or without action from multiple stakeholders, including SMART-TD’s Bus & Transit Assault Prevention & Safety (BTAPS) Committee.

As a reminder, if you’ve been threatened, harassed, or assaulted on the job, it is crucial to report the incident using our confidential Workplace Assault Reporting Form.

These reports help BTAPS and SMART-TD lobby for stronger protections to prevent assaults, tougher penalties for attackers, and greater support for victims.

The form is on the SMART-TD website. To find it, navigate to Get Involved>Report a Worksite Issue, then look for the red “Workplace Assault Report” button ►

Your voice matters and most importantly, your safety matters.

Together with our BTAPS Committee and transit safety advocates nationwide, we’ll continue fighting to make progress on this critical issue.

The post Conflicting Headlines Underscore Transit Safety Issues appeared first on SMART Union.

From Maverick to Farquaad

If the title of Tuesday morning’s Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Subcommittee  hearing sounded familiar, that’s because it was pulled straight from the movie “Top Gun.”

The Need for Speed.

It’s the kind of phrase meant to evoke boldness, confidence, and daring leadership. The image is clear: Maverick pushing the throttle forward, embracing innovation, and leading America into the future.

That was exactly the tone Subcommittee Chairman Todd Young (R-Indiana) was trying to set as senators and industry executives discussed autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, and a technology-driven transportation system.

But for railroad workers watching the hearing, a different movie came to mind.

Instead of Maverick and Goose, the message sounded more like Lord Farquaad from “Shrek.”

If you have any kids or grandkids in your life, you remember the scene. Farquaad sends a group of loyal soldiers into mortal danger for his personal benefit and to benefit the rich and connected and declares, “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

The crowd cheers. The joke, of course, is that Farquaad isn’t the one taking the risk. With all due respect to Senator Young, the AAR, and all of the other cheerleaders at this hearing, we aren’t looking to die for your profit margin or your re-election chances.

“With All Due Respect, Mr. Dennit”

That is what made one exchange during the hearing so troubling.

While discussing the transition toward increasingly autonomous transportation systems, Sen. Young acknowledged there could be “high-profile” and “politically resonant” examples of “suboptimal outcomes” along the way, including incidents involving safety.

To a senator discussing technology policy, that may sound like a reasonable observation.

But to a railroader, the phrase “suboptimal outcomes” sounds like something else entirely: a derailment, a hazmat release, a serious injury.

Worst case scenario, it sounds like fatalities. And that gets to the heart of the divide exposed during the hearing.

Too Fast. Too Furious.

For the technology advocates, the conversation centered on the destination. The future. The promise of automation. The efficiencies that could be gained (AKA Operating Ratio).

For us, the railroad workers, the question is very simple.

Who pays the price during the journey?

Throughout the hearing, witness after witness spoke enthusiastically about accelerating technological deployment. The title itself, “The Need for Speed,” revealed the mindset. Move faster. Deploy faster. Adopt faster.

That may work in Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” culture, but it does not work in railroading.

The Baby Ruth in the Swimming Pool

When things break in our industry, people die. Every rule in the railroad rulebook exists because someone learned a lesson the hard way. Every safety regulation has a story behind it, usually a tragic one.

That is why the testimony from the only member of the labor community stood out. While industry leaders and some senators were cheering and celebrating technological progress and claiming railroads are operating in the safest era in history, Teamsters representative Cole Scandaglia stood out as the guy in the room who wasn’t on board with the pep rally.

He had already shocked those in attendance after saying that employees have reasons not to believe everything the company puts out about its safety culture. When he was pushed for an example of something the companies or “the regulated” have said that wasn’t true, Scandaglia challenged the senators on the committee. He told them to find a railroader in their district and ask them whether they feel they are working in the safest era of American railroading, like the AAR just testified.

Most railroaders already know the answer. Innovation is not the problem. Technology is not the problem.

The problem is an industry mindset that treats our safety as an obstacle to overcome rather than a responsibility to uphold.

And when the people pushing the future aren’t the same people bearing the risk, railroaders have every right to ask whether the destination is worth the cost of the journey.

SMART-TD isn’t looking to ruin the Hollywood images Chairman Young had going on today, but maybe he should remember that we’d rather the rail industry focus on troubleshooting Goose’s ejector seat before they worry about pushing the plane to hit Mach 10.

We’re tired of throwing our brothers and sisters’ dog tags into the ocean.

The post Need for Speed? Safety Isn’t Number One After All appeared first on SMART Union.