SMART General President Michael Coleman praises SMART-TD agreement with Union Pacific, congratulates members on ratification

December 2, 2025

On November 28, 2025, SMART-TD announced that members working on Union Pacific (UP) properties voted to ratify the recently negotiated 2025 tentative agreement. SMART General President Michael Coleman released the following statement in response:

“In this union, there’s a saying that defines our principles and our fight: ‘United we bargain, divided we beg.’ SMART-TD leaders and members working on Union Pacific properties proved that with their recently ratified tentative agreement. Standing together, UP railroaders made their voices heard for significant wage increases, strong benefits, and key protections that resolve issues with the carrier that had gone unaddressed for too long. And SMART-TD’s negotiating team refused to settle for anything less, presenting members with an agreement they can be proud of.

“The fact that more than 80% of votes were in favor of this agreement is a testament to the strength of this contract — and a demonstration of what it means to be in this union. I want to congratulate President Jeremy Ferguson and his team on this stellar agreement, and I want to thank UP railroaders for standing up for the pay, benefits and protections that you deserve. You make this country run every day, and I’m proud that you have a contract that recognizes that fact.”