Transportation Division News · 2020-07-09 · $1.4 billion. Earnings Per Share:Increased to $2.15 per diluted share from $1.93 per diluted share. Revenue: Decreased 3% to $5.2 bil-lion

Brother Michael A. Hill, pic-tured above with Local 61Legislative RepresentativeNichelle Miles, was a 30-yearmember of SMART-TD andworked for the SoutheasternPennsylvania Transit Authority(SEPTA). He died of COVID-

Volume 52 • Number 3 • April - June 2020

l AROUND SMART-TD: Longtimefixture in the Cleveland office JohnHorvath retires, Page 2.

l LEADERSHIP MESSAGE: An update from GP Joseph Sellers,Page 4.

l STATE WATCH: New directors takehelm in Minnesota, Ohio, Page 5.

l GUEST COLUMN: Local 311 legislative representative urgesmembers to act, Page 8.

l HELPING: Leaders assist withCOVID-19 measures, Page 9.

l ALUMNI NEWS: Retired LRDeBaun passes away, Page 10.

Inside this issue of the SMART-TD News

International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers

Transportation Division NewsTransportation Division News

2020 RegionalMeetingcanceled

CLEVELAND, Ohio –Unfortunately, due to theeffects of the COVID-19pandemic, including thestate of Ohio’s ordersregarding distancing andmeetings, we have had tocancel the 2020 SMARTTransportation DivisionRegional Meeting.

Accordingly, please disre-gard the registration infor-mation printed in the Febru-ary/March SMART Trans-portation Division News.That particular edition of theunion newspaper was pub-lished and distributed priorto the decision to cancel.

For anyone who hadalready registered, a refundof the registration fees wasmade. Those who had regis-tered electronically wouldhave had a full refund auto-

COVID-19: THOSE WHOM WE HAVE LOSTAt the time of this newspaper’s publication, SMART-TD offices had received a number of reports of active members/retirees whohad passed away due to the coronavirus. They will not be forgotten.

Joseph Hansen, picturedabove with his grandchildren,a conductor out of Local 60(Newark, N.J.) worked for NewJersey Transit (NJT), and hadbeen a SMART-TD membersince November 1999. Hedied April 7 at age 62 from

Brother Stephen McFad-den, 51, of Philadelphia, and aSoutheastern PennsylvaniaTransit Authority (SEPTA) con-ductor, died April 30 fromCOVID-19. He had been amember of the union sinceSeptember 1991.

A victory achieved in the HouseBrothers and sisters,

In chemistry, there’s a pro-cedure called a litmus testwhere a piece of treatedpaper is dipped in a liquidsolution to reveal what thenature of that liquid is. If thepaper turns color, the mixture

is either acidic or basic. If itdoesn’t turn color, the mixtureis neutral.

Many years of meeting withlegislators discussing theissues of transportation work-ers — operator safety, crewsize, the degree (or lack of)

federal oversight — and theactions of the current presi-dential administration havelaid the foundation for our ownlitmus test of sorts.

We have a bill — the Mov-ing Forward Act — thatreplaces and improves upon

a prior surface transportationfunding bill called the FASTAct. Through the diligent workof our National LegislativeDepartment, this importantlegislation has passed theU.S. House of Representa-

THESE AND OTHER REMEMBRANCES CONTINUE ON PAGE 9

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TRANSPORTATION DIVISION PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

By JeremyFerguson

Continued on Page 5

Local Chairpersons J.B.Johnson, Ryan Hedge-cock and others led a fooddrive for North Valley FoodBank in Whitefish.

“We are proud to be mov-ing America’s much-neededsupplies through these try-ing times,” the local’s lead-ers said. “Our members areworking and wanted to helpthose in need who are lessfortunate.

“We are SMART-TDPROUD, and our intent wasto help as many families as

we can by this donation,with more to come.”

Prior to the COVID-19pandemic, members attend-ed a meet-and-greet withHarris County Judge LinaHidalgo organized by theGulf Coast Area Labor Fed-eration, AFL-CIO.

“We had the opportunity tospeak with Judge Hidalgoabout our current workingenvironment with the carri-ers,” said local S&T RobertMaldonado. “I spoke aboutour current contract negotia-tions and the carriers work-ing to eliminate working per-sonnel on trains and whatwe, collectively, are fightingfor.”

Also discussed wereHouston and Harris Coun-ty’s status as “high threaturban areas” as rails criss-cross the city and county

with dangerous chemicalson these trains, blockingcrossings for long periods oftime and putting the safetyof employees, the publicand communities in peril.

“We were able to spreadthis message to about 75union labor leaders in atten-dance,” Maldonado said.“Judge Hidalgo encouragedus to stay in contact.”

Around the SMART TD

www.smart-union.org/td • www.utuia.org

Page 2 April - June 2020 SMART TD News

Local 281, Milwaukee, Wis.

After nearly four decades of service to membersand numerous administrations in various roles inboth the SMART Transportation Division’s PublicRelations and the President’s Department, SeniorAdministrative Assistant to the President JohnHorvath is calling it a career.

Starting May 1, the office won’t echo with hisimpassioned readings of Article 21B of the SMARTConstitution as he provides guidance to those inneed, and his gregarious conversations throughoutthe office will be missed.

“John has certainly left an enduring mark on howthis union has been run,” said SMART Transporta-tion Division President Jeremy R. Ferguson. “Hisexperience as a communicator and his constitu-tional expertise provided a great depth of institu-tional knowledge. He’s going to be missed tremen-dously.”

Horvath started out with the then-United Trans-portation Union on Jan. 5, 1981, in the Public Rela-tions Department after getting a journalism degreefrom The Ohio State University. For 14 years in thedepartment, his special focus was on the alumniprogram, including multiple rebrandings. He alsohelped produce communication vehicles for theunion, including the UTU News and UTU calen-dars, through five presidents’ administrations —from Fred Hardin to Paul C. Thompson, alwaysfocusing on members’ stories and what matteredmost to them.

“In my own past, I had some difficult jobs – I sawthe need for dignity and a fair shake for the work-er,” Horvath said. “I felt it was the ideal job for me. Iwasn’t looking for a job, I was looking for a career,and that’s what I got.”

In 2007, he moved on to the President’s Depart-ment where his primary focus became the union’sconstitution. His communications role already hadallowed Horvath to acquire in-depth knowledgeabout union operations, and it was easy for him toadjust to the new role.

On the cutting edge of organizational functions inthe President’s Department, Horvath was able toprovide steady guidance to his co-workers acrossmultiple departments. When confronted with aquestion regarding Local governance, Horvathalways was able to provide the evidence to resolvethe situation with his trusty copy of the constitutionat hand, occasionally with the flair of an orator.

Presidential aideHorvath retiresafter 39 years

Demetrios Vatistas, secretary andtreasurer for SMART TransportationDivision Local 281 (Milwaukee,Wis.), discussed working as a Metraconductor during the coronaviruspandemic with a Chicago-areanewspaper.

Vatistas has been S&T for his localsince February 2019 and a TD mem-ber since 1997.

“I’ve been doing this for 24 years, and I’venever seen anything like this,” Vatistas toldDaily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill.,reporter Marni Pyke. “It is extremely weird.We’re so used to working hand-in-hand,

side-by-side. This is our family awayfrom home.”

But there is a sense of anxietywhen reporting for and performingservice these days, especially whenboarding what can only be describedas ghost trains, Vatistas said.

Metra ridership had fallen a stag-gering 97% since a stay-at-home

order was enacted by Illinois’ governor inMarch, but Vatistas said that new bonds arebeing formed, albeit at a safe social dis-tance.

“I see concern, but I also see compas-sion,” Vatistas told Pyke.

The staff of the SMART-TD President’s Department pose for a photobefore the start of last year’s Transportation Division Convention inLas Vegas. From left are Ralph Leichliter, John Horvath and JeffBrandow. Horvath retired May 1 after nearly 40 years with the union.

Continued on Page 6

Eddie Gonzalez and Rico Sanchez from SMART Local 54, TD Local 1892 S&TRobert Maldonado, Vice Legislative Chairperson Keith Green and LegislativeRepresentative Rep Butch Boggess meet Judge Hidalgo in February.

Vatistas

Local 1892, Houston, Texas

Another piece of newssubmitted by S&T Maldona-do: Local 1892’s DanielSitchler retired after 20years of service. He workedan RCO trim job at Engle-wood Yard in Houston forthe Union Pacific Railroadand was a member of theunion for his whole career.SMART-TD wishes BrotherSitchler a long, happy andhealthy retirement.

Pictured, from left, Local 1892 S&T Robert Maldonado, Billy Putt, supervisorMike Azzarello, Carlos Sanders, Dan Sitchler, and Local Chairperson JimBoehm celebrate Sitchler’s retirement.

Local 891, Whitefish, Mont.

Social-distancing protocols were indeed followed as food and a check for $300were donated by Local 891 members to the North Valley Food Bank in May.

April - June 2020 SMART TD News Page 3


RR safetywaiversextended

The Federal RailroadAdministration (FRA)extended safety waivers tothe Association of Ameri-can Railroads (AAR) andthe American Short Lineand Regional RailroadAssociation (ASLRRA) inthe early stages of thecoronavirus pandemicrecently, again favoring thematerial concerns of carri-ers over the safety ofAmerica’s rail workers andof the general public.

The extension runs untilthe earlier of when theemergency declaration islifted, or 60 days from let-ters dated May 21 to theAAR and ASLRRA by theagency governing safetyon America’s railroads.The broad waivers con-cerning numerous safetyregulations and trainingrequirements were initiallyset to expire in May andJune.

The leaders of SMART-TD and the Brotherhood ofLocomotive Engineers andTrainmen objected to thelengthening of thesewaivers that they haddescribed as “alarming”when first initiated.

“The agency continues apattern of FRA appease-ment to the carriers,” saidSMART-TD PresidentJeremy R. Ferguson.“Essential safety tasksonce again are beingdeferred with regulators’blessings while the agencycould not be bothered toenact an emergency orderto hold carriers account-able to Centers for Dis-

Bulk quantities of face-masks are availablethrough American Prod-ucts Inc., an endorsedSMART TransportationDivision vendor.

There are two styleoptions – one with awashable filter insert anda second single-layercloth mask. These arecustomizable and avail-able in minimum quanti-ties of 50 from the ven-dor. Contact SherrySchirripa ([email protected]) or Vicki Har-rington ([email protected]) if interestedin placing an order.

Visit smarttdmerchandise.com formore information.

Local 577 memberdies in accident

Kenneth “Bubba” Clark, a memberof Local 577 (Northlake, Ill.) was killedon April 23 in an accident while workingin Proviso, Ill.

Clark, 53, hired out on Nov. 30, 1998,and joined the union in June 1999. Aconductor for Union Pacific, he workedin the Chicago Freight Terminal.

SMART-TD offers its sincere condolences to BrotherClark’s family and friends as well as to Local 577.

American Products has protective masks

Clark

Retiree Sam Andrews hasauthored “Trackside At The Mill:1981-1998,” which centers at the for-mer Santa Fe hub of Newton, Kan.,and covers how the railroad servedthe large Cargillflour mill, whichturned 100 yearsold in 2018. HowSanta Fe/BNSFswitched the mill,the type of flourCargill made,who bought theproduct andwhere the loadswent are includedas is a history ofchanges to the milling and railroadindustries.

Railroads such as the ATSF, MP,UP, SP, BNSF and Amtrak that ranthrough Newton are discussed.

“This can be classified as a bookdealing with the decline of small-townAmerica,” Andrews said. “Just abouteverything of detail has now becomeobsolete to history.”

Anyone with an interest of railroadhistory and those carriers that havebeen merged away will find this soft-cover, 125-page book a worthwhileread, Andrews said.

To purchase a copy, send a checkor money order of $20 post-paid toSam Andrews, 1201 W 27th St. N.,Wichita, KS 67204 or you can emailBrother Andrews at [email protected].

Local 794, Wellington, Kan.

Dustin R. Wyatt, most recently amember of Local 1574 (Portland, Ore.),was injured May 18 in a roadside colli-sion near New Orleans, La., as hestopped to provide roadside assistanceduring an automobile crash.

The 31-year-old husband and fatherof two was left in critical condition afterhe was struck in a second collision andhurled 50 feet down from a bridge intoa marshy area, breaking multiplebones.

His condition has improved and hecontinues to recover at home.

An online fundraiser has been estab-lished to assist with his medical costs.

“It is truly a miracle that he has sur-vived,” his wife, Samantha Wyatt, wrote

in a message on a GoFundMe post.“We have been faced with an eventthat will change Dustin’s life forever,threatening the career he has workedso hard for and many other goals in thefuture that he had his eye on.”

Brother Wyatt has been a membersince November 2018 and works as atrainman/brakeman for Union Pacific.He and his family had recently movedfrom Washington state to Lafayette, La.He was in the process of transferringinto a new home local.

“Please help donate to the cause. Allmoney will be used for medical billsand rehabilitation,” Samantha Wyattwrote. The URL is www.gofundme.com/f/7c4qk-medical-fund-for-dustin

Dustin R. Wyatt, injured in a roadside accident May 18, was hospitalized and has recovered sufficiently toreturn home. An online fundraiser for medical costs has been established at GoFundMe.com.

Fundraiser established for memberhurt in Louisiana roadside accident

Retired member SamAndrews holds the bookhe wrote.

The local mourns the pass-ing of President ChristianMiller on April 24. BrotherMiller served as president foreight years and also servedas alternate legislative repre-sentative since 2012.

“Chris Miller was an amaz-ing friend to many and an out-

standing president and dele-gate for Local 1315,” localleaders said. “He took prideand countless hours withphone calls trying to makeour local a better union.Chris, let your wings fly, ourbrother — you will be deeplymissed by many.”

Local 1315, Covington, Ky.

Continued on Page 6

From left, Local Chairperson Jeremy King; President Christian Miller; LegislativeRep Scott Chitwood and S&T Cory Lawrence at the Hollywood Regional Meet-ing in 2018.

matically returned to thecard that was used to maketheir registration. If registra-tion was paid by a methodother than credit card,refunds were also dis-bursed.

As a reminder, please note

that members are responsi-ble for the cancellation oftheir personal travel andhotel reservations.

For any questions regard-ing refunds of RegionalMeeting registration fees,please contact the TD mainoffice at 216-228-9400.

Continued from Page 1

2020 Regional Meeting is canceled

During these trying times, Iwould like to thank you all foryour commitment and dedicationas essential employees by pro-viding transportation in your citiesduring this national emergency.As we have learned while work-ing through this pandemic, it’sespecially important to protectyourself and limit your exposure toCOVID-19 when possible to control thespread of the virus.

We are diligently working on fighting forbetter safety conditions for our membersin the workplace. On local levels, we areensuring that employers are complyingwith safety guidelines recommended bythe Centers of Disease Control and Pre-vention and the federal government. Weinsist they provide personal protectionequipment (PPE), creating a six-feetbuffer for operators’ protection, usingrear doors for entering/exiting andinstalling workplace guidelines for yoursafety.

On a national level, we are requestingthe Federal Transit Administration (FTA)to set mandatory safety standards forfrontline transit workers concerning safe-ty, pay and urging agencies to minimize

exposure to operators. We arealso petitioning Congress tostrengthen the CARES Act forcontinuous pay for our schoolbus operators due to school clo-sures related to the coronavirus.

Thanks to all our officers andmembers who are making effortsto ensure the membership’s

safety and well-being. Some have goneabove and beyond by ensuring PPE isavailable for their membership.

Also, I would like to acknowledge NorthCarolina State Legislative Director RonIngerick for sending out blast emails andtexts to Bus Department members bykeeping everyone updated in real time.

As some states are starting to go intodifferent phases of reopening, rememberwe all need to continue to protect our-selves during these times until we all canget back to some type of normalcy.

Stay safe and well!

Fraternally yours,Alvy Hughes

Vice President, Bus DepartmentSMART-TD

[email protected]

Brothers and sisters,The last few months have

been some of the most chal-lenging times facing workingfamilies in recent history. Itdid not have to be this way.Unlike the response frommany U.S. allies around theworld, the Trump Adminis-tration was slow to acknowl-edge and respond to what itknew would be a pandemiccoming to our shores. Theadministration has clearlydemonstrated a lack of lead-ership and, in some cases,effectively gone missing ascrisis after crisis confrontedthe nation.

Today, we look back at sixlong months which saw avirus take the lives of120,000 Americans. Theslow federal response con-tributed to further pain, asover 2.4 million have nowcontracted the virus in the

United States alone. To put it into perspective,

the Americans we have lostequals the number of Ameri-cans lost during WWI. Thisis not insignificant; each per-son represents a family thatsuffers the loss of a lovedone and a unsettled grievingprocess.

The slow response also isreflected in the lack of priori-ty given to the safety andwell-being of frontlineessential workers who havekept America running duringthis tragic pandemic. Noth-ing exemplifies this more

than the Trump Administra-tion’s response to our safety, as shown with its quick approval of a relaxation of safety standards for U.S. railroads in April. This put the health and livelihood of every railroader and their families in jeopardy — with the same lack of attention to safety also affecting bus and transit operators as well, all in service to the profits and operations of the carriers. This is unacceptable under any circumstance, made further egregious by the presence of a pandemic.

This disregard for the health and well-being of working families is not just contained to the railroads. Unemployment payments for millions across the Unit-ed States were delayed or the systems crashed, as seen in Florida, where little

effort was placed on theneeds of working families byconservative politicians inthat state. Stimulus checksto families in need weredelayed and, in many cases,not enough. At the sametime, Wall Street was able tocash in on trillions of stimu-lus dollars.

The pain and sufferingacross our nation has notended.

As I write this, protestscontinue in the UnitedStates. We have seenclashes that have turnedugly and violent. SMARTstands in sympathy with thefamily of George Floyd andall those who tragically losttheir lives. We stand unitedwith those who are commit-ted to peaceful struggletowards racial equality forall. And we equally standagainst those who uphold

racism, bigotry and violence.At a time of multiple

national crises, Americanleadership is gravely lack-ing, as the president of theUnited States choses todivide and inflame tensionsto serve his personal ambi-tions and re-election, ratherthan lead an anxious nation.

In four months, we canchange the situation. Istrongly urge every memberto apply for mail-in ballotswherever you live. Sign upfor text alerts by textingSMART to 21333 (messageand data rates may apply).We will provide you with vot-ing information in your stateand connect you withresources to apply forabsentee ballots and mail-invoting. With uncertainty fac-ing the United States and


Joseph Sellers Jr.SMART General President

[email protected]

Joseph PowellSMART General Secretary-Treasurer

[email protected]

Contact us: [email protected]: 216-228-9400

Fax: 216-228-5755

Jeremy R. FergusonSMART Transportation Division President

[email protected] K. Hynes

SMART Transportation Division National Legislative Director

[email protected]

Please recycle

APRIL - JUNE 2020ISSN 2470-0304

SMART Transportation Division News (ISSN 2470-0304) is published seven times per year in the months of February, September, October andNovember with combined issues in the months of April/May, June/July and December/January by SMART Transportation Division, 24950 CountryClub Blvd., Suite 340, North Olmsted, OH 44070-5333. Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and additional mailing office. POSTMASTER:Send address changes to: SMART Transportation Division News, 24950 COUNTRY CLUB BLVD., SUITE 340, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 44070-5333 • Jeremy R. Ferguson, SMART Transportation Division President.

®


Bus Department NewsA message from your Bus Department leadership

Hughes

By JosephSellers Jr.

Union with you in crisis as others cast safety asideSMART GENERAL PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

RRB ‘enhanced’ benefitsfrom CARES Act paid

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief,and Economic Security Act, orCARES Act, authorized a“recovery payment” for unem-ployed railroad workers in theamount of $1,200 per two-week registration period. Aftermaking necessary program-ming changes to claims pro-cessing systems, the U.S. Rail-road Retirement Board (RRB)started making the paymentsMay 28.

In the initial round of process-ing, the agency made retroac-tive payments of $1,200 pertwo-week registration period toindividuals who had previouslyfiled claims beginning on orafter April 1. Those individualshad previously received unem-ployment insurance (UI) bene-fits in the amount of $733.98 tomost claimants. The RRB esti-mates that the total amount ofretroactive payments will beabout $32 million. While theregular UI amount of $733.98is reduced from $780 due tosequestration, the additional

$1,200 recovery payment isnot subject to reduction. How-ever, it is subject to income tax-ation and garnishment for taxand other legally establisheddebt.

Once these payments arecompleted, the RRB plans tostart paying the additional$1,200 for new benefit claimsthe following day. The addition-al amount is payable on claimsfor days of unemploymentthrough the two-week claimperiod beginning July 31, 2020.

The CARES Act includes anappropriation of $425 million topay for this added recoverypayment. If these funds areexhausted before August 13,the end of the last eligible reg-istration period, the added pay-ment will no longer apply.

The CARES Act also author-ized payment of extended ben-efits to rail workers whoreceived UI benefits betweenJuly 1, 2019, and June 30,2020. The RRB started payingextended UI benefits May 11.

Continued on Page 7

And while this legislationprovides a litmus test of Con-gress, we don’t need one forthe president.

We’ve already seen whathis attitude toward our mem-bership is through the conductof his Transportation Secre-tary and hand-picked FederalRailroad Administrator. Theseare the agency leaders whohave said that two people ona freight crew has no effect onsafety, who haven’t extensive-ly pushed for carriers to pro-tect bus and transit operatorseven before the pandemic,who think that old brake tech-nology isn’t worth upgradingbecause of the cost to rail car-riers.

Federal agencies under thispresident’s control haven’trequired carriers to takeenforceable measures to pro-vide personal protectiveequipment (PPE) to trans-portation workers. They aregiving free rein for companiesto try to automate transporta-tion jobs out of existence.

Members have expressedtheir anger at the fumblingresponse of federal agenciesto protect workers during apandemic. They’ve expressedoutrage over the disregard forsafety procedures beingexhibited by some of thosesame federal agencies. Theyhave told General PresidentJoe Sellers, the SMART-TDNational Legislative Depart-ment, the SMART GeneralExecutive Council and otherSMART Transportation Divi-sion leaders that they haveseen enough.

That is why we’ve endorsedpresumptive Democratic nom-inee Joe Biden for presidentin November. In a video mes-sage to all SMART members,the former vice presidentpledged to “never let usdown,” promised to supportefforts at strengthening laborand foresees a second Ameri-can railroad revolution. In onethree-minute-long video,Biden’s message provides awelcome and steady contrastto the pointed, angry andlurching reactions we’veobserved from White Houseleadership staggering its waythrough crisis after crisis andgoverning in 140 charactersper tweet.

The video is a good signthat the Biden campaign is onthe right track to understand-ing our needs. More construc-tive back-and-forth betweenyour union’s leadership andthe Biden camp will follow.Your voice will be heard bythe former vice president andnot be met by the stonysilence a CEO in his plushoffice reserves for those heviews as nonessential.

The pandemic has broughtout the best in our memberswhile in some other people,we’ve seen less-than-favor-able traits exposed. Changeswe had sought to keep trans-portation workers and theusers of buses, passenger railand public transit safe frominfection did not come withoutresistance, but that is to beexpected when people inpower see workers trying toprovide for themselves and

their loved ones as “humancapital stock.”

COVID-19 has been asource of great disruptionthrough every aspect of life inour nation and the entireworld since March. We’veseen thousands of peopleperish, including SMARTTransportation Division mem-bers, and economic devasta-tion. We’ve seen millions ofjobs lost and continued politi-cal division over how the coro-navirus has been handled ona state-by-state basis.

The process of readjustingour lives, our union and ourindustry is going to be ongo-ing. The way we do thingshas changed and will alter.Members are encouraged tofollow the safety guidelinesput forth by the CDC, andstate and local health authori-ties as we collectively takethose tentative steps toward arebound from the shock ofthis global crisis.

It’s no secret that the trans-portation industry has beenstaggered by COVID-19.Service in many areas wasbrought to a halt or severelycurtailed. Fundamentalchanges were made in busservice on our properties, andwe’ve had operators quaran-tined from coast to coast.Transit was reduced to a shellof its former self in metropolis-es as ridership plummeted.Freight traffic, already lowerfrom 2019 levels before thepandemic hit, fell by morethan 20 percent.

Yet through this downturn,our SMART-TD members still

showed up. We were essen-tial as the pandemic began.We remained essential asCOVID-19 spread. We willcontinue to be essentialwhenever the plateau isreached and the coronavirusbegins to decline in the U.S.

We will stay essentialthroughout. We will all beessential in November.

I wrote in the last edition ofthe TD News the following:“Now more than ever, I am

honored and humbled toserve as your President. Ihave an immense sense ofpride and respect for all of youwho continue to place your-selves in harm’s way, doingwhat many are not capable ofdoing.”

This remains unchanged.Brothers and sisters, there’s

work to be done as we contin-ue to make our way throughthe pandemic and otherupheaval. We need to get theMoving Forward bill passed. Ifit does not pass, then weneed to hold those who areagainst us and our continuedsafety and well-beingsaccountable on Election Dayso that those needs are metin the near future.

We will not be deterred fromachieving what others beforeus and what we ourselveshave fought for — now or inthe coming months.

In solidarity,


State Watch News from SMART TD State Legislative Boards


Ohio Minnesota

SLD Stu Gardner retiresCOLUMBUS, Ohio – As all

great stories must come toan end, on May 1, StuartGardner retired from hisposition as Director andChairman of the Ohio StateLegislative Board. BrotherGardner wrapped up his 46-year railroad career byhanding the reins of StateLegislative Director over tolongtime Assistant DirectorClyde Allen Whitaker.

Stu was born and raised inCleveland, Ohio. From ayoung age, he valued thevision of solidarity, gainingthose roots by becoming anEagle Scout in 1969. Heenlisted as a Seaman’sApprentice for the UnitedStates Navy in 1972 andserved on the Fast Combat

Support Ship USS Detroitfrom January 1973 to Sep-tember 1973. From an earlyage, his discipline andtenacity paved the way to alifelong career in helping

others achieve a better wayof life.

Railroading was in hisblood. His father was an

Qualy pulls the pinLongtime Minnesota

State Legislative DirectorPhillip Qualy retired May31.

“All mainline switcheslined back, and I can seethe Yard Limit Board,” hesaid with a grin on hisface as he prepared forhis departure.

Phil hired out on theChicago & North Westernwith a July 23, 1980, sen-iority date. He began hisunion career in 1987when he was elected leg-islative representative forUTU Local 757 and heldnumerous positions overthe years leading up to hiselection as MinnesotaState Legislative Directorin 2004.

Some people slow downas they approach retire-ment and slide out thedoor. Not Phil. He workedwith a passion and pur-pose even into the weehours of the morning onJune 1, sending emails allnight while Minneapoliswas locked down undercurfew and literally burn-ing.

His advice to incomingMinnesota State Legisla-tive Director Nick Katichwas simple yet profound.

“You gotta stay united.Keep the bills paid, butmost important, you gottastay UNITED!”

The Minnesota State

Now-retired Ohio State Legislative Director Stuart Gardner, right, receives anaward from his successor, Clyde Allen Whitaker during a retirement celebrationfor Gardner.

Continued on Page 7


tives. It makes two people on

freight crews required nation-ally. It protects bus operators from assault. It funds Amtrak, reeling from the coronavirus, so that the nation continues to have passenger service and the jobs and economic bene-fits that come with it.

All of the details about this bill are widely available through our website and else-where.

We’ve worked many years on these issues AND this has now cleared the U.S. House of Representatives through your concerted effort and out-reach. This is a victory that has never been achieved in the more than eight years we’ve attempted to get a federal law passed and it is your unity and focus that made it possible!

So one component of this test is already clear: Democ-rats in the House were responsible for including those provisions that we worked hard to have included in the bill. They were largely responsible — 220 Democ-rats voted for the bill — for its passage. (I will note that three Republicans voted for H.R. 2 as well. Two Democrats voted against the bill.) By supporting or rejecting the act, represen-tatives showed their true alle-giance to our issues. What happens to the bill in the Sen-ate remains to be seen, but the Republican leader has called it “nonsense” and has vowed to kill it.

President Ferguson’s column: We achieved a victory in U.S. House with passage of H.R. 2

President,Transportation Division

Continued on Page 7

Louisiana State Legisla-tive Director Chris Chris-tianson reports that legisla-tors in his state have intro-duced a two-person crewbill – HB-776 – in the stateHouse of Representativesand that the bill has beenadvanced for considerationby the House Transportation andInfrastructure committee.

The bill, as currently written,requires two persons on all freighttrains with the exception of hostlerservice or utility employees.

The bill also provides for penal-ties if carriers choose to violate thebill after it becomes law. For a firstoffense, carriers will be charged aminimum of $500, but not morethan $1,000. A second offenseincreases the minimum to $1,000,

but not more than $5,000when the second offense iscommitted within a three-year period. For three ormore violations, the bill pro-vides for a minimum penaltyof $5,000, but not morethan $10,000 per offensewithin a three-year period.

The COVID-19 pandemic hasmade the timeline for the bill’s con-sideration unclear, but the StateLegislative Board will reach out tomembers for mobilization.

“We have a tough road ahead ofus getting it passed with everythingthat is going on with COVID-19, butwe are not going to give up,” Chris-tianson said. “Right now, getting itmoving in the Legislature willdepend on how much time we havewhen the Legislature reconvenes.”



Christianson

Louisiana

State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo met with legislative members of theKansas House and Senate for a “State of Rail” meeting at the KansasState House and briefed them on concerns related to our membership.

“The legislators were very involved in the discussion and had somegreat questions,” Dragoo said. “We fully expect that legislators in Kansasknow our issues.”

Prior to the pandemic, represen-tatives of the Kansas State Legisla-tive Board attended the annualWashington Days where Gov. Lau-ra Kelly spoke and representativesfrom the board continue to workclosely with Kelly and Senate

Minority Leader Anthony Hensley.Dragoo also has been serving on

the Kansas Economic reopeningcommittee selected by Kelly, whosays reopening the state from thepandemic will be gradual and notas simple as “flipping a switch.”

Kansas

Washington, D.C.

The Washington D.C. Legislative Board’s reorganizational meeting was held at the SMART office inWashington, D.C., with General President Joseph Sellers, Jr., and members of the National Legisla-tive Office, including Alternate National Legislative Director Jared Cassity, in attendance.

ease Control and Prevention mini-mum health and safety standards foremployees during the COVID-19pandemic.”

The waiver extension, granted ninedays after the AAR’s petition torenew, cover regulations governing:

• Periodic track inspections• Training• Quick tie-ups• Locomotive and conductor certifi-

cation• Territorial qualificationsConversely, SMART-TD and the

BLET jointly petitioned FRA torespond to the pandemic multiple

times in March seeking emergencyorders to improve working conditionsand to better protect workers frompotential infection by requiring carri-ers to adhere to basic CDC protocols.

The agency, however, declined toput its full regulatory power on theside of protecting essential trans-portation workers.

“The continued pattern of rubber-stamping requests by carriers whileunabashedly coming up short for theessential workers who have contin-ued to show up and work through thepandemic shows where FRA’s priori-ties are,” the union presidents said.

“John is a brilliant person andworking with him was a valuableexperience. I was truly fortunate tohave someone so knowledgeableto learn from,” said Ralph Leich-liter, an administrative assistant inthe President’s Department whoworked alongside Horvath. “He trulycares about our members and sethigh standards for the support weprovide. I look forward to continuingour friendship, and I wish him aretirement that’s as gratifying as hisyears here at SMART.”

“I am very fortunate to have hadthe opportunity to learn from John,and I am honored to have workedalongside him for the last fiveyears,” said Administrative Assis-tant Jeff Brandow. “His passion for

the union labor movement and hisdedication to our members isabsolute, and I am certain thatmany of our members will agreewhen I say we owe John a debt ofgratitude for imparting some of hisknowledge to us. It’s going to bequite an adjustment not having himin the office every day.”

In retirement, Horvath said he hasno immediate plans other than tospend time with his wife of 37years, Cheryl, and to continue toplay guitar as long as his healthallows — he’s been known to gigaround the Cleveland area on occa-sion.

The SMART Transportation Divi-sion wishes John the very best anda long, happy and healthy retire-ment.

Pictured, standing, from left, are state Rep. Mike Amyx; state Rep. Ruy Xu; SMART-TD SLD Ty Dra-goo; state Sen. Dinah Sykes; state Rep. Susan Ruiz; state Sen. Tom Hawk; state Rep. Tim Hodge;state Rep. Dennis Highberger; and state Rep. Cindy Neighbor. Sitting, from left, state Rep. StephanieYeager; state Rep. Freda Warfield; state Rep. Stephanie Clayton; state Rep. Jarrod Ousley; and stateRep. Annie Kuether.

Pictured, from left, are Assistant State Legislative Director Chad Henton; Assistant Kansas State Legislative Board S&T Mike Scheere; Gov. Laura Kelly, Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo; and Kansas state Sen. Anthony Hensley.


John Horvath, aide to TD President, retires


Federal Railroad Administration extends waivers

Illinois

Pictured from left to right at the quadriennial reorganization of the Illinois State Legislative Board inFebruary are board members Alternate State Director Jordan Boone of Local 445; Vice ChairpersonJarrod Hudson (Local 453); State Legislative Director Bob Guy (Local 234); state Rep. Jay Hoffman,who sponsored the state’s successful two-person crew legislation; Assistant State Legislative Direc-tor Joe Ciemny (Local 1534); Chairperson Jeff Votteler (Local 1597); and Secretary Dennis Nee(Local 1895).

engineer for the Nickel PlateRoad working Cleveland topoints east and west. Stu’s rail-road career began in April 1974when he hired out of Bellevue asa brakeman for the Norfolk andWestern Railway. He soonadvanced to road conductor in1979 and finally locomotive engi-neer in 1992.

Brother Gardner has been amember of Local 225 in Bellevuefrom his first day on the job.Always an active member, heran for legislative representativein 1991 and joined the OhioState Legislative ExecutiveBoard in 1996. In 2012, Stu waselected SLD and chairman andtook a leave of absence to workfull-time, making sure that theinterests and concerns of themembers were heard.

As director, Brother Gardnerbecame a well-known face at theState House. From reachingacross the aisle to better ourjobs in both safety and job pro-tection itself, he has given count-less hours serving the member-

ship behind the scenes as wellas giving testimony for Ohio’sHouse Bill 186, ensuring two-person crews.

To honor his valuable service,an award was designed by stateboard members and created bySheet Metal Local 24 in Colum-bus. This one-of-a-kind awardwas given to him on his last dayto show our gratitude for hisunwavering loyalty to unionmembers. The board thanksJeff Rush and the members ofLocal 24 for making this a reality.

Stu is not only leaving a lega-cy, but a standard that the Boardplans to keep on track and moveforward with a vision of solidarityand “Progress Through Unity.”

Though we stated that all greatstories must come to an end,Stu’s new chapter is just begin-ning. He and his wife Geralynhave two daughters, one sonand two granddaughters toshare many more years of greatmemories.

Highball and happy retirementStu!




Ohio SLD Stuart Gardner retires

The CEO of Norfolk South-ern, James A. Squires, askedemployees for feedback con-cerning the carrier’s respon-siveness to the COVID-19 pan-demic. SMART TransportationDivision has been gatheringreports about how carriers arecomplying during the outbreakof coronavirus. As one of thoseemployees who has beendeemed “essential,” SMART-TD Vice General ChairpersonRobert M. Levkulich (GCA-898) sent the following email toNS’s top boss to express hisopinion, which is reproducedhere with Brother Levkulich’spermission:

Mr. Squires, as the outsideworld continues to spiral out ofcontrol, it feels as if it’s justanother day along the railroad.As Transportation employees,we read daily updates that Nor-folk Southern has taken to pro-tect its office workers, in Atlantaand Norfolk, but in yard officesaround the system, it’s busi-ness as usual.For conductors and engi-

neers operating across NorfolkSouthern, we have been cate-gorized as an essential part ofour nation’s infrastructure, andessential in the fight againstCovid-19. Since conductorsand engineers are deemedessential, then so should oursafety and well-being.Norfolk Southern used to pri-

oritize the safety of its employ-ees, but recently the only priori-ty has been to get to a 60 OR. I

have visited numerous yardoffices, and I’ve seen a lot ofthings that impressed me. Butthese were from individuals. Isaw a conductor who broughtmasks his wife and kids hadsewn in for his fellow crewmembers. I saw an engineercarrying in bottles of homemade hand sanitizer to distrib-ute in the yard office. And final-ly I saw a Road Manager thatwas carrying in an arm full ofsanitizer that he used his ownmoney to pay for. These indi-viduals taking care of each oth-er are inspiring stories but arevoid of Norfolk Southern.Companies across this nation

are stepping up to show theiremployees they care. As Trans-portation employees we haveseen drastic financial loss dueto the “chase for a 60 OR” andnow with COVID-19 and clo-sures, we have taken anotherhit.Ally Financial took unprece-

dented steps to show its 8700employees they care. Beloware excerpts from Forbes Mag-azine article dated 4/6/20:All employees making

$100,000 or less in annualbase compensation will receivea $1,200 tax-free financialassistance payment to help

cover unexpected costs relatedto working from home.Ally added 100% coverage

for diagnostic testing and theassociated visit related toCOVID-19.Immediate paid medical leave

for any employee diagnosedwith COVID-19.Expanded childcare support:

When daycare or adult/eldercare arrangements are disrupt-ed, Ally will cover 30 uses ofemergency care.Employees with monthly or

quarterly incentive plans wereassured that Ally would accountfor COVID-19 impacts to oper-ations.Access to free mental health

professionals, via phone ortext, through the EmployeeAssistance Program.100% coverage for virtual

doctor visits and online healthcare services.Paid caregiver leave for

employees caring for an ill fam-ily member.Well-being modules and chal-

lenges geared to staying physi-cally and mentally healthy athomeThese are great examples of

what a company can do to pro-tect its employees.So, Mr. Squires, my question

is, What will Norfolk Southerndo for its most valuable, andessential employees?

Robert M. LevkulichVice General ChairmanSouthern Lines GCA-898SMART Transportation Division

Vice GC to NS boss: If we’re ‘essential,’then you should treat us accordingly!

We have seen drastic financialloss due to the ‘chase for a 60 OR’ and now with COVID-19 and closures, we have takenanother hit.

the risk of the pandemic persisting for sometime, it is imperative you prepare yourselfahead of an election that represents a cleardifference in how we chart the course of thefuture of our nation.

Remember, this is your union. Our highestpriority is your safety and your well-being.Please stay safe.

Fraternally,

Joseph Sellers Jr.General President, SMART

Legislative Board was proud to pres-ent Brother Qualy with a brasslantern honoring his work and leader-ship.

“Phil has been an exceptional men-tor, brother, and friend,” said Katich,“We will all have stories to share foryears to come of that time Phil…”

Qualy, who sent his last email at 3a.m. on what was supposed to be his

first day of retirement had this to sayto his union brothers and sisters:

“Thanks to each and every UTU-SMART-TD member, bar none, foryour support over the past fourterms,” he wrote. “It has been a privi-lege to serve and pleasure to workwith all of you.”

Thank you, Brother Qualy, for youryears of dedicated service!

Social distancing protocols were observed as incoming State Legislative Director Nick Katich presented theretiring Phillip Qualy his brass lantern by using a switch broom.


Minnesota SLD Phillip Qualy pulls the pin


Sellers: Union with you in crisis

Take a shot to getin the calendar!We’re looking for photo submissionsfrom SMART TD members and alumni ofbuses, light rail, planes or trains for the2021 alumni calendar.Email your high-resolution horizontal photos to [email protected] ormail hard copies to the TD’s office alongwith details about what’s going on in thephoto. If your pic is picked, you get copiesof the alumni calendar to share. The deadline is Sept. 18!When taking photos, be sure to observe all rules and regulations regarding photography on your property.

Net Earnings: Decreased 5% to $1.19 billion.Revenue: Decreased6% to $5.4 billion.Operating Income:Increased 2% to $1.8 billion.Operating Expenses: Decreased 6.7% to $3.6billion.Operating Ratio: Improved by 4 points to65.2%.

• • •Net Earnings: Increased toC$1.01 billion from C$786million.Earnings Per Share: Dilutedearnings per share increased 31% to C$1.42from C$1.08 and adjusted diluted EPS in-creased by 4% to C$1.22.Revenue: Remained flat at C$3.5 billion.Operating Income: Increased to C$1.215 mil-lion from C$1.08 billion.Operating Expenses: Decreased 5% to C$2.33billion from C$2.46 billion.Operating Ratio: Improved by 3.8 points to65.7%; Adjusted operating ratio improved 1.5points to 65.7% from 67.2%.

• • •Net Earnings: Decreased to C$409 million fromC$434 million.Earnings Per Share: Dilutedearnings per share decreased4% to $2.98; adjusted dilutedearnings per share increased 58% to $4.42.

Revenue: Increased 16% to C$2.04 billion fromC$1.77 billion.Operating Income: Increased 54% to C$834million from C$534 million.Operating Expenses: Decreased to C$1.209billion from C$1.224 billion.Operating Ratio: Improved 1,010 basis pointsto 59.2%.

• • •Net Earnings: Decreased 8% to $770 millionfrom $834 million.Earnings Per Share: Decreased2% to $1.00.Revenue: Decreased 5% to$2.85 billion from $3.01 billion.Operating Income: Decreased 3% to $1.17 bil-lion from $1.22 billion.Operating Expenses: Decreased 7% to $1.68billion.Operating Ratio: Improved to a first quarterrecord of 58.7% from 59.5%.

• • •Net Earnings: Increased to $151.7 million from$102.7 million.Earnings Per Share: Increased to$1.58 per diluted share from $1.02.Revenue: Increased 8% to a record$731.7 million from $674.8 million.Operating Income: Increased to $288.8 millionfrom $160.3 million.Operating Expenses: Decreased to $442.9 mil-lion from $514.5 million.

Operating Ratio: Improved 15.7 points to60.5% from 76.2%; adjusted operating ratio im-proved 6.5 points to 59.7% from 66.2%.

• • •Net Earnings: Decreased 44% to $381 millionfrom $677 million.Earnings Per Share: Diluted earnings pershare decreased to $1.47 from $2.51.Revenue: Decreased to $2.63 billion from $2.8billion.Operating Income:Decreased to $568million from $966 million.Operating Expenses: Increased to $2.06 billionfrom $1.87 billion.Operating Ratio: Declined to 78.4% from66.0%.

• • •Net Earnings: Increased to $1.5 billion from$1.4 billion.Earnings Per Share: Increased to$2.15 per diluted share from $1.93per diluted share.Revenue: Decreased 3% to $5.2 bil-lion from $5.4 billion.Operating Income: Increased 9% to $2.14 bil-lion from $1.96 billion.Operating Expenses: Decreased 10% to $3.09billion from $3.4 billion.Operating Ratio: Improved 4.6 points to 59.0%from 63.6%.



Get the hell up and let’s go!I want to know who

to blame. Really,whose fault is this?

Are we really at thepoint where the carri-ers think getting rid ofthe conductor is asmart move?

We all know aboutthe carriers, they have nevershown one scrap of integrityin their dealings with employ-ees. We are talking aboutorganizations that routinelydeny legitimate claims fornegotiated compensationbecause they may save abuck by screwing someemployee out of it.

They have sold out to WallStreet in their pursuit of thealmighty dollar. But that is nosurprise; they have beendoing this since they started,and we have heard themtalking for more than 20years about wanting a one-person crew. We expectnothing from them and getexactly that.

So who then? It must bethe Union. All those big shotsin Cleveland wearing suitsand forgetting where theycame from. Always telling methat the big bad wolf is com-ing for my job. It hasn’t hap-pened before, why should Ibelieve them now? Surely

they are just trying tojustify their jobs. Forthe entire time I haveworked out herethere has alwaysbeen some per-ceived threat to myjob. So here theycome again, telling

me this is it, this time it’s forreal! Why should I believethis is for real and not justanother attempt to get moreof my hard-earned money forPAC?

But maybe, just maybe thistime they are right. I betterlook for somebody else.

Corporate America, thestock market, the greedySOBs of Wall Street. Thesame people who literallylaugh out loud when we try totalk safety on the rails in theform of a two-person crew,the same greedy SOBs whocry about how much wemake and then pay HunterHarrison more than $100 mil-lion.

How about PSR? Thatmust be it. No probably not. Itis just another fad designedto put immediate money intoinvestors’ pockets. Anyonewith half a brain realizes thatrailroads are not that kind ofmoneymaker; they are along-term growth item and

must expand their customerbase to truly grow.

Got it! Politicians! They areto blame for everything,right? Really if you can’tsomehow blame a politicianfor your lot in life, then youaren’t really trying. They havebeen trying to get a two-per-son crew bill off the groundfor years with minimal suc-cess. After all it was a presi-dent who appointed the FRAhead who said we don’t needa two-person crew. It was apolitically appointed judgewho said we must bargain oncrew consists. It is the politi-cians!

Or maybe, just maybe, it’sthat person looking back atme from the mirror. The onewho can’t be bothered to goto a local Union meeting. Theone who is more concernedwith taking a stand on themountaintop over conserva-tives vs. liberals than they arein supporting candidates whowould support them having ajob and a retirement pro-gram. The person who con-stantly complains, but nevershows up. The member whowon’t contribute to PACbecause 20 years ago some-body did something thatannoyed them, but now theycan’t remember what it was.

It is us. We are who needsto be blamed.

We have known this wascoming for years, yet wehave blissfully continueddown the path of apathy onour way to the real possibilityof not having a job or ameaningful pension in thefuture.

We ignored all the peoplewho told us what was comingand just kept shoving moneyin our pockets while noddingour heads thinking, what dothey know?

Many of us even voted forthe people who appointedthe FRA head and the judgewho ruled against us.

What the hell were wethinking?

So here we sit — at the11th hour — saying what?Why didn’t somebody tellme? What are you going todo about saving my job? Ipaid my dues!

Guess what? It doesn’thave to end like this.

We can rewrite this chapterof rail history. We need to getoff our collective butts andget out there and makethings happen. n Take the time to talk tofamily, friends and neighbors. n Write a letter to your rep-resentatives, write letters to

your senators.n Call them and show up attheir events and ask themwhy they haven’t signed onto the two-person-crew bill.Ask them why they feel it isOK to put their constituents’safety at risk for railroad prof-its. n Go see your local Leg-islative Representative andsign up for PAC. If your jobisn’t worth a dollar a day inPAC, then just quit now andwalk away. Money talks inthis political world, and weneed to make it work for us.n Get out and vote! Vote forthe people who support theunion and its members.Endorsements will beannounced. We can eithergive up and let the carriers“railroad” us or we can fight.

I say we fight, but it takesall of us working together asa true union. Don’t rely onjust a few to do your fighting.

If you want a job and apension and a safe workenvironment, then get thehell up and let them knowyou are not going to go quiet-ly.

What are you waiting for?

Brother Hauser is legislativerepresentative of Local 311 in LaCrosse, Wis.)

GUEST COLUMN

Hauser

Class I rail carriers file their first-quarter earnings reports



Members of Local23 in Santa Cruz,Calif., mourned theApril 14th passingof TransportationDivision retireeDomingo Tovarfrom COVID-19.

Brother Tovar, 68,served two stints with SantaCruz Metro as a bus opera-tor starting in 1982, thenleaving for another carrierbefore returning to SantaCruz in 1987. He wasinvolved in the initial con-tract talks with the carrier aswell as a 37-day strike in2005.

He served a year as sec-retary and treasurer forLocal 23.

“He had many friends. Hewas a happy person,” saidretired Local 23 memberSerena Tovar, BrotherTovar’s wife of more than 43years and a 30-yearSMART-TD member.“Domingo remained thesame type of person the dayshe met him to the day hepassed. He was alwayshappy. He just loved life andhad no regrets. He was veryproud of his kids and wasalways there for his family.”

Brother Tovar retired in2016 after 29 years of con-tinuous union service.Transportation was in hisblood, though — he hadbegun driving at age 25,had driven charter busesand had even obtained hispilot’s license. After his San-ta Cruz Metro retirement, hekept working as a shuttlebus driver for the Universityof California — Santa Cruzuntil his passing.

He was remembered

fondly by Local 23brother MarioEspinoza.

“I could confide inDomingo about anyissue and l knew thatwhat we talkedabout always stayedbetween us,” said

Espinoza, who workedalongside Brother Tovar foryears. “Domingo was some-one you could trust.”

Brother Espinoza said thathis and Brother Tovar’s fam-ilies became close over theyears as they continued towork together and thatDomingo was generous withhis time and his technicalexpertise that bailed out co-workers many times.

“He was very helpful witha number of drivers that hadproblems with their comput-ers, phones or any electron-ic device. He would solvethe issue in no time or giveyou advice on resolving theissue,” Espinoza said. “Henever wanted anything inreturn. His satisfaction wasyou being happy your prob-lem was solved.

“He was just beginning toenjoy his retirement whenthis virus took his life. I amstill in shock and can’t com-prehend this and will takesome time to cope withthis,” Espinoza said. “Sowith a heavy heart l say,Domingo, you will bemissed. Rest in peace,brother.”

In addition to Serena,Brother Tovar is survived bya daughter, Mandy; son,Damien; and two grandchil-dren — Damien and SashaTovar Page.

Brother Rameliah“Reme” Jennings ofSMART-TD Local 1589(New Brunswick, N.J.), diedApril 22 at age 74.

He spent much of hiscareer with United ParcelService (UPS). After heretired, in 2007 he tappedinto his love for driving andworked part-time with Sub-urban Bus Company(Coach USA).

In typical “Reme” fashion,

he bondedwith thestaff at thecompanyand waswelladmiredand loved.He joined

the union in 2011. An ordained minister and

associate pastor at FirstPark Baptist Church inPlainfield, N.J., Brother

Jennings was a globetrotterand constantly on the go.He had the opportunity totravel to Europe, Asia,Africa and the Caribbean.He was also an avid sportsfan and was passionateabout his golf game.

The Rev. Jennings leaveshis wife of 35 years,Dorothy, his children, sis-ters and many nieces,nephews, and friends tocherish fond memories.

Jory J. Bohanan, ofSMART-TD Local 1607(Los Angeles, Calif.), diedMarch 29, 2020, at age 39.

A member of the unionsince 2007, he had previ-ously worked for L.A. Metroand had only worked a cou-ple of months for MVTransportation, which con-tracts with Santa Clarita

Transit. “My son,

he was agreatman. Hehad a bigheart. Hewas agenuine,good person, and he waseasy-going,” his father,

Darryl Bohanan, told theSanta Clarita Signal.

Jory is survived by hischildren and was engagedto be married.

A GoFundMe had beenset up to assist his family athttps://www.gofundme.com/f/jory-bohanan-funeral-expenses.

George Appiah-Kumi of SMART-TDLocal 1589 (NewBrunswick, N.J.),passed away at age63 on May 18 atRWJ Hospital in NewBrunswick, N.J., as aresult of COVID-19.

George had been part ofSuburban Transit since July7, 2014.

“His dedication to his workand strong union activismare the reasons why he waswell appreciated and liked

by both manage-ment and union,”said General Chair-person GordonHarris, who is alsoLocal 1589’s presi-dent. “I will alwaysremember his soft,quiet voice and bril-

liant smile every time we raninto each other at work.George was a team playerand has helped out manytimes even on short notice.May his soul rest in peace.”

COVID-19.“Brother Hansen’s 20

years of service wasexemplary. He was theconsummate profession-al, a loving husband,father and grandfather,”said General Chairperson

Jerome Johnson (GCA-610), who is president ofLocal 60. “He will begreatly missed.”

Brother Hansen is sur-vived by his wife, Denise;a son, Brian, who is amechanic at Raritan Yard;and his grandchildren.

“I saw him at everyunion meeting we had –and sometimes he wasthe only person there,”said Bernard Norwood,general chairperson ofGO-STA. “Stephen wasvery committed to theunion. He was a reallynice guy.”

Using money out of hisown pocket, BrotherMcFadden donated to thelocal’s annual holidayparty without fail, Nor-wood said.

McFadden was a verypassionate Phillies fan –sometimes catching partof the game during thedown time he had duringa shift and filling in hisunion brothers and sisterson what was going on –and making sure thegame was on the TV in

the crew room. He alsowas a very particular lot-tery player, schoolingpeople to scratch fromthe bottom up and lettingthem know the range ofnumbers they shouldsnag when considering ascratch-off ticket pur-chase.

Another tradition hewas known for was onpay weeks – when thesystem processed thepayroll and employeesknew they were going toget their deposits, he’dgreet his brothers andsisters with a cheery“Happy Wednesday!”

“That’s going to bemissed a lot, especiallytoday,” Norwood said.(He was interviewed onMay 6 — a Wednesdaymorning.)

19 on April 14th. “Brother Hill was a great

member that was no non-sense and always had asmile on his face,” GeneralChairperson Bernard Nor-wood said. “He reallyenjoyed being with his co-workers, attending footballgames for the PhiladelphiaEagles and playing cards.Brother Hill will surely bemissed.”

General Chairperson Nor-wood was also thankful forthe assistance of UTUIAField Supervisor Chris Mal-ley, who ensured the frater-nal UTUIA life insurancebenefits Brother Hill hadwere handled quickly.

Tovar Jennings

Bohanan

Appiah-Kumi

Union leaders assist as the virus persistsWith carriers having a slow initial

response to COVID-19 and takingfew immediate steps to protectemployees, local SMART-TD lead-ers worked to provide their own to

protect the public and members.California State Legislative Direc-

tor Louie Costa, Local 1608(Chatsworth, Calif. – LACMTA)President and LCA Secretary Alber-

to Guardado and Legislative Rep-resentative Latonia Martinez reportthat members of the local usedfunds to acquire their own facemasks with the SMART logo on

them and are handing them out toco-workers who don’t otherwisehave a mask.


Brother Hill


Remembering Brother Hansen


Remembering Brother McFadden

MEMORIALS TO THOSE WHO PASSED FROM COVID-19

The union extends itssincere condolencesto the families, friendsand locals of these victims of the COVID-19 pandemic as well asto those of memberDonnie Carson (Local1908, Buffalo, N.Y.) andretiree Kenneth K.Skoog (Local 1177),who also passed awayfrom the virus.

Continued on Page 11



News and information for our retirees andmembers of the SMART TD Alumni Association

Are you getting close to retirement? You can get the TD News & other benefits for just $9 a year!Call 216-228-9400, email [email protected] or visit www.smart-union.org/td/alumni

T H E F I N A L C A L L

Following are the names of deceased members who were active TD members or maintained annual membership in the SMART TD Alumni Association, according to reports receivedat SMART TD Headquarters. These brothers and sisters will be missed by their many friends and by fellow SMART TD Alumni Association members.Local Name City/State Local Name City/State Local Name City/State

2 Cornell, James A. Toledo, Ohio20 Jakobeit, James B. Lumberton, Texas113 Kirkland, Paul D. Peoria, Ariz.118 Clark, James K. “King” Hinton, W.Va.171 Lumley, Robert C. Ocala, Fla.195 Anderson, Roger D. Galesburg, Ill.198 Barrett, Ernest C. Peoria, Ill.312 Bagneski, Alfred J. Madison, Wis.322 Gorr, Douglas D. De Pere, Wis.328 Baird, Irving M. Orange, Conn.363 Baker, James C. Salem, Va.377 Hunt, Charles L. New Castle, Pa.446 Smith, William R. Laramie, Wyo.462 Hallman, J. W. Pine Bluff, Ark.469 Wilson, Eugene C. Madison, Ill.469 Winchester, Jerry E. Madison, Ill.489 Money, Ronald P. Livingston, Texas493 Kenney, Terry F. Council Bluffs, Iowa500 Slaven, Robert L. Grand Junction, Colo.584 Gray, James R. Columbus, Miss.590 Wisniewski, Frank J. Bradenton, Fla.594 Stedry, Robert P. Mineola, Texas

596 Ladner, John L. Conneaut Lake, Pa.656 Carter, Homer E. Benton, Ark.656 Fletcher Jr., Eugene L. Pine Bluff, Ark.663 Spruce, David C. Milford, Maine674 Sumerel, William M. N. Augusta, S.C.771 Chambers, Horace E. Needles, Calif.774 Wisler Jr., Robert A. Wathena, Kan.800 Belle, Robert M. Cedar Grove, N.J.800 Lehman, Joseph R. Rahway, N.J.807 Roiland, David A. Marana, Ariz.830 Aurand, Harry C. Mifflintown, Pa.830 Leberfinger, Paul E. Lititz, Pa.830 Shewbridge, Donald E. Carlisle, Pa.832 Heimerman, Howard J. Fond Du Lac, Wis.857 Baird, Gary R. San Antonio, Texas903 Cauthen, John M. Fernandina Beach, Fla.911 Fanning, Donald W. Bloomington, Minn.924 Chapman III, James A. Chesterfield, Va.949 Johnson, Thurman W. New Castle, Ind.977 Williamson, Richard E. Vancouver, Wash.1006 Hackenson, Thomas Belle Vernon, Pa.

1074 Switzer Jr., Ernest M. Rimersburg, Pa.1172 Davis III, William T. Princeton, W.Va.1177 Skoog, Kenneth K. Wahpeton, N.D.1312 Kirkland, Kenneth S. Valdosta, Ga.1315 Hensley, Gilbert F. Taylor Mill, Ky.1378 Pinnock, Richard H. Crum Lynne, Pa.1386 Backus, Michael L. Parkersburg, W.Va.1402 Salto, Albert W. Evansville, Ill.1418 Ramsey, Clyde P. Beaver, Pa.1477 Ball, Lee E. Beverly Hills, Fla.1518 Long Jr., William R. Terre Haute, Ind.1518 Fuller, John E. Alexandria, Ind.1558 Deiser, Richard Dumont, N.J.1570 Gadberry, Darrell G. Roseville, Calif.1570 Millingar, David R. Tracy, Calif.1570 Sanford, Daniel W. Roseville, Calif.1594 Murray, Paul J. Springfield, Pa.1628 Listisen, Walter Coraopolis, Pa.1904 Bailey, Robert L. Conroe, Texas1929 Bammer, Fred W. Belleville, Ill.1978 Kelly, James P. Bronx, N.Y.

William “Bill” J. DeBaun, a retiree fromSMART Transportation Division Local 1532 and aformer vice chairperson and legislative representa-tive for theKansas City,Kan., local,passed away inlate April.

Brother DeBaunwas 73 years old.

A yardman outof Argentine Yardin Kansas City, inaddition to hisservice to Local1532’s member-ship, BrotherDeBaun alsoworked as a newhire training coor-dinator, helpingthose workers juststarting out on theAtchison, TopekaSanta Fe Railway/BNSF. Many of those he hadtrained later asked about how Brother DeBaunand his wife of 34 years, Carol, were doing afterhis retirement from the railroad in 2005.

His work as vice local chairperson was “invalu-able” to the members of LCA 1532, said SMART-

Continued on Page 11

Retired Local1532 legislativerep passes away

From left, Bill DeBaun, “Moose” Holt-meyer and R.W. “Barney” Barnhart, gettheir picture taken in the early 2000s atthe Turner Trailer “Old Folks Home,”where the highest seniority personnelat BNSF’s Argentine Yard work.

Member Robert “Bob” H. White passed away on April 24,2020, reports his daughter, Jan Renga. Brother White was amember of Local 60 in Newark N.J. and worked for Erie,

Erie Lackawanna, Conrail and New Jersey Transit during his 41-yearrail career.He started working on the railroad in 1946 and had many train stories,his daughter said. But his favorite one to tell to Jan was this:“Well, I met your mother on the train. The rule was that we had to turnin anything that was left on the train to the lost and found. “After 30 days, if it went unclaimed, he would get it back. (That ex-plains the plethora of umbrellas in the house.) Now ... if we foundstrawberries or something perishable, we could take that home.“Your mother was perishable, so I took her home.”And the rest was history, Jan said.Retirees: Submit your own Memories Made on the Move [email protected].

MEMORIES MADE ON THE MOVE

Robert and Margaret White,who met one another on thetrain.


April - June 2020 SMART TD News

TD Vice President Joe M.Lopez.

“Bill spent countless hoursresearching and processingtime claims on behalf of themembership. Much of thatwork was done on his accord,without the members havingto spend a second of theirown time writing up theclaim(s), while Bill sacrificedcountless hours each monthof his own time securingmonies on their behalf,”Lopez said. “Bill was also aneffective legislative represen-tative for Local 1532. Bill’sefforts at taking on the carrierfor safety violations were veryeffective.”

Lopez said that as a localchairperson, he and his pred-ecessor, Doug Schlosser,benefited greatly fromDeBaun’s impeccable organi-zational skills, as did themembers who had theirclaims paid out.

“I believe I can safely speakon Doug’s behalf when I sayboth of us were extremelylucky to have worked with Bill.During our many years ofworking together, on the sec-ond Wednesday of everymonth, Bill and I would attendour regularly scheduledclaims conference with local

management and at theonset of each of those confer-ences Bill would hand me alarge stack of claim docketsneatly organized and with anabundance of supporting doc-umentation, which more oftenthan not, led to a successfulconference,” Lopez said.“The quality of Bill’s work asboth a vice local chairpersonand legislative representativehas been unmatched andlikely never will be. Bill mademe a better local chairper-son.”

Brother DeBaun was a vet-eran of the U.S. Navy.

He is survived by his wife,Carol, nephews John &Shawn Strange and a num-ber of other relatives.

SMART TransportationDivision offers its sincere con-dolences to his family, hisLocal 1532 union brothersand sisters and all who knewBrother DeBaun.


Retired Local 1532 LR passes away“The quality of Bill’s work as both a vice local chairperson and legislativerepresentative has beenunmatched and likely neverwill be. Bill made me a better local chairperson.”

— SMART-TD Vice PresidentJoe M. Lopez

‘It does notcost ...

it PAYS!’

IS YOUR SHIELD!

Members: Don’t forget the benefits of DIPPOne valuable benefit pro-

vided to Transportation Divi-sion members is the Disci-pline Income Protection Pro-gram, or DIPP.

DIPP provides paymentsfor a specific amount andperiod of time to an employ-ee who is suspended, dis-missed or removed fromservice by a carrier foralleged violation of rules oroperating procedures, pro-vided that the violations donot come within the list ofexceptions not covered bythe program.

The DIPP aids in meetingmembers’ day-to-day needswhen earnings are halted.Participants choose the lev-el of benefits they want,from $6 to $200 per day.The term of benefitsdepends on the length oftime the participant isenrolled and extends from200 days to a maximum of365 days.

Monthly assessments arepaid through dues check-off,and all SMART-TD mem-bers may enroll voluntarily.

The DIPP is a pooled-riskfund whose financial sur-vival depends on a broadbase of participants making

contributions so that bene-fits are available for pay-ment. In fact, the DIPP isthe essence of brother andsister helping brother andsister. Participation is pro-tection for you and yourunion brother or sister.

To participate, membersshould contact their fieldsupervisor or DIPP repre-sentative. More informationalso is available atwww.smart-union.org/td/dipp/ and you may alsodownload a membershipapplication from that page.

The DIPP is available onlyto SMART-TD membersand is unique in that it hasremained steadfast in look-ing for ways to pay claims ofparticipants, while otherplans are known to look forways to avoid payingclaims.

In recent years, theDIPP’s value to membershas soared as many carrierscontinue to accelerate thediscipline they impose inefforts to cut their costs andfurther reduce their work-forces.

To better ensure the DIPPis meeting members’ expec-tations, we want to hear

from those who participate.If you have been disappoint-ed in any way with the pro-gram, we want to knowabout so we can improvethe plan.

Constructive criticism willhelp us improve our per-formance and to servemembers better. By thesame token, excellenceshould be rewarded. If youhave enjoyed outstandingservice through the efforts ofa local officer or if you per-sonally know of someexceptional service by anofficer, please let us knowso that individual may becommended.

We want the DIPP to con-tinue to protect membersfrom payless paydays dur-ing a difficult time.

To provide constructivecriticism or commend anofficer for their efforts inhelping you collect benefits,communicate thosethoughts to us by email at [email protected] or write in toSMART-TD DIPP, 24950Country Club Blvd., Suite340, North Olmsted, OH44070-5333.

Page 11

An arbitration heard inJanuary by the FederalMediation and Councilor’sService (FMCS) ruled infavor of Local 1715 (Char-lotte, N.C.) retiree GloriaChambers in May.

Bus Department VicePresident Alvy Hughes

said Transit Managementof Charlotte (TMOC)attempted to change vaca-tion accruals for bus opera-tors from past practice,resulting the potential of aretiree being shorted his orher full vacation time.

The arbitrator’s findings

awarded the union in the decision.

In addition to Hughes and Chambers, Local 1715(Charlotte, N.C.) Vice Pres-ident Brenda Moore also participated in the success-ful case.

Union wins arbitration case overLocal 1715 retiree’s vacation time

“We had to do some-thing,” Martinez said. “Wejust did it quick.”

With an end to the pan-demic nowhere in sight,she thanked and gave com-pliments to Costa andGuardado’s rapid responseand actions to keep themembers safe at work.

Local 1895 (Chicago –NS) Secretary & TreasurerLarry Grutzius also reportsthat his local has partneredwith Mid-Oak Distillery toget hand sanitizer for mem-bers. They also placed anorder for the Illinois StateLegislative Board.

According to Grutzius, theMid-Oak Distillery wasfounded by two union mem-

bers. “They were doing what

they could with limited sup-plies, but also happy tohelp us during this pandem-ic,” Grutzius said. “Weworked with them on the

line to help get us themuch-needed hand sanitiz-er.”

To let us know about yourefforts to keep safe, [email protected].


Leaders of our union continue to assist as virus persists

Local 1608 President Alberto Guardado wears one of the 350 masks that theChatsworth, Calif., local ordered and distributed to its members while on thejob.



Featured photo showcase

SMART Transportation Division isalways looking for good photos andyour picture can be featured on thispage.

SMART TD seeks photographs or dig-ital images of work-related scenes, suchas railroad, bus or mass transit opera-tions, new equipment photos, scenicshots, activities of your local or photosof your brothers and sisters keepingAmerica rolling.

Printed photographs should bemailed to SMART TD, 24950 CountryClub Blvd., Suite 340, North Olmsted,OH 44070-5333.

High-resolution digital photographsshould be in JPEG format and emailedto [email protected]. We preferhorizontal photos. Be sure that yourcamera is set to the large resolution set-ting when taking the photo or it mightnot reproduce well in print.

With each photograph, pleaseinclude your name and SMART localnumber, the names of the persons in thephoto (left to right), where the photowas taken, and other pertinent informa-tion.

All photographs submitted becomeproperty of SMART and can be used infuture projects.

Remember to review your employer’spolicies regarding use of cameras onthe property or during work hours.

Tony Okamoto, son of E. K. Okamoto, a retired Amtrak conductor out of Local 857, (San Antonio, Texas) took thisshot of the Amtrak Empire Builder as it stopped at the St. Paul, Minn., Union Station platform last summer.

Have a camera?Get your photofeatured here

06/20

Documents

Transportation Division News · 2020-07-09 · $1.4 billion. Earnings Per Share:Increased to $2.15 per diluted share from $1.93 per diluted share. Revenue: Decreased 3% to $5.2 bil-lion