NEVADA BECOMES SIXTH STATE TO PASS TWO-PERSON CREW LAW

Yesterday afternoon, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak signed A.B. 337 into law, making two-person freight crews the law of the land, any violations will impose steep fines on a railroad. Nevada joins Colorado (which also passed a law in 2019), California, Arizona, Wisconsin and West Virginia in having a state two-person crew law/regulation on the books. Three other states are still in the mix for passage in 2019: Illinois, Maryland and Minnesota.

Yesterday's signing is another clear indicator that elections matter. Consider that in 2017, similar legislation was vetoed by the previous governor in Nevada. The key to our success in 2019 started with a new governor who was elected in 2018. This, combined with the advocacy and hard work of SMART Transportation Division members and retirees, the Nevada State Legislative Board and a coalition that included Sheet Metal brothers and sisters, other rail unions and safety-conscious members of the public, got the job done.