Category: Yardmasters
SMART-TD Yardmasters Reach Tentative Agreement
A tentative agreement has been presented to SMART-TD's yardmasters for a ratification vote. The agreement, negotiated in partnership with the National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) includes wage increases, but more importantly, improved sick leave, guaranteed rest days and accelerated vacation day accrual. Read on for details.
Yardmaster Protection Act Introduced
The Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2025 has been officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. If passed and signed into law, Yardmasters would enjoy the same maximum of 12 hours of service as the T&E crews. Read on to learn more about the Act, why it is important, and who is supporting it in the legislature.
Yardmasters: The Unsung Teammates on the Front Line of Rail Labor
Yardmasters, often misperceived as management, are frontline SMART-TD union members who provide protection from flawed software and dangerous directives from upper management. As Yardmasters are stretched thin or are replaced by managers with automation software, risks quickly increase for everyone else on the road. Read on to learn why solidarity and support for these teammates is more important than ever.
NTS Day 3: Railroad safety improvements driven by member reports
Closing remarks at the SMART-TD 2024 National Training Seminar focused on recent railroad union wins and the steps every member can take to keep their employers honest.
DIPP assessment decrease takes effect July 1
Effective July 1, 2024, the monthly DIPP assessment for participants will be reduced from 50 to 32 cents per $1 of daily benefit coverage. This reduction and a 90% + approval on all new claims make SMART DIPP the premier option for discipline income protection in the industry.
SMART-TD begins seeking membership proposals for Section 6 notices
Members and officers working under the national rail contract are welcome to submit their priorities for the next round of negotiations to be included in SMART-TD's Section 6 notices.
SMART-TD legislates hours of service for Minnesota yardmasters, other wins
SMART’s Minnesota Legislative Board secures four new laws, including maximum service hours for yardmasters, safer crew vans, and state-wide wayside detector inspections. Our state-by-state progress continues.
Setting the record straight: UP puts on sunny public face while lashing out on the ballast
On Thursday, January 18, the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and its new “All in it to win it” PR campaign were spotlighted in an article from Progressive Railroading. In it, UP’s CEO Jim Vena and his team of executives did their best to paint a happy picture of a thriving compan [...]