-- Reminder everyone although we want everyone working. We do need to abide by the agreement. 60 days in road/yard if you do not exercise your seniority. Do not get update with anyone if you are moved back.
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-- There is an updated Yard Matrix under downloads, which includes the 29r. Unfortunately, there are many more changes to come primarily in the yard. It is going to get bumpy. So please ensure to make it to the meeting Feb 27th at 0900 hrs to get informed.
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-- IMPORTANT MEMBER NOTICE
Due to the recent tax reform law signed in 2017 by President Trump, union dues and other unreimbursed work-related expenses can no longer be deducted, as in past years, as a portion of your itemized deductions on your 2018 tax returns.
· This includes work related travel (such as mileage driven for work), transportation and meal expenses (This especially applies to those who have used miscellaneous itemized deductions such as unreimbursed employee expenses which have been eliminated. Elimination of the away from-home meal deduction, for example, is a loss of about $50 per day, a total of up to $13,000 to $14,000 per year for a member employed away from home in the transportation industry);
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business liability insurance premiums;
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depreciation on a computer or cell phone your employer requires you to use during your work;
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union dues;
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work related education expenses;
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home office expenses for part of your home used regularly and exclusively for your work;
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expenses used in looking for new employment (includes travel);
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legal fees related to your work;
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subscriptions to professional trade magazines related to your work;
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work clothes, tools purchased to perform work and uniforms (if required and not suitable for everyday use).
This tax change is in effect for tax years 2018 through 2025.
This notice is for information purposes only. Consult your own tax professional on how these changes will affect you. Please see the April/May 2018 issue of the TD News for details about the effect of these laws specifically for members working in the transportation industry.
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-- A New Name for UTU PAC,
But the Same Support for Labor-Friendly Legislators!
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (Feb. 13, 2019) — The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division (SMART TD) has filed with the Federal Elections Commission to change the name of its Political Action Committee. Formerly known as UTU PAC, the new name is the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division Political Action Committee (SMART TD PAC). This change is to align the name of the PAC with the merged organization while preserving its mission of support for transportation-related issues.
“Our Political Action Committee’s identity is now more in line with the status of our union after its merger with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association,” Transportation Division President John Previsich said. “But our PAC’s mission — to offer financial support to transportation labor-friendly political candidates who keep the interests of our union members and our alumni at heart — has not changed one bit.”
With more than 28,000 contributors from the ranks of Transportation Division members, alumni, officers and others, we continue to advocate for the issues that are front and center to our brothers and sisters: advancing two-person crew legislation for freight rail operations around the country and hours-of-service regulations for yardmasters; protecting our bus and transit members from assault on the job; and many other safety and transportation-related issues. Our efforts are critical to assuring a safe and healthy place to work and securing the future for your family.
President Previsich encourages every member and alum to become a PAC member. “The money you donate — no matter what amount — helps us in that goal,” Previsich said. “Give what you can, and you will be doing your part to help our union get candidates who support common-sense transportation legislation passed.”
For more information about SMART Transportation Division PAC or to make a pledge, visit www.smart-union.org/td/washington/tdpac.
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-- We now have a new UP health facility added to our El Paso group of facilities. This may be for you. www.crossfit915.com
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