Safer Grade Crossings, Low Rail traffic and Jeffrey A Harsh in This Week's News Headlines
Google Maps Is Making Railroad Crossing Safer
http://www.govtech.com/applications/Google-Maps-Is-Making-Railroad-Crossing-Safer.html
Google will map railroad crossings in partnership with rail agency
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/dr-traffic-blog/article68538867.html
BNSF furloughs have hit 4,600 employees nationwide
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article69326397.html
Low Rail Traffic Leads to Furloughs at BNSF
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=41368
Engineer killed on the job during shift change
http://utu.org/2016/03/30/engineer-killed-on-the-job-during-shift-change/
Wisconsin man identified as rail worker killed in St. Paul Saturday
http://www.startribune.com/wisconsin-man-identified-as-rail-worker-killed-in-st-paul-saturday/373761901/
Tax Form 1095-C on it's Way to Members
Last week, BNSF made SMART General Committee 001 aware of additional tax forms being sent to the members in regards to medical coverage. Large employers like BNSF are subject to the "employer shared responsibility" provision of the Affordable Care Act and therefore must demonstrate that an offer of medical coverage was made to at least 70% of all full-time employees for 2015. As part of meeting this requirement, BNSF must send a Form 1095-C to all employees and file these forms with the IRS. Employees should receive these forms soon if they have not already received them.
SMART TD members should have already received a Form 1095-B from their multi-employer plan administrator so the Form 1095-C may seem like a duplicate copy. The law still requires that BNSF mail the 1095-C to their employees which indicate “no offer of coverage.” This is the correct method of reporting when the employee is covered by a multi-employer plan. It is the Form 1095-B which includes important information SMART members will need to complete their personal tax filings. Although Forms 1095-B does not need to be submitted with individual 1040 tax filing forms, employees should keep the 1095-B forms with their tax documentation in the event they are subject to an IRS audit.
The 1095-C is a legal requirement of the Affordable Care Act and is informational only. This form does not alter or impact employee coverage in any way and no action is required on the part of the employees.
The Battle Over Two Person Crews in this Week's News Headlines
OP-ED FROM SMART TD AND TTD ON FRA 2-PERSON CREW RULE PUBLISHED TODAY IN THE HILL
https://smart-union.org/news/op-ed-hill-smart-td-ttd-afl-cio-fra-2-person-crew-ruling/
FRA’S PROPOSED RULE REQUIRING TWO-PERSON CREWS IRKS RAIL INDUSTRY, DRAWS PRAISE FROM SAFETY ADVOCATES
https://smart-union.org/news/fras-proposed-rule-requiring-two-person-crews-irks-rail-industry-draws-praise-safety-advocates/
SMART TD Press Release: FRA issues notice of proposed rulemaking requiring Two-Person Crews
http://utu.org/2016/03/14/smart-td-press-release-fra-issues-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-requiring-two-person-crews/
AAR to FRA: No basis for two-person crews
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/regulatory/aar-challenges-fras-attempt-to-mandate-two-person-crew.html?channel=40
Md. Senate OKs bill for 2-person crews on freight trains
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/md-senate-oks-bill-for--person-crews-on-freight/article_118c1a79-b285-5119-9b5c-d875c63bf0cc.html
General Chairman Randall Knutson Retires
Randall Knutson, Chairman of General Committee 001, served his last day on the job today and will enter into retirement. Knutson announced his retirement in early February after accepting the buy-out offer from BNSF.
"While I initially intended to complete the full term of office that I was fortunate enough to be elected to last year, recent events have influenced me otherwise." said Knutson is his letter.
First Associate General Chairperson Mike LaPresta will assume the duties as interim General Chairperson until an election can be held. The General Committee is accepting nominations for the vacant General Chairperson's office through April 1st. If there are multiple nominations, ballots will be sent to the Local Chairpersons who will have approximately 30 days to vote.
"I consider it a privilege and an honor to be the first General Chairperson of the consolidated GO-001. Thank you for your foresight and support in assembling the largest General Committee this organization has ever known, and I greatly appreciate all the support you have afforded our office since the merger. You remain in competent hands and I wish all of you the best."
The General Committee would like to thank Randy for his years of brotherhood, leadership and service to this Union. GO-001 would also like to wish Randy good health, good luck and Godspeed as he enters into a well deserved retirement.
Colorado 2 Person Crew Legislation and Sleep Apnea in This Week's News Headlines
Colorado House passes bill requiring two-person rail crew
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/safety/article/Colorado-House-passes-bill-requiring-twoperson-rail-crew--47522?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Colo. House passes two-person crew bill, Senate next
http://utu.org/2016/03/04/colo-house-passes-two-person-crew-bill-senate-next/
NJT Rally: ‘Give the people what they want’
http://utu.org/2016/03/07/njt-rally-give-the-people-what-they-want/
PRESS RELEASE: NJ TRANSIT RAIL LABOR COALITION
https://smart-union.org/news/press-release-nj-transit-rail-labor-coalition/
DOT SEEKS INPUT ON SCREENING & TREATING SLEEP APNEA IN BUS AND RAIL WORKERS
https://smart-union.org/news/dot-seeks-input-screening-treating-sleep-apnea-bus-rail-workers/
BNSF rolls out 'site certification' for rail-served locations
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/bnsf_railway/article/BNSF-rolls-out-site-certification-for-railserved-locations--47601?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Former First Lady Nancy Reagan Dead at 94
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nancy-reagan-dead-94-n532871
Rail Traffic, Trump and Clinton All Up Again in This Week's News Headlines
STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT NJ TRANSIT
https://smart-union.org/news/stand-brothers-sisters-nj-transit/
AAR: Intermodal lifts U.S. rail traffic numbers in February
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/article/AAR-Intermodal-lifts-US-rail-traffic-numbers-in-February--47488?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Pipeline delays increase likelihood of crude-by-rail expansion, says Gibson
http://calgaryherald.com/business/energy/pipeline-delays-increase-likelihood-of-crude-by-rail-expansion-says-gibson
OHIO SLD GARDNER URGES MEMBERS TO ACTION OVER TWO-PERSON CREWS
https://smart-union.org/news/ohio-sld-gardner-urges-members-action-two-person-crews/
Freight Rail Traffic, Trump and Clinton All Win Big in This Week's News Headlines
BIDEN: UNION DEPOT REFLECTS PATH TO RECOVERY
https://smart-union.org/news/biden-union-depot-reflects-path-to-recovery/
Hillary Clinton Beats Bernie Sanders in Nevada Caucuses
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/us/politics/nevada-caucus.html
Donald Trump Wins the South Carolina Primary - The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/nevada-south-carolina-results/468114/
In Nevada caucuses, Trump gets a third straight win
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-nevada-caucuses-are-trumps-to-lose--and-he-still-could/2016/02/23/687a3550-da44-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html
Iowa panel OKs 'LIFTS' funds for freight transportation improvements
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/article/Iowa-panel-OKs-LIFTS-funds-for-freight-transportation-improvements--47406?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
AAR: U.S. railroads log traffic increase in Week 7; crude oil shipments down 17 percent in 2015
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/rail_industry_trends/article/AAR-US-railroads-log-traffic-increase-in-Week-7-crude-oil-shipments-down-17-percent-in-2015--47404?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Amtrak: STB's proposed policy change would prioritize freight trains
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/article/Amtrak-STBs-proposed-policy-change-would-prioritize-freight-trains--47413?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter