Railroad Retirement Publication - May 2018

Railroad retirement benefits are subject to reduction if an employee with less than 30 years of service retires before attaining full retirement age. While employees with less than 30 years of service may still retire at age 62, the age at which full retirement benefits are payable has been gradually increasing since the year 2000, the same as for social security.

2 Person Crew Legislation

Last month, I had the pleasure of announcing that the Maryland General Assembly passed HB-180, a bill to require a minimum of two-person crews on all freight trains operating within the state of Maryland, awaiting final action by Governor Larry Hogan.

FTX Drone Usage

Our carriers usage of drones is going to continue.  So, we have created a new section on our website to summarize the Federal Aviation Admininistrations (FAA) regulations that apply to our carrier.  This is an effort to educate our members on what they are and are not allowed to do under the FAA regulations.  The section can be found at smart528.org/drones or under the members tab.  

New Online Vacant Vacation Form Process

Vacated Vacation Week Form

You can now fill out the Vacated Vacation Week Form online.  The form is available at smart528.org/vacated-week-form or can also be found on the websites members tab.  When you fill out the form online. We will email you a confirmation page with a time.  That time will serve as the official submitted time, but you will have to call into the office and confirm that it was you that submitted the form.

Vacated Week Awards

We are also listing the Vacated Weeks Awards every month after they have been processed.  You can find the awarded weeks online at smart528.org/vacated-week-awards, or under the websites members tab.  This new format will allow us to list the awards and also to list the new openings.  The most current post for the month will be updated as needed.