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 50 • Number 9 • October 2018 Assistance still needed ‘ELECTIONS MATTER’ for Florence Next month brings us the chance recovery The collection of donations and to choose leaders in our country additional relief efforts for SMART Transportation Division members and other victims of Hurricane Florence continued throughout September and into this month. By John Florence caused catastrophic flood - ing in North Carolina, especially in the Previsich Wilmington and Lumberton areas. Portions of South Carolina and other more-inland areas also were affected he past two years will by the storm’s tremendous rainfall. be remembered as Financial services firm Moody’s esti - unique in American mated in late September that the eco - history. For the first time ever, nomic toll from damage and disrup - Tour country inaugurated a tions caused by the storm ranged from president with no history of $17 billion to $22 billion. political experience or public In the face of disaster, however, service. By the time you read SMART TD members have been step - this he will have completed ping up to assist by contributing goods nearly half of his first term in and money. office, making some people LCA – CSXT Secretary and UTUIA happy and others not so Field Supervisor Chris Fly (Local much. Matt Hanson , left, alternate legislative representative, vice local chairman 1106) began a relief effort soon after Elected in a populist wave and trustee of SMART Transportation Division Local 171 (Aurora, Ill.), damage became apparent. unanticipated by just about speaks during the Hollywood, Fla., regional meeting with Rick Tapia, who Continued on Page 3 everyone, Donald Trump was a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives. Hanson, who is rode over the finish line running for the Kane County Board, is among a number of TD members who buoyed by campaign promis - are seeking political office in the Nov. 6 elections. es that working people want - READ MORE about candidates with links to our union on Pages 8 and 9. ed to hear. With his vows to return jobs to the heartland, n n n Alternate The list of candidates Patrick Folsom, bring manufacturing back National who have been endorsed a county commissioner from overseas, repeal and Legislative by the SMART elect in Ga., encourages replace the Affordable Care Director Transportation Division. fellow members to get Act and invest in our infra - Greg Hynes PAGES 6-7 involved. PAGE 10 structure, working people explains the lined up to vote for this man union’s n who promised to put coal Profiles of some endorsement miners back to work, drain political office holders who the swamp and “lock her up.” process. have links to our union. In this image, courtesy of Chris Fly, people in PAGE 5 PAGE 10 North Carolina affected by Hurricane Florence Continued on Page 3 look over donated clothing. Inside this issue of SMART TD News l l AROUND SMART TD: Donations TRAINING: There are still spaces to students in time for school and a open for treasurer workshops to number of retirements, Page 2 . learn about the new TD Connect system coming in January, Page 4 . l LEADERS’ l COLUMNS: STATE WATCH: Transit laws Messages from Gen - signed in New Jersey, get-out-the- eral President Sellers vote efforts in Wis., Page 5 . and National Legisla - tive Director John l Risch, Pages 3, 4 . ALUMNI NEWS: Annual Rail Retirement Reunion Dinner planned in California next month, Page 11 . Page 2 October 2018 SMART TD News Around the SMART TD Locals 48, 662 and 971 donate backpacks in Virginia Locals 240 and 1770, Los Angeles, Calif. A pair of Los Angeles-area members are pulling the pin after decades of service, re - ports Harry Garvin , chairperson of Local 240. Tim M. Cosner, a conductor/brakeman /switchman, is retiring with 39 years of serv - ice at City of Industry LOS27-03. Cosner hired out with Southern Pacific Railroad on Sept. 2, 1979, and was promoted to conduc - tor April 15, 1981. All the officers and mem - bers of Local 240 want to wish him a long and happy retirement. Randy L. Douglas, also a conductor/brakeman/switchman, is retiring after more than 40 years of service on ITCF Local at Long Beach/Dolores LOI21-30. He hired out with Southern Pacific Railroad on April 24, 1978, and was promoted to conduc - tor. All the officers and members of Locals 240 and 1770, wish him a long and happy re - tirement. SMART Transportation Division congratu - lates both Cosner and Douglas and wish them both well in their retirements. Local 1554, Ogden, Utah Det. Chelsea Winslow, daughter of retired Utah State Legislative Director Pat Students in Virginia were provided with backpacks Winslow , was recently hon - for school prior to the start of classes by a SMART ored by the Greater Salt Lake Army effort on the parts of members from Local 662 Unified Police Department for (Richmond, Va),) at left, Local 971 (Crewe, Va.), top, and Local 48 (Norfolk, Va.), above. Virginia State her work with the Taylorville Det. Winslow Legislative Director Ronnie Hobbs helped coordinate precinct on an embezzlement the donations. case and a drug case. She received the Precinct Chiefs Award in August. Local 1596, Charlotte, N.C. Local 1674, Los Angeles, Calif. Local 1596 and Concord Transit Authority The committee added additional members by (CTA) ratified a new three-year agreement for adopting language to bring in paratransit drivers Rider transit service, effective July 1, 2018, to and also negotiated a max time period for com - June 30, 2020. pany investigation. Additional sick time for part- The committee of Chairperson James Reid , time employees, an additional personal day, uni - Vice Chairperson Roosevelt Campell and Sec - form reimbursement and wage increases each retary of the Committee Priscilla Meredith led by year were gained during the agreement’s term. General Chairperson Craig Patch achieved the Rider provides transportation for Concord, goal of bringing a great agreement to the mem - N.C., and Kannapolis, N.C., both north of Char - bership. lotte. Local 1895, Chicago, Ill. SMART TD Local Locomotive engineer Mark Cawelti retired 1895, along with Aug. 30 after 39 years with the BNSF and for - SMART TD Auxil - mer Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. iary Lodge 723, Cawelti was a former local president and hosted its 12th an - vice local chairperson of nual Union Day at Local 1674 and a career-long the Ballpark Sept. member of UTU/SMART TD. 8 when the Members from both Locals Chicago White 1674 and 1544 were in atten - Sox took on the dance at Cawelti’s retirement Anaheim Angels at party at BNSF’s Watson Yard. Guaranteed Rate “I hired out with Mark, and Cawelti Field. More than we went into engine service 125 members, together,” Vice President John England said. friends, and family “I am proud to call Mark my friend and to have attended the tail - worked with him for many years and wish him gate party and the all the best in retirement.” game, which SMART Transportation Division congratu - Chicago lost, 12-3. lates Cawelti on his retirement. www.smart-union.org/td • www.utuia.org October 2018 SMART TD News Page 3 SMART GENERAL PRESIDENT’S COLUMN If you don’t stand up for yourself at ballot box, who will? Brothers and sisters, our brothers and sisters who workers, and those tax fight isn’t over — we need to If you feel like things are operate our nation’s transit breaks don’t “trickle down” get out and vote to make headed in the wrong direc - systems that continue to be to workers in real wage in - sure our representatives tion, you hold the power to By Joseph assaulted and abused by creases. In fact, members know we are paying atten - help us change that: by vot - unruly passengers while will not be able to claim and tion to VIDEO LIBRARY ing with your fellow union Sellers Jr. being given little or no pro - write off traditional deduc - stop future brothers and sisters to help tection on the job. That’s tions for working families attempts determine the course of our why SMART strongly sup - such as unreimbursed busi - to do the nation. ports and is pushing legisla - ness expenses . same. It’s important to note this hanging in the balance due tion that would ensure the Before he became House At the is a right rarely given, but to reckless decisions by law - safety of our bus and transit speaker, Paul Ryan pro - end of the won by working people and makers in Washington, operators. And that is why posed conforming Railroad day, we one we must engage in by many politicians continue to we are working to elect Retirement so that the bene - must participating in the voting be more concerned about those in office who will con - fit would pay out the same stand behind those who are process. Politicians are the short-term profit incen - tinue to raise awareness as Social Security – even standing up for us and our elected to serve their con - tives of insurance compa - and fight for the well-being though we have all paid families. On Election Day, stituents and what should be nies than the quality of life of our members in each sec - more than our fair share into make sure you are prepared in their best interest. They working families deserve. tor of our industry.