Category: Leadership Messages
SMART-TD, BLET presidents’ statement on Hi-Viz ruling
To receive text messages and the latest alerts regarding the BNSF Hi-Viz policy, please text HiViz to 67336. Today the judge considering the case between BNSF and the SMART-TD and BLET unions over the carrier’s new “Hi-Viz” attendance policy ruled that the dispute was “minor” [...]
SMART-TD, BLET file in opposition to preliminary injunction in attendance dispute at BNSF
CLEVELAND, Ohio, (February 8, 2022) — Yesterday, SMART-TD and the BLET filed their oppositions to BNSF’s request for the court to convert the January 25, 2022, Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) into a preliminary injunction. The unions each filed for their own preliminary inj [...]SMART-TD, BLET seek immediate federal government investigation of carrier attendance policies
CLEVELAND, Ohio, (February 1, 2022) — By letter dated January 31, 2022, SMART-TD and the BLET are seeking review by both the Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Transportation of all Class I attendance policies. In a joint letter to Labor Secretary Martin Walsh and [...]
URGENT NOTICE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL BNSF EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED BY THE SMART TRANSPORTATION DIVISION
On Tuesday, January 25, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) prohibiting both BLET and SMART-TD from authorizing, encouraging, permitting, calling, or otherwise engaging in any strikes, work stoppages, pic [...]
Rail labor’s largest coalition reaches dead end on path to voluntary agreement
The Coordinated Bargaining Coalition (CBC) released the following statement on January 24, 2022: After more than two years of bargaining with the major U.S. Class 1 railroads, discussions completely stalled last week. Accordingly, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the R [...]SMART-TD, BLET rail unions initiate steps to strike BNSF properties over new ‘Hi-Viz’ attendance policy punishing sick rail workers during the pandemic
CLEVELAND, Ohio, (January 13, 2022) — Yesterday, members of the Transportation Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation union (SMART-TD) and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) who work for the BNSF Railwa [...]TD leadership applauds confirmation of Amit Bose to lead FRA
Amit Bose, who has been serving the Biden administration as acting administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) since February 2021, was confirmed Jan. 12 by the U.S. Senate to become full administrator. This was a bipartisan vote, 68-29. Bose’s nomination by Pr [...]
Happy Holidays from SMART
As you gather with family and friends for the holidays, we want to thank you for all you do — in your workplace, in your local union and in your community. We look forward to standing together and continuing on the progress we made building a better future for all of us in 20 [...]