SMART Transportation Division News
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SHEET METAL | A I R | R A I L | T R A N S P O R T A T I O N Transportation Division News International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Volume 49 • Number 4/5 • April/May 2017 Risch: For rail safety’s sake, ECP brake technology a must TD President Previsich met with Rep. By John Risch, SMART TD National Legislative Director Shuster about TD issues SMART TD National Legislative Director John Risch at a technology roundtable before the U.S. House Committee on Transporta - tion and Infrastructure, fourth from left. Recently, I was the only labor participant in a The railroad industry, in arguing against the technology roundtable before the U.S. implementation of ECP brakes, has claimed House Committee on Transportation and that dynamic brakes and distributive power SMART TD President John Previsich (right) met with the Trans - Infrastructure where we discussed emerging are better choices. While they are correct portation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster technology in the railroad industry. that dynamic braking and distributive power (left) about our issues currently being reviewed by the committee. The focus of my comments was on Electron - are helpful in braking trains, the truth is – ically Controlled Pneumatic (ECP) Brakes. I these two features are not nearly as effective Calling all members: Legislative have operated trains with ECP brakes and as an ECP brake system. Action needed NOW! they are the greatest safety advancement I Below is my top 11 list (which is even better have seen in my 40 years in the railroad than a top 10 list) on why ECP brakes are industry. They slow and stop trains up to 70 better than conventional air brakes: Take one minute to contact your state and percent faster than conventional brakes and congressional representatives through the 1. ECP brakes maintain a train’s brake SMART TD Legislative Action Center (LAC) are the safest most advanced train braking pipe pressure 100 percent of the time, system in the world. Continued on page 10 to tell them to DO THEIR JOBS and PRO - Arizona SLD Jones met with TECT AMERICAN WORKERS by voting: SLD Dragoo introduced Sen. Sanders NO to Right-to-Work and YES to H.R. Sen. John McCain 233-Two-Person Crews! Using the LAC online is quick and easy: Just visit the SMART TD website at www.smart-union.org/td and click on the Legislative Action Center (LAC) button located at the bottom right of the page. Or, access the LAC directly at: http://www.congressweb.com/smart_tr ansportation At the LAC, you can also learn about the issues, see the voting record of your repre - sentatives and you can send emails direct - ly to your reps. Remember, they work for you – they work for us! Your voice matters, and our collective voic - SMART TD Arizona State Legislative Director Scott Jones es are stronger than any corporate agen - (left) recently met with Sen. John McCain (right) and asked da. We must work to protect our union and for his support on two-person crews. Jones also met with safeguard labor rights for SMART TD and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D), Rep. Trent Franks (R), Rep. Andy SMART TD Kansas State Legislative Director Ty Dragoo all workers. Biggs (R), Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D) and Rep. Dave Schweik - introduced Sen. Bernie Sanders at a rally in Topeka, Kan., ert (R) and asked for their support as well. Feb. 25. Read more on page 5. Send your submissions to SMART Transportation Division by emailing: [email protected] Inside this issue of SMART Transportation Division News : Local 11 gives back to Around the Corner - com - Regional Meeting tours Retired labor raises money the community. ing soon to SMART TD announced! for veterans. See page 8. See page 2. website. See page 3. See page 7. Page 2 April/May 2017 SMART TD News Around the SMART TD Local 11, Houston It takes two: TD members Hauck Local 11 teamed up with former Local Chairperson Carlos Wallace and his business, Sol-Caritas, to give back to the & Swayze help hotel employee community. in medical emergency “Local 11 expressed their love and respect for the commu - nity by donating school supplies to Hoffman Middle School It was business as usual in Houston,” said Local Legislative Representative Darrell for SMART TD Wiscon - Barrett Jr . sin Assistant State Leg - islative Director Andy “Local 11 donated school supplies that teachers and stu - Hauck and member Al dents need. We would like to thank Hoffman Middle School Swayze (Local 583 in for giving us the opportunity to help and to show our sup - Fond Du Lac, Wis.), port to the brilliant young minds at the school.” Left: Former Local Chairperson Carlos Wallace delivered school supplies on conductors for Canadi - behalf of Local 11 to administrators at Hoffman Middle School. Pictured from left an National Railway. At Hauck are Assistant Principal Frank Cisneros, Wallace and Principal Rosalyn Sweat. an on-the-job layover in Hammond, Ind., the Local 202, Denver men were in the dining area at a Comfort Inn having coffee before starting a night shift, SMART TD Local 202 Chairperson Michael Seliquini was interviewed by coloradopolitics.com on his when they heard a loud thud, then a scream. views of Colorado Senate Bill 213, the state’s bill on driverless vehicles. A hotel maintenance worker who was “It looks like this nice little bill that just makes us safer,” Seliquini said, arguing that the bill gives too mopping the lobby floors had fallen to the much freedom to the corporations who develop the driverless vehicle technology. “In reality, it relies on floor in an apparent seizure. corporate goodwill and self-regulation rather than thorough testing,” he said. “I heard him hit the “You don’t ask a 16-year-old if they can follow the rules of the road, you make them prove it before they ground and a half sec - get the keys,” Seliquini told Colorado Politics. ond later, I heard the Seliquini is also concerned about the impact driverless cars will have on Coloradoans who are current - receptionist scream. ly employed as drivers. The bill has already passed in the State’s Senate and with bipartisan support When we ran out to in the State House, it will likely become law. the lobby, there were a Local 60, Newark, N.J. few people who ran over to him, but they Jennifer “Cookie” Doyle reported that Local 60 will hold a Rail - seemed to be in shock Swayze men for Children charity bike run Saturday, July 22, 2017 . Reg - and didn’t know what istration begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 11 a.m., when motorcy - to do,” Hauck said. cle riders will put their kickstands up and start the run. Cost: dona - Hauck and Swayze reached the man in tion of $20 per rider, $15 per passenger and $15 for non-riders. seconds and took control of the situation. The ride begins and ends at the Tramontin Harley-Davidson, Experienced in emergency training during 482 Hope Blairstown Rd., Hope, NJ 07844 . Riders will be fully his time as a volunteer firefighter, Hauck escorted by the Blue Knights NJ8. Food and a live band will be directed the hotel manager and the assis - provided after the ride concludes. tant manager to help roll the man onto his All members and locals of SMART are welcome to attend. All side, while Swayze called 911. sign-ups will be done the day of the event. For questions, con - “He was a pretty big guy, and I didn’t want tact Cookie at 973-219-2968. to attempt moving him without help,” Established by New Jersey Transit conductors and engineers, Hauck said. Railmen for Children brings joy and laughter to more than 300 Hauck yelled out for clean towels, as the special needs children each year via the “Santa Claus Express.” man was bleeding profusely from a cut The children get to go on a scenic round-trip train ride with Santa on his head, sustained in the fall. and friends, complete with gifts and a boxed lunch. All proceeds from the bike run goes to support the Santa Claus Express. The 911 dispatcher relayed emergency Local 303, Springfield, Mo. instructions to Swayze, who then relayed them to Hauck. To stop the bleeding, Local 303 and Sheet Metal Local 36 joined Hauck held a compress to the man’s together to co-host an anti-Right-to-Work edu - head until paramedics arrived. cational booth and hospitality room at the When asked if he was concerned about Greene County Democratic Central Committee the health hazards of coming into contact Jackson Day celebration held April 7-8, 2017. with blood from a complete stranger, The Missouri legislature passed a Right-to- Hauck answered, “Not at all, you do what Work bill in 2016 and the newly-elected Gover - you have to do to help someone out.” nor, Eric Greitens (R), signed the legislation Thanks to Hauck’ and Swayze’s quick SMART TD Local 303 members Alex Johnson, Local Legislative Rep - into law in February. The Missouri AFL-CIO, actions, the hotel worker made a full resentative Jeff Nichols and Zach McElwain man an anti-Right-to- along with other unions, filed an initiative peti - recovery and is back to work. Work educational booth at a Jackson Day celebration April 7-8. tion for a ballot referendum to overturn the law. SMART members attended a signature-gath - Hauck described the team effort that ering training session April 8 for the petition ini - helped to save this man as one that is tiative hosted by the AFL-CIO, along with over 150 other local area union members.