2.9 Trade Unions

revamped its campaign to teach emergency responders how to be safe around railroads. OLI also has a new partnership with Head Start called Safe Kids Worldwide, through which OLI develops materials to be presented to parents of children in Head Start programs.

In 2018, state OL organizations in three western states – Utah, Idaho and Nevada – decided to part ways with OLI and form their own multi-state organization, the Rail Safety Alliance. Although the exact reason is unclear, these states left because they refused to sign OLI’s revised agreement. OLI made substantial revisions to its standard agreement with state OL organizations. Most state OL groups were receptive to the changes, but some were not. These three state organizations still use the OL name and their websites still have OLI materials and offer presentations. OLI remains in discussions with these states to return them to the organization. In the meantime, these state programs retain access to some FRA funds but do not have access to funding from OLI.

OLI has practically no influence over the level of enforcement that’s undertaken or the allocation of enforcement resources, but it does provide training to law enforcement and first responders, which contributes to more effective enforcement.

2.9 Trade Unions Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division (SMART-TD) Formerly the United Transportation Union, SMART-TD, an AFL-CIO affiliate, represents all freight and passenger train conductors on FRA-regulated railroads, as well as most intercity bus drivers and some transit employees.100 According to its website, the union “has no higher priority than fighting for laws, regulations and work rules that ensure our members go home to their families in one piece.” In addition to advocating before legislative and regulatory bodies (including electioneering activities) and at the negotiating table with railroads, SMART-TD has several dedicated teams that study safety issues and make recommendations. Along with participating in SOFA (discussed below), SMART-TD has a National Safety Team, which assists NTSB investigations, and a Rail Safety Task Force, which works with state and local union leaders to develop practices to heighten situational awareness in yard and road operations. SMART-TD members may submit safety condition and railroad technology event reports (anonymously or not) to the union through its website.101

Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) BLET, a division of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, represents all locomotive engineers on FRA-regulated U.S. railroads, as well as other