CSX Asks to keep Safety Reports out of the Crew Rooms, Injuries are Up, Fatalities Continue, and Transparency is Down

CSX was granted a waiver in 2020 on the condition they would ensure easy access to accident and injury reports with their employees. They didn’t. They haven’t. And they had five years to get it right.  Now they want another 5-year pass to keep these reports buried in an electronic system that, as every railroader already knows, most crew members cannot easily access while on duty. Read on to see how, with our members’ help, SMART-TD shared the real story about CSX safety culture with the FRA.

Semi Crushes Member in Decatur, Ill.

SMART-TD is asking all members to rally to support Brother Drew Morris, a conductor for Canadian National Railroad out of Local 453 (Clinton, IL), who was critically injured by a semi-truck that tried to race his train. Read on for details and how you can help

Long-time Union Ally Mikie Sherrill Runs for New Jersey Governor 

If you work in New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill has earned your consideration in the upcoming election. Her voting record and active labor outreach have helped our union countless times in the past. Read on to see how she shows up for SMART and SMART-TD in Washington, and how this will continue if she is elected to lead in New Jersey.

SMART-TD to FAA: Keep Drones Out of Our Rail Yards

Railroaders know that our rail yards are no place for drones or distractions. Read on to see how SMART-TD made our case to the FAA to get these dangerous gadgets out of our members’ workplaces once and for all.

Have a Tip? Share Your News with SMART-TD!

We end each daily Newswire e-mail with a request: Have a story? Tell the News Team. This isn’t a way to fill space: it’s a call to action to help us learn what stories we should be telling that might not be on our radar. Read on to learn how you can get involved.

Overtime Relief for Railroaders Introduced in Congress

When the Big Beautiful Bill was passed in July, workers governed by the Railroad Labor Act were not included in a tax break on overtime pay. Today, September 19, 2025, a SMART-TD-backed bill was introduced in Congress to include us in the tax exemption. Read on to learn more about the bill and how you can help get it passed.

Obituary: York Dudley Poole III

York D. Poole, III—known to railroaders across the Eastern United States as simply “York”—fought to defend railroaders from the abusive practices of the corporations that employ them. His success as the first ever dedicated independent investigator revolutionized the way Designated Legal Counsel (DLC) firms gather evidence to defend railroad workers. Read on to learn why he deserves to be remembered.

Shifting Views on Pattern Agreement

A recent survey of members at BNSF, Norfolk Southern, and Canadian National found that only 31% opposed the “pattern agreement” already ratified by other rail labor unions. Read on to see how the results reflect a shift in attitude among SMART-TD railroaders, with growing interest in reconsidering this framework during the 2025 National Agreement negotiations.

Get the Facts on the Union Pacific Arbitration Award from SBA 1208!

Many questions and concerns have surfaced around the Union Pacific arbitration and mediation process, with rumors and misinformation spreading quickly. To ensure that members get the answers that they deserve directly, SMART-TD has set up a dedicated e-mail address where every inquiry will receive a timely response. Read on for details.