Category: Leadership
President Ferguson requests FRA emergency order over air brake valves
SMART Transportation Division President Jeremy Ferguson has requested that the Federal Railroad Administration issue an emergency order to carriers that train car valves prone to leakage during cold temperatures be replaced and/or repaired immediately. “The FRA and the AAR ha [...]
Rally Sunday in Iowa in support of Safe Freight Act
Legislative Representative Jordan Boone of Local 445 (Niota, Ill.) reports that National Legislative Director Greg Hynes will be speaking Sunday at a rally in support of the Safe Freight Act (H.R. 1748/S.1979) national two-person crew legislation. The rally is scheduled to be [...]
Members ratify agreement with Louisiana and North West RR
SMART Transportation Division-represented members who work on the Louisiana and North West (LNW) Railroad recently ratified a new contract to run through 2023. The agreement allows for a 3% raise, effective June 2019; a 3% raise in June 2020; and a 3% raise in June 2021. Thes [...]
As holidays approach, a note from President Ferguson
Dear Brothers & Sisters: We are approaching the close of another year, and my thoughts grow stronger about each of you during this forthcoming holiday period. Your daily lifestyles, both personally and professionally, are demanding and sometimes conflictive. Giving them r [...]
New leadership chosen for Association of General Chairpersons — District 3
The Association of General Chairpersons — District 3, consisting of the general chairpersons in the SMART Transportation Division Bus Department, chose new leadership Nov. 12 and discussed initiatives put forth over the summer at the SMART General Convention by the SMART Tran [...]
Members out in force in Kansas City
General President Joseph Sellers Jr. and TD President Jeremy Ferguson both participated in a town hall meeting and informational rally in Kansas City on Nov. 4 and 5 to draw attention to Union Pacific’s closure of the Neff Yard that resulted in about 200 lost jobs. The [...]TD President Ferguson announces receipt of carriers’ Section 6 notice
To SMART TD members whose carriers are in national handling: Pursuant to the moratorium provision in the last national agreement, today was the first day the carriers were permitted to serve notice to open the next round of National Bargaining and negotiate a new agreement, a [...]
Rail union chiefs announce formation of Coordinated Bargaining Coalition
CLEVELAND, Ohio and WASHINGTON, D.C., (November 1, 2019) — Top leaders of 10 rail unions announced today that their organizations will be participating in coordinated bargaining in the round of national negotiations that began on Nov. 1, 2019. The unions comprising the Coordi [...]